The Banner-Democrat., 1899-09-02
AW0MAN5 LUENCE.

subscriptions. and I'm O mighty poor
Christian in the bargain, SO you needn't
blind me with that sand you are digging
up SO ferociously."
: Margaret colored and desisted from
her occupation.
Il beg you pardon" she said. Il did
not intend to send it in your direction.
1t is vent for my overcharged feelings
suppose that Is childish acknowledge
uent, but shall not recall it. read of
piece Of injustice this morning, and If
has filled me with indignation. be
ieve I'm in a constant state of rebellion
lgainst the accepted order OF things.
Why do you laugh?"
Not at you, certainly. Seriously, l
Am half afraid of you-your bad opinion,
/ mean. What influence you could exert
over some men. Do you like me, Mar
garrett"
The name slipped unconsciously from
his lips, and he drew nearer to her. Sho
averted her head and answered in the
tone Of one measuring her words care
FULLY.
The degree of my liking depends
upon yourself"
Brian was evidently not we'll satisfied
with this frank admission.
You couldn't like me we'll enough to
be my wife?" he persisted, drawing more
closely to her and endeavoring to take
her hand, an action she resolutely op1
posed.
DO you mean what you say?" she
laid, in slightly repressed voice, con-
scious of something wanting In his man
her.
He besitated at her words.
do mean that 1 love you? Yes.
Margaret, do, from the first moment
saw you. If I could only make you
understand my position, my longing to
win your love and make you my wife.
But"
His pause was eloquent.
But what?" she repeated, in e quick,
changed voice. j
why, how you look at me, Mar,
gareti"
At this complaint she turned her face
aside and allowed her eye to follow the
motion of bird. !:
You see, he went on, more at ease in
the absence of those searching gray
eyes, marriage between US is quite out
OF the question. If you were" (;
If I were rich, suppose, you mean, ;"
she interrupted, in somewhat hard
voice; but, admitting I'm poor, what
them"
you must see how it Is; we couldn't
live on two thousand year."
And your profession, she supple.
hented. 1T seems to me you might be
much worse off. Any one with an econ
omical turn"
Il hate people with an economical
turn, and don't intend to work myself
to death trying to cure lot Of migrate
full people. My first years allowance
won't much more than pay my debts.
obliged to live in certain style"
"Oh, dare say, even If he sacrifices
everything else in the effort. You love
I stated the case correctly"
He glanced at her cold, impenetrable
face.
How hard you are, Margaret" he
said, reproachfully. You don't under
stand the difficulty. Love in q cottage
is we'll enough in theory, but no fun in
practice. / could not be happy under
such circumstances. love you dearly,
and if 1 only had little money, should
like nothing better than to marry you"
Thanks" was the quiet rejoinder.
rYour assurance is quite consoling, but
/ don't believe quite appreciate the
honor you would confer upon me. OF
course the idea of my possible objection
has not entered your mind. Under the
circumstances 1 may regard your loss as
my gain.
How truly his loss was her gain she
did not pause to reflect.
"You are excellent at sarcasm" he re-
Joined with reproach. Il was only
speaking of my wishes. II you had
told me two weeks ago, how thoroughly
you despised me l might have been a
wiser man to-day.
Margaret understood his meaning.
She felt that he had no right to speak
to her In this way, yet his words
pained her. In Imagination she went
| back to the first hour of their meeting.
She remembered how glad she had felt
that they would be thrown together fol
a short time in this quiet place. Shf
remembered what faith she had placed
in the existence OF those good qualities
Miss Hilton had mentioned, and what
hopeful longngs and eager expecta'
tions had filled the hours Of her COM
panionship with him, and now her dis
appointment was both keen and bitter
1t lent new sharpness to her answer
| You dare not blame me for any ac-
| ton of yours, she said, endeavoring tc
speak quietly. Il have endured youl
| company. Could do otherwise2 You
| have tried to win my affection by all the
arts in your power. suppose you found
| the pastime amusing. and probably you
imagined that you had so far succeeded
! that if it suited your pleasure to honor
me with proposal of marriage, would
accept 1t with thanks. / hope you have
| discovered your mistake. / would mo-
marry you to save myself from starva
don. You have insulted me quite
enough"
Not insulted, Margaret" he said, re
proachfully, looking into her passionate
face. Believe me, l have intended NJ
insult. / respect and admire you to;
much, and love you far more than
can ever love my cousin. Yet, 1 havI
no alternative. l must marry her o
starve."
Margaret's lips moved. She was abou
to make an angry rejoinder, but with al
effort she controlled the impulse.
You will starve royalty" she said
somewhat bitterly. Il consider marry
ing for money contemplate. You hav
different views. We have learned some
thing new of each other. Money stand
above love in your estimation. Yo'
cannot forego the luxuries Of life for tn