The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1900-06-15

iterated softly.
"You know part of it," he answered
huskily. You've guessed somehow that
love you (shc pressed his hand. and |
wish You hadn't. You see. Im-Im
scamp, a rogue and a cheat"
He pulled his hand from hers almost
roughly and continued excitedly: "l'm
not fit for you to touch. I've been in
Jail. I'm hardened criminal. l ought
not rightly to be allowed to love any one,
and no one should love me. My name
isn't Fitzherbcrt. It's Brown - Cyril
Brown"
"Im glad it is still Cyril" she inter.
rupted. II love Cyril"
ooh, that is nothing-not the name"
he went on passionately. Il came here
to swindle you, to rob you. Look here"
He took somethi, out of his pocket
and handed it to her without turning his
head.
1t was a piece of folded paper, and
when she opened it she disclosed check
"a check OH her bank for 10000. The
signature unmistakable and clear, was
hers-Victoria Marie McKoy.
"This is not forgery" she said, hesitat-
ing over the ugly word.
NO." he replied. dropping his voice to
q whisper; you signed it in that birth
day book"
"See here" she said. speaking hurried
ly, as one who wishes to pass quickly
over an unpleasant tale. 1--WE put my
private mark in that thing like a tad
pole. They will cash it now; they
wouldn't have before. You will go halves
with the stranger, | suppose. Still with
$1,000 you can leave him and-and live
honestly. OF course, IL will never
tell"
He looked at the check she held out to
him quite carelessly, hardly as one would
expect a seedy adventurer to regard a
small fortune thus absolutely offered to
him. Then. taking 1t in his hands, he
tore it into tiny pieces and threw them on
the floor.
"You forget that love you," he said.
He moved toward the door; but,
though her eyes followed him, she never
stirred. As he opened the door he turned
and looked her full in the face for the
first time during that talk.
ut vas repentant rogue that loved
you," he said sadly. "Goodby.
"Au revoir," she said.
She listened to him walking through
the hail. and not until she heard the noise
of the closing Of the front door did she
move. Then on tiptoe she ran after him.
AS he passed along the dark road she fol-
lowed-as she had listened that night-in
the shadow Of the fence. Underneath
the solitary lamp the stranger was wait
ing, twisting his mustache and tapping
with his foot on the ground as il he grew
impatient.
"Ah," he said sharply when Cyril join
ed him, you are an hour latei No mat
ter. Have you got it,"
NO" replied Cyril slowly, 81 have
not"
why"
Because she gave me the money-f10.-
000-and gave it back to her."
"Ah, you mean that you have doubled
on me-"
mo: mean that we will part"
every WELL"
She could see the heavy mustache lift
and disclose the strangers teeth. She
knew the sign; the dog meant to bite.
Every well, go. Go, my dear Cyril, to
the devil. will wait"
There WAS momentary flash Of fire
licking out into the darkness like devils
tongue, the sharp report of a pistol shot,
and the stranger, his hands raised to the
pitiless heavens. his lips parted in their
last snarl, spun round once and collapsed
IN the roadway, q mere limp heap Of
clothed flesh and bones.
you have killed him" whispered Cy-
ril, gazing. pale and awestruck, at the
thing at his feet.
You forget that l love you," said Vic
toria Marie, and, hiding her face on his
breast. she wept Historically. - Royal
Magazine.