Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1900-03-29

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her What | have to ask you tonight
would dismay and brighten a woman
of Miss Digby's class"
lie had studied Ethel 80 well he
knew how to practice on every weak
ness; he could play upon her feelings.
her virtues, her faults. as a clever mu-
stefan upon a harp He knew that she
would do and dare more from spirit
Of opposition TO Miss Dgby than from
love for himself
Ethel he continued. give me
patient hearing i find that | am
obliged to leave here suddenly; | ought
to go tomorrow; and, oh, my love. it
breaks my heart to leave you. cannot
go alone
She looked up at him with wondering
eyes.
You must go alone, Laurie. cannot
accompany you
You could, my darling If you would
be only a little drawer than other wo-
men are, little more courageous.
Ethel, let me make you my wife quite
secretly, and then go away with me"
i cannot, she replied. Papa would
never forgive me.
Yes, he would Hundreds Of mar
riages take place in the same way. lie
would forgive you directly"
But it you'd not be right. could
not dol,, do not ask me- Laurie"
1t would be quite right, my darling.
Where did you tell me your father
was?"
lie is at Vienna she said. gently
But. Laurie, | can never consent"
The deadly despair that came over
him at the thought Of losing her fright
ened him.
Ethel, listen to reason. Marry me.
and will take you to Austria: we will
so to your father and ask htm to for
give US"
lie had not the least intention of do
ing what he said. bat he knew the idea
would please her.
Such a step as that would have one
effect" be said; your father would
never marry Miss Digby."
Her whole heart changed as he said
the words
lie would never Marry Miss Digby!
on, Laurie are you sure of that?"
Quite sure, be replied Your
father would ask himself of what use
1t would be to marry a woman who had
not been able to keep his daughter un-
der control He could not believe in
her prudence or discretion after that
tie would not be angry with you but
he would be so angry with her that he
would In all probability refuse to see
or speak to. her again.
DO you think so? cried Ethel
u am sure OF It, Then there is
another thing, Ethel Your father
chief object In marrying Is to secure d
friend and adviser for you. If you were
married, there would be no need for
such friend"
Her face grew brighter still.
There would not, indeed. she said.
am quite certain, Ethel" he con
tlnned, that II you consent to my wish,
your father will never marry at ALL"
IF thought so, would say Yes at
once Laurie"
His heart beat With triumph, yet he
felt almost ashamed of the manner in
which that triumph was won.
III would really be a grand lest
Ethel to 90 to Vienna as my wife and
let your father see OF what little use
Miss Dgby Is, after all He would see
then that she IS not capable of taking
care OF you, but that you were and are
quite capable OF taking care OF your
self How surprised he would be to
find that Miss Digby had failed"
You tempt me, Laurie" she said,
gently. iou do not think, then. that
my father would be very angry"
He would not be angry al all
darling who could he angry with
yon' But he would see how very much
he had oyerrated Miss Digby."
Il would be a great triumph, she
remarked: but would it be right"
Right 70 keep your fathers hove for
yourself; right to expose the incapac-
iiy Of the woman he has selected TO be
your adviser; right 10 make the man
whom you have honoIed with your love
happy : How can you ask me. ethel?
Most certainly It would be right You
tod me- he continued that Miss
hlshy had warned YOU against me.
Imagine the triumph OF going with me
into her presence. and Of saying TO har,
Here is the man against whom you
have warned me he Is my husband
n'w' Imagine her anger. her mord-
ht7don They would DO immeasurable.
Ethel
The idea took possession OF Ethel
l' obtain such glorious revenge upon
her rival she would have committed