The Delta independent., 1900-12-28
CHAPTER vII.-(continued)

W rat you refuse" he exclaimed In
CrcrUlou.ly. You will not accept my
NarHing2 You will be my enemy
hope not. surely But II you are
~ enemy ! shall not be yours she
Answered steadily, backing away, yet
E.cping an eye upon the glass doors.
For n moment the young man stood
-azing at her with more feeling In his
'4c- than she could have believed pos
albls
Mollie little knew how pretty she
Ipoked. as she stood there in her white
gown. with the soft dark night as
uackground. and the lights from the
craving room falling on her curly.
run,sd head. nor the simple dignity OF
the grey eyes that regarded him 80
feariessly. All At once his expression
changed, and grew black and fierce
distorted with eyil thought
SO you decline" he hissed In her
ear You think you will marry that
long Legged. curly headed soldier But
disabuse your mind of that idea. You
will marry me. Henri Dubois. ] swear
H. Whether you love me or not !
VIII be your husband. oh. you will
soon BE- glad enough to escape from
madame ma mere. and you can do II
by me-only by me All. how quiet
you are DO you hear
Yes. and so will every one else,
Mollie replied. standing very erect. and
cycling with naughty dlsdain his ea-
cited face. Il have listened TO you
patiently. but decline to he threat
sned or coerced. II may answer with
some people-it never did with LES
TRANCE. Let me pass
For u moment Henri paused irreso-
lutte. glarinE at her: then b. gave way
a step. and she was through the draw
ing room and half way upstairs before
he could realin. that he had been baf-
Ned and refused by this girl OF 10.
Ne had thought to reduce her to
submission. and at tn. hrs, threat she.
usually 10 gentle. had turned upon him
fearleasly. and he. n coward by ma
turs. failed to recognize. what his
mother dimiy felt. that IL was impos-
sible to cover = spirit that rose high
.r Whenever danger threatened.
A. for Mollie she vas angry and
indignant: yet once In her room. she
could not help laughing
so I am to marry Henri. who will
devote his life to making me happy
she murmured. as she brushed her
hair. 1T will not be a money -makins
prosession for him I have an idea
that once h. had my ~retehed forum.
h. would turn his devotion TO his own
amusement"
But from that night tn. life at
Chalfont became almost unbearable.
Madame openly espoused her sons
cause. sayins IL ~AS strange Mollie
could refuse one % handsome and de-
voted. for whom other girls were sigh
ing In vain. Slowly and steadily she
tried to force her into the hated en-
EaGement Implying that II would be
. Grvat relief to her mind to have her
married to - estimable a young man.
tn. only on. she could coun'enaace
for her. and well Mollie knew what
this latter remark meant neither Mr.
Ans;ruther nor any one else need en-
pect her consent. As for Henri. he
vas worse than ever. following her
everywhere. sullen or sentimental by
turns. repeating his proposals when
ever he had an opportunity. and the
only friend sh. had In tn. house was
her little hslf--ister Kate.
For the strange child. ever since the
Easter es. when she had no~n to
Moliie for protection. had attached her
self to her with q qulef persistence that
vas both amusing and touching Every
night she found her rolled up In one
corner of her bed asleep. or pretend
inr to he. and tn. fear Of losing this
priyiieg. mad. her try 20 check this
irritability that vas part of her tenn
peram.nt. and be more amenable to
the sorely tried gnyernsss.
This much Mollis eNscted. though
she would never haV. had fhc heart
70 enforce u. for the little one : nerves
were In q terribly strained state. and
MolIie's room seemed her haven Of
refuge There she felt s,fs there,
dark or Hight. nothing could touch
dreams. bad things could ne, come
near Moliie. who was so sweet and
Day by day she followed her
about. q, first with shy defiance at
last with unconcealed affection and a
funny mothsrly solicitude. and ere the
rtses began TO bloom there was no
frime so great in her eyes as to hurt |
MUIiie.
What f. tn. natter" asked MoIlie !
one morning. when she found her |
prancing about the lawn In fury. /
scoIdins like a young virseo the gar
dener. who was marking out a tennis |
I. ,urt
Misses SAY. she won't have no court |
here - said the man heiplessly. touch
Ing his cap. and the gentleman or
sered me 20 mark one