The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1899-12-21


tion comes in, my dear young lady"
responded the lawyer, with kindly
twinkle in his eyes. IF Lord Noun
tathol loved you as a daughter-and
he did-he loved Ralph Trevelyan as
son. Latterly it was the dearest
wish of his life that you two might
be married. Now. come, my dear Miss
Withers, think it over quietly. | have
known Ralph Trevelyan since he was
boy, and know him for true gen.
tleman in every sense of the word, q
worthy descendant of an ancient and
honorable line, husband any wom-
an might be proud of; while, on the
other hand-well, / can only say that
if l had been Ralph's age I should
have envied his good fortune-the per-
sonal, not the financial part of it,"
he concluded. with gallant little bow.
The ghost of smile fitted over
Eva's wan face.
"Ah, you would have been different,
Mr.. Denton" she said, graciously.
But my mind is made up; ! will have
nothing to do with this scheme-it is
hateful to me-
well, well,' reioined Denton, good
humoredly, I'm not going to try and
influence you in any way; after all, it
rests between the two Of you. But l
think you ought to give Mr.. Tre-
velyan an opportunity of-shall we
say, stating his view of the case?'
Eva hesitated for moment, and
then answered: You are right.
will see him now, if you will send
him to me. The sooner it is over the
BETTER
Left alone, Eva paced the room rest
lessly.
81 will not be bought and sold like
bale of goods she murmured, pas
sonately. "If he had cared for me it
now
She paused by the window and stood
looking out with affected nonchalance
as Ralph Trevelyan entered the room.
He advanced as far as the table and
then stopped, looking at the slight fig
ure standing so haughtily aloof, and
the defiant poise of the shapely head.
This is a very ridiculous and en-
barrassing affair."" Eva said. coldly,
finding that she was expected to speak
first: but she did not turn her head
and the remark really might have
beta addressed 10 the birds outsiGa.
Embarrassing? Yes" he assented,
lamely.
'You heard my decision in the library
just now?" Eva continued, still address
ing herself to the window pane at is
impossible that the condition can be
fulfilled"
A spasm of pain crossed his handsome
face. but his voice was calm and steady V
as he replied:
"Yes. it seems rather impossible. but
is it not a pity that Lord Mountathol's
generous intention should be frus-
trated-that practically no one should
benefit by his magnificent bequest?"
Eva turned at last and faced him with
flashing eyes.
what do you mean?" she demanded,
haughtily.
He drew step nearer to her and
spoke earnestly and impressively.
Miss Withers, you, like myself, know
what poverty is. You have told me
what your life was before you obtained
the position your late benefactor Of
fered you. Are you willing to return
to that life? To sit at desk all day,
and go home at night to lonely. cheer
less perhaps to want work and
not know where your next meal was to
come from? Forgive. me if speak
plainly; you know ! speak truth -
"Yes. know; but say again would
rather-a thousand times rather-go
back to that wretched life: | would
rather starve than fulfill the conditions
of this hateful will"
But you forget" he persisted. "You
are not the only person concerned. !
am equally interested in the matter
'You."
Most men would have WINGED under
the scorn, the utter contempt conveyed
in The monosyllable; but Ralph Ire
velyaD met her glance steadily. His
face was pale and sad, but it expressed
no shame.
81 propose that we shall fulfil the
terms of the will-no. pray hear me out
as mere business arrangement. II
you will honor me by going through
the marriage ceremony with me |
swear TO relieve you of my hateful
presence that same hour. Instead of
earning precarious pound a week, you
will be absolute mistress of 5000 a
year. Think what that means, Miss
Withers, ere you give your decision.
Think of the good you can do to others
with such means at your disposal, be-
fore you come TO a hasty decision"
He had touched the right spot. Dur
ing the last minute or so Eva had been
sweeping up and down the room with
the mien of an outraged queen, endeav-
oriug TO master her almost uncontrol-
liable Indignation.
She paused again at her former post
at the window, and remained for a
minute in silence.
Very we'll" she said at last, in a
hard. constrained voice. IL accept