The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1899-09-30
CHAPTER yII-Continued.

y y
very unselflsh or disintereSted way.
You found ne there In S'conset. The
place was dull and lonely to you. For
come unexplained reason you enjoyed
my society. You thought 1t an excellent
opportunity 10 try your arts Of fascina-
ton on a girl who, so far as you knew,
would place implicit trust in your hon.
esty Of purpose. Please let me finish.
am speaking truth, nothing more. Tho
pastime. amused you and gratliied your
vanity at the same time. You knew
that she might learn to like you. There
was no reason why she might not give
her heart and her future happiness IN
your keeping. You realized this, yet
you staid on, ssill knowing you had no
intention of marrying her. And when
you had tired of the diversion, you in
suited her with declaration Of love
and no proposal OF marriage. You
allowed sordid motive to cheat your
heart of its noblest instincts. YOU
Oh, / wonder can cay SO much! There
are times when positively despise you,
and others when-I believe / am los
ing my self-respect. / wish you had
never gone to s conset.
/ She started from her chair and walked
TO the opposite window. Her hands
trembied nervously, though her words
had not been uttered with passion, but
with slow, deliberate emphasis that
gave them accusing force.
y Brian had listened with bowed head.
Only once he had tried to interrupt her,
then she had silenced him with a mo-
ton. Even after she had paused he
did not speak for some seconds.
you are hard upon me, he said, at
last. Il acted contemptibly. but won't
you try to think there was some little
excuse? / don't know why am such
worthless fellow. Perhaps because no
one cares whether ever amount to
anything or not. have not been so
fortunate as you. You have been loved
end praised all your life. have had
encouragement and condemnation on
oil sides. Perhaps deserved so much,
but 1t disheartens a man to be forever
running him down.
Her face softened as sho answered In
a gentler tone: "They are wrong to dis
courage and condemn you. No ono
knows their possibilities for good or
evil until they have been tried. There
are redeeming traits even in the worst,
and you are not one Of the worst. Your
chance Is before you. / want to forget
all that has happened. For your sake,
and for mine, l wish to feel-" She
hesitated and her face grew crimson.
Not SO much from his glance as from
the drift of her own thoughts.
why won't you understand" she
cried, in helpless embarrassment, after
q silence that WAS almost felt. why
can't you comprehend that want you
to have what belongs to your
Il don't want it," answered Brian,
with logged resistance. "The thought
OF that money is always between us."
"You don't want it because you can't
have it without an incumbrance, 1 sup
pose?'
/, IF the incumbrance means you, Mar
garet, there Is nothing l desire so much
as the incumbrance.
Then take 1t, please, Brian. The in
cumbrance finds you 30 slow Of compre-
tension
Brian was slow no longer. Margaret g
meaning flashed upon him, and with a
joyful face and glad CRY he started to-
ward her.
But she stopped him rather precipi-
lately with the words:
Don't be foolish, Brian, please.
want you to understand that this is
merely a business arrangement. We
shan't be very affeotionato, but neither
need we quarrel.
"Then you wish simply to satisfy your
sense Of obligation, he said, rather rue
fully. You don't care for me tho least
bit, Margaret"
= IL caring for you means giving you my
heart, can only say haven'tit to give.
L.v.lx nAf otn
yiage will not make great difference in
our love. We shall always be good
friends, hope. Are you satisfied"
Il am happy to get you on any terms,
he responded. For no other man can
ever claim YOU And maybe some day
you will learn to love me, II only a
little"
Don't de,ude yourself with any such
idea. That is all, believe. Please
leave me now
How cold and Indifferent you are. :
he said, turning to obey her request.
you make 1t very hard for me-"
! Her eyes dropped beneath the inten-
sity of his gaze, but she made no re-
mark, and the next second he had left
her to her own thoughts.
In somewhat jubIlant but rather pc
culiar frame OF mind he sought Miss
Hilton, and contlded to her sympathetic
ear his late go d fortune.
Two hours later, as Margaret sat
alone In one corner OF the veranda,
Brian stole up behind her chair, and
dropped In her lap ring of old-fashioned
design and exquisite workmanship.
Here Is something prize very high
w. he said. 1T belonged to my mother
j should like to see 1t on your finger
Pearls for the pearl OF pearls.
His sudden appearance and unex'
pected action made her blush warmly.
"Put 1t on for me-, she replied. rather
nervously. and holding her hand toward
him. aIam not sure that ! know thu
proper finger"
"A sad confession, he rejo.ned, ex
periencing keen thrill OF pleasure a.
his hand touched hers. Why, 1t fit
nicely and makes quite show.
1t is very beautiful, added Margaret
examining the magnificent pearls will
critical interest. How can thank yo,
for it2"
She raised her eyes to his, but dropped
them Immediately. Something In hi
glance sent the warm blood to her face
y think ! must show II TO Miss Hilton,
she said, starting up and leaving hin
without another word.