The age-herald., 1900-05-06

kissed the peach bloom on her cheek with l the freedom which had always existed Tn l their intercourse; then he took both her hands in his playfully, "You're my prlS1 oner; I shan't let you go, Cecilia" he said, | without the very best of reasons So the matter was ended, with a little nervous laugh on her part, and a "Well as I'm your prisoner, there's nothing for me to do but to surrender as gracefully as 1 possible"
 Alas for thee Cecilia Howard l They had a charming ride up to the park. The beautiful gray ponies seemed i to enter into the spirit of the day, as they 1 dashed along the newly fallen snow to the silver chime of the sleigh-bells. As for the skating, that was charming, too; and Cecilia shook off the shadow from her spirits, and for the next three hours she gave herself up to the enjoyment of l gliding ever the crystal basement built by l the frozen waters.
 It was impossible to skate all the time with Daniel. MT. Marshall often took pos session of her, in a manner which she | could not decline without marked rude ness; and in little while she submitted to 1 it, and forgot all about the disagreeable necessity.
 You are not sorry you came after all, are you, little cousin?" asked Daniel, as he assisted her into the carriage, just as l the short winter day was being gathered | up into the the night.
 "Oh mo-" was the quick response. And | then the memory of Horace's visit flashed across Cecilia Howard, and she was not certain that she had spoken the truth, | after all: and she was so quiet during the ride home that her cousins rallied her sev- eral times on her silence, but 1t was in vain.
 The six days that followed were dreary ones for Cecilia. At last Horace returned | and strange to say, one of his first ques- tions was, And you haven't been to the | park, as you promised me, nothwithstand- | ing the fine skating?'
 l "Oh. no. of course not" answered Cecilia drawing her breath, and feeling cold shudder run over her. Why, what can have put that idea into your head?'-busy with the velvet cushion, so that Horace l Nichols did not see her face while she spoke.
 'T don't know I'm sure"-half apologet- | ically. "I asked the question without re- l f1ectons as I knew that you wouldn't go. l At the end of an hour Horace tore him self away, and he little imagined that as soon as he had closed the door on him Ce- l cilia Howard returned to the parlor. flung l herself into chair. and, lifting her hands, broke into wall of exceeding anguish. "I have told a lie, have taken great sin upon my soul"
 1 "Halloa, Horace, cant you stop long enough to shake hands?" | The voice. loud and good-na tured, reach ed the young man as he was hurrying up the streeta He turned hastily and con fronted Daniel Eustis. The young men shook hands cordially, and then Daniel | asked: <.
 'where do you keep yourself nowa- | days?"
 'I've been out of town for a week, and got back within the last hour"
 "Seen my pretty cousn?" asked Daniel with significant smile. gracefully shak: ing few gray flakes from his cigar. l Certainly I have" answered Horace l Nicholls And his smile said very plainly that he was quite ready and proud to | avow the fact before the whole world. g | Daniel Eustis was fond of a joke This | time he put on slightly mysterious ex- | pression and continued: Well, it's forta- I nate you've got back again, for your own i peace of heart, and that of my pretty cous- in. too.'
 What do you mean?' asked the other, i half indifferently, supposing that this was merely some of Daniels nonsense. h. "Oh nothing; only Helen insists that if Cecilia wasn't just the little saint that | she is, she should certainly be jealous. for l George Marshall was so deeply impressed | the day they were out together. He says 1 she's perfectly charming, and he's a man l of taste. Horace; you may be glad to have l him endorse your choice" 1 Horace Nichols did not seem to feel the i force of the latter part of this remark. | He brought his deep gray eyes on Daniels s ] face with an expression which the young man had never seen there before. l "When and where were George Marshall l and Cecilia Howard out together? What do | you mean, Daniel?" The voice was that of a man who would not be put off. l 'Why, man alive, nothing serious; only that MT Marshall and Cecilia Howard were out together in the park last Thurs day afternoon. with Helen and myself, and we had capital time of it. | The face of Horace Nichols was very white, but he controlled. himself. and his voice was steady, although it was not the voice of the same man who had spoken two minutes before.
 "Daniel, do you tell me, on your most | sacred word and honor, that these two | your cousin and George Marshail-passed | last Thursday afternoon together in the | parl-?"
 "Of coHre I do," answered Daniel, with a stare Where was no harm in that, was
 there? Helen and I were alongside" For
 it now recurred to Daniels memory that
 his -.er had told him with covert sheer
 that she did not think MT. Nichols liked
 George Marshall very well, he was quite
 too great a saint for that.
 "Thats all, Daniel. Good morning.
 And touching his hat Horace walked off.
 Daniel did also, whistling to himself,
 and thinking "Tve got myself into a fix.
 Hang it, I wish I'd kept still' And he
 made this remark to his sister, on finding
 her in the sitting room.
 I'm very glad you told him. Daniel VI . remarked Helen. How absurd it is that
 Horace Nichols should be so jealous
 Poor Cecilia!"
 And Daniel concluded his sister must bt
 right after all and dismissed the subject
 from his thoughts.
 Horace Nichols did not go to the bank
 as he intended. He went hon,c. With z
 fierce longing in his soul that he nigh | die
 l The woman of his love and trust hat | proved herself a liari The world seemed
 to blaze and curl in fiery lines before hin
 as he hurried on
 For the next three hours 10 human eye | beheld Horace Nicholls At the end of tha
 time his resolution was taken. He would
 see Ceeclia no more; he would write her