The Opelousas courier., 1900-03-03

figure standing so haughtily aloof, ant
the defiant poise of the shapely head
"This is q very ridiculous and EN-
barrassing affair."" Eva said coldly
finding that she was expected to speal
first; but she did not turn her head
and the remark really might have
been addressed to the birds outside
Embarrassing? Yes" he assented
lamely.
"You heard my decision in the Ii.
brary just now?." Eva continued, still
addressing herself to the windowpane.
sit is impossible that the condition
can be fulfilled"
A spasm as of pain crossed his hand.
some face, but his voice was calm and
steady as he replied:
Eyes, it seems rather impossible,
but is it not q pity that Lord Mount
athol's generous intention should be
frustrated-that practically no one
should benefit by this magnificent be-
quest?"
Eva turned at last and faced him
with flashing eyes.
"What do you mean?" she de-
manded haughtily.
He drew a 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 OBJ
tanned the position our late benefactor
offered you. Are you willing to re-
turn to that life? To sit at O desk all
day and go home at night to a lonely,
cherries room?-perhaps to want
work and not know where your next
meal was to come from? Forgive me
if I speak plainly; You know I speak
TRUTH
eyes. I know, but I say again I
would rather-a thousand times rather
go back to that wretched Life. I
would rather starve than fulfil the
conditions of this hateful will"
"But You forget" he persisted.
"You are not the only person con-
cerned. / am equally interested in
the matter"
"You!''
Most men would have WINGED under
the scorn, the utter contempt con-
veyed in the m~onosyllable, but Ralph
Tlevelyan met her glance steadily.
His face was pale and sad, but it ex-
pressed no shame.
II propose that we should fulfill
the terms of the will-no, pray hear
me out-as o mere business arrange
ment. Ii you will honor nae by going
through the marriage ceremony with
me I swear to relieve you of my hate
full presence that hour. Instead of
earning a precarious pound q week
you will be absolute mistress of five |
thousand 3 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 before you come to .
hasty decision.
He had touched the right spot
During the last minute or so Eva
had been sweeping up and down the
room with the mien of an outraged
queen, e%ndeavoring to master her al
most uncomfortable indignation.
She paused again at her former post
at the window and remained for q
minute in silence.
very WE'LL" she said ct last in a
hard, constrained vote. 81 accept
your terms, Mr.. Trevelyan. The de-
tails can be arranged at leisure, I pre-
sumo? II need not detain you any
longer"
She bent that naughty little head
so slightly, and taking this as a
sign OF dismissal, he went sadly away,
Whereupon Eva sank down on the
window seat and cried as though her
heart would break.
The business arrangement was CON.
in due. course at o registrars
Office, for both bride and bridegroom
shrank from the mockery Of a
religious ceremony.
Eva maintained her attitude of
proud reserve, and parted from her
husband-in name only-without be-
the slightest emotion. Soon
afterward she went abroad under the
Of o widowed gentle
woman, q friend of her early poverty
stricken dlys. They travelled on the
continent t0r some time; then. as ths
came on, they drifted to Ma
1eira, q d rom thence Eva decided
take q tripBo the Cape. /.
"And / shalhassnIne M : own name
said tpe9ssf complacent companion.
o whom aer word was law. tTf /
to BIZ Mrs. Treyelyan in Europe
I shall be Eva Withers In Africa" +;
or Ralph Trevelyan she had q ;
Nothing since the morning when they !
parted at the registrars Office. .
On n delicious evening in No !
Eember she sat on the veranda of the ,
arand hotel at Port Elizabeth. gazing .
vistfully out over the sea. She was !.
lone, for Mrs. Mathieson uas enioy- .
ng q post-prandisl nap in the drawing :
com. :
She did not perceive a tall figure ap-
'roaching her in the moonlight. and
tarted when the newcomer. Colo eI !
4ennox, a recent arrival at the hotel. !
lad halted beside her chair and spoke '
o her. j
"A delightful night, isn't ii. Miss
Vithers? I don't know who would
inter in England when they could Q
ONE out here to this sort OF thing
Eva murmured something polite and 4
n%nocent. for the colonel was d Qriz-
old veteran, and did not interest
er particularly. o
There's no accounting for tastes h
onfinued the colonal cheerfullv.