, 1900-05-21

Dinner was TO be at half past 7
At half-past 6 Margot put on her
hat and went out. The great heat OF
the day was tempered now by a gentle
breeze. Margot meant to give herself
half an hour of solitude. She meant
during that half hour to read CeciIs
letter and then tear it into tiny frag-
ments. When the letter was torn up
perhaps that tiresome sentence: You
know love you to distraction" would
cease to haunt her.
She went down to the bank of the
river, and, seating herself under a
tree. took u the letter.
She had scarcely done so before a
manly voice shouted her name. There
was the dip of oars and the gentle
swish of a boat being propelled rapidly
forward. Cecil, in boating costume.
pulled up under the tree where Margot
was sitting. In a moment he had
jumped out.
Now, this is luck" he exclaimed.
7 think that should find you here,
and absolutely reading my letter. Oh.
l say, Margot, is it's it. all right"
His bronzed face was pale as he asked
the question, his voice shook.
mo: it's all wrong" said Margot,
with a sudden passion. oh. Robert,
I'm not strong enough could not
Withstand them all. We are SO fear
fully poor-and-father's debts. Rob
ert, | could not help myself some one
had to be sacrificed"
you don't mean TO tell me" said
Cecil, ~interrupting her. and grasping
her arm with such force that she cried
out with pain, you don't mean to tell
me, Margot, that after my letter you
have gone and given yourself to thaL
fellow"
Yes, l have said Margot, bursting
into a passion of tears. Il have. and
he's coming back to dinner, and | must
go"
Look at me, Margot," said the
young man. You don't love him?"
No"
And do you love me?"
yes"
Then don't you think you're doing
a very wicked thing, a very unfair
thing to Sir Peter?"
Il am marrying him because he is
rich" said Margot. and to help all the
others. When a girl has a father and
brothers and sisters, she must sacrifice
herself sometimes. l never told him
that | loved him."
Did you tell him that you loved
me?"
No"
Il repeat that you are doing wrong,
Margot, and no good will come of it."
Cecil sprang down the bank Cnce
more and jumped into the boat. lar
got returned to the house.
In the hall she was met by Polly.
"Margot," she exclaimed, 81 don't
know what can be gong on, but Sir
Peter arrived here about a quarter of
an hour ago, and he was not dressed
for dinner, and he seemed to be in a
most awful rage about something. He
is with father in the study. | was lis
teninS at the door and | heard his
voice getting louder and louder. and
father t.ying to soothe him. Oh, there,
hear the door opening and father is
you. Run, Margot, do run,
find out what is the matter. Oh,
dear, dear!" continued Polly, your
are red and your face all stained
with crying. Are things going to turn
out wrOn. tier all?"
'Margoi called the father, come
here at oil e."
She obtyed him Immediately. He
took her md, drew her into the study
and !, the door.
Sir whose face was alarming.
ly red, y anding on the hear" G.
He came .ght up to Margo. ven
she entered he room.
Now youna lady, ho said, Il want
to ask you a PLAIN u.,-.-. Is that my
letter that | wrote to you this morn
ing, or is it not?"
Here he held up a much chewed
and distigured morsel of paper.
as that my letter." he repeated;
rs that my s~ignature?"
Yes" said Margot, looking at 1t.
I'm really very sorry" she exclaimed,
Clip has been chewing it."
You hear her" exclaimed Sir Peter.
turning to Forester. "You see, she
confesses the whole thing. Now, what