Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1899-05-17
CHAPTER NNII.


r,sr Baltimore. too. had been very
.,,nssJ by tie news when Felix told her
iho re,t morning Of his good luck. In al!
I .oun great uuhappincss she had still q
Iii word ard thought for her cousin
and his tancee' -,
pressing his hands warmly. II often
tbink. indeed. the incest girl l know. You
are fortunate. Felix. but" very kindly,
ashe is fortunate. too.
"Oh no. the luck is all on my side."
says he.
.It will be a blow to Norman" she
saws. presently.
u think not" with an irrepressible
touch Of Scorn.
.Of course. can quite understand that
rou do not like him." says she, with
,uiek sigh. But believe me. any heart
B. has was really given to Joyce. Well,
he must devote himself to ambition now."
Miss Maliphant can help him to that"
"No. no. That is all knocked on the
head. 1t appears-this is in strict conf
dence. Felix-but it appears he asked her
to marry him last evening. and she re-
fused
Felix turns to her as if to give utter.
,nce 10 some vehement words. and then
checks himself. After all. why add to her
unhappiness: Why tell her of that ours
bassrnss? Her own brother. too! 1t
woiufee but another grief.
To think he should have gone from her
to Miss Maliphant! What pitiful crea-
ture. Beneath contempt! Well, if his
pride survives those two downfalls-both
in one day-it must be made of leather. Ii
does Felix good to think of how Miss Nal
phant must have worded her refusal. She
is not famous for grace of speech. He
must have had Il really bad time of it.
"Ah. she refusedt" says he, hardly
knowing what TO say.
Yes. and not very graciously, I'm
afraid. He gave me the mere fact of the
refusal-no more. and only that because
be had to give a reason for his abrupt de-
parture. You know he is going this even
ng?"
mo, l did not know it. OF course, un-
der the circumstances-
''Yes, he could hardly stay here. Mar
garet came to me and said she would go,
but | would not allow that. After all,
every woman has right to refuse or ac-
cept as she will"
True" His heart gives an exultant
leap he remembers how his love had
willrd
Il only wish she had not hurt him in
the refusal. He was not in his usual care
less spirits. He struck me as being lit
tle-well, you know, a little''-she heSi
tates.
"Out Of tcmper:" suggests Felix.
We'll, yes. disappointment takes that
course with some people. After all, it
might have been worse if he had set his
heart On Joyce and been refused
Much worse" says Felix, his eyes on
the ground
"She would have been a severe loss"
Severe, indeed" By this time Felix is
beginning to feel like an advanced hypo-
crite.
As for Margaret Maliphant, am
afraid he was more concerned about the
loss of her bonds and scrips than Of her
self. 1t is a terrible world. Felix, when
all is told" says she, suddenly, crossing
her beautiful. long, white hands over her
knees, and leaning toward him. There is
a touch Of misery so sharp in her voice
that he starts as he looks at her. 1t is
a mOmeniary fit of emotion, however. and
heart nigh to breaking she still retains
her cOmpOsure, and talks calmly to Felix,
and let's him talk to her, as though the
Tact that she is soon to lose forever the
man who once had gained her heart-that
fatal once" that means for always. in
spite Of everything that has come and
gone-is as little or nothing to her. See
ing her sitting there. strangely pale. in
f.rVs 1 =. L L
sible to guess at the tempest of passion
and grief and terror that reigns within her
breast Women are not so strong to bear
as men. and therefore in the worlds storm
suffer most.
1T IS lovely world" says he. smiling.
thinking Of Joyce; and then, remember
Ing her sad lot, his smile fades. Zone
might -perhaps-a bad wOrld-bet-
ter"
All! teach me how" says she, with Q
melancholy glance.
There is such n thing as forgiveness.
Forgive him!' blurts he out in a frighten-
Ell sort of way. He is Mortified at him
se!f-at his own temerity-a second later,
and rises to his feet as if to meet the in
liShdtion he has certainly courted. But
% his surprise no such Indignation betrays
itself
Is that your adviceT' says she, still
with the thin white hands clasped over
lhe knees and the earnest gaze on him.
Well, well. wellr'
Her eyes droOp. She seems to be think
ihS' and he, gazing at her, refrains from
Speech with his heart sad with pity. Pres
emily she lifts her head and looks at him.
There! Go back to your love-" she
says, with glance that thrills him. "Tell
her from me that if you had the whole
world to choose from, should still select
ner as your wife. like her; love her
here. gO"' She seems to grow all a,
once very tired. Are those tears that are
rlsIng in her eyes? She holds out to him
ner hand. Felix. taking it. holds 1t close
" Tor moment, and presently, as il NOV
"a to do it, he stoops and presses warm
Kiss upon it.
She is SO unhappy, and SO kind, and sc
true. Heaven deliver her out Of her sor-
row!