The free press. (Poplarville, Miss.) 1890-19??, 1900-09-13

NGTEM accompanied by
q shrug of the shoulders. was gener-
ally the acme Of praise awarded JUS
tin Seymour.
lie had fine, dark eyes-eyes which
looked a you half searchingly, half
suspiciously-eyes which told you in
Il glance shat he had little faith in his
fellow men. But no cynical light
cleaned in those eyes now, for they
rested on the earnest face of Myra
Blaine.
Myra's earnestness was too much
for him-his cynicism vanished before
it. She talked to him as no one had
talked to him before; she cast some in
fuence over him-an influence he tried
to resist at first, but seemingly he
yielded to it now, for every morning
found him sitting here in this pleasant
room, where Myra came with her
handiWOrk.
Justin Seymour has considerable of
his Satanic Majesty in his compost
ton, but | believe, my dear Myra, that
is always an attraction for your sex.
He has been deceived and disappointed
until he hasn't any faith left but he's
a very good sort of fellow, for all that"
This was what Philip Aymer, My
ra's intended husband, said to her the
day he brought Justin Seymour with
him on n visit to her fathers house.
And instantly her pure heart went out
in nil re- ic Str 1,n
She thought, so much in need of help
ing hand.
All, dangerous pity. Myra's embroid-
cry lay in her lap. She had not set Il
a stitch in it for the last fifteen min
utes. Her great, earnest violet eyes
were raised to Justin Seymour's dark
ones, as she sat talking to him.
A footstep sounded in the hallway
without, and Justin Seymour rose and
abruptly quilted the room as Philip
Aymer sauntered in.
What meant Justin Seymours sud
den departure when Philip entered?
This same thing had happened before.
but Philip noticed it now for the first
time He looked over at Myra. With
cheeks aglow her head was bent over
her embroidery; nor did she raise her
eyes to see who entered
He crossed over to the window and
looked out for several moments, and
still Myra did not raise her eyes to
look at him.
"Myra," he said suddenly turning
from the window, you are getting in
terested n Mr.. Seymour, or he is get
ting interested in you-which is it,"
perhaps we are getting interested in
each other" said Myra. smiling.
"Myra, you should not get interested
in Justin Seymour. He is not good
mamie had led a hard life"
philip Aymer. for shame! to speak
of your friend in such a manner. Do
you forget. sir, that you have left this
man, who is so very bad-who has led
such an awful life-and me to enter
tain each other every day since you
came here?" cried Myra, Indignantly.
Philip Aymer's face turned scarlet.
He crossed over to Myra's side.
''Myra," he said, putting his arm
about her.
Don't touch me, don't! l cannot
bear it!' said Myra, drawing from him,
and frightened at her own words, she
covered her face with her hands.
80 it has come to this" thought
Philip, every vestige of color leaving
his face.
They were engaged to be married
Their parents had managed the en-
gagement for them while they were
too young to do it themselves. But
Philip was very well satisfied with
the parental arrangement, not that he
was desperately in love with Myra,
but he liked her, and she possessed Il
fortune-and money was Philip Ay-
mer's god.
And Myra was willing to please her
parents. Philip was handsome, she
liked him. but love she knew nothing
about it until-until just now, when
Philip put his arm about her and she
knew just as surely as she did in the
days that followed that she Logged JUS
tin Seymour.