The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1900-04-08

caught you; you had no opportunity to
avoid me-"
The sirl made no answer
He went on: Last summer you gave
me a faint hore that in time you would
listen to me. What have you to say to me
now; have you not thought of me all these
long months"
She turned around to him, her eyes full
of tears.
Il was wrong to let you think you mi 7ht
hope. Laurence, for / can't do as you
wish. Don't you undersr and? 1t seems
wrong for me to listen to you. Think,
belong to Allen I was to have been his
wife. He was always talking of Cousin
Laurence; you seemed Cousin Laurence
to me, too Don't you see? l belong to AL
len; can't marry you
But Allen is not"
She interrupted him quickly.
Hush; we don't know; he must be liv-
ing
Monica" he said with great gentleness
of voice, think it is four years; he was
to have returned in Ten months"
Il must be faithful to him.
Dare flushed. This is nonsense Mon
ica," he said, half angrily. "If Alien is
living" he went On, why have we not
heard from him all these years? Are you
going to waste your life in this little vii
lage and give up all chance of happiness
for a fanciful id Of being bound to him?
And think of NEIL have loved you so
long. Cone TO me, l shall love you so
much that YOU must love me in return;
come. ! swear that you shall never regret
il, Monica"
II can't, Laurence"
"Wrl you spoil both Of our lives?"
Il must moi listen, LauI euce. l wish that
you did not care for me-"
II can't help caring for you. I think
have loved you since the frs day l saw
you and now that you are free"
II am not free"
Monica, listen"
She stood up II must not Laurence
Try 10 forget me. l am going home; 60
not come"
And before he could stop her she had
darted away.
She went along swiftly until she krew
that she was out of view from the cove.
Her thoughts were in a whirl. Why should
she not yield? She knew that her happi-
ness would be secure with this strong,
tender man. How little he guessed her
struggle TO resist his pleading. He thought
she did not care. In the old days she had
compared Allen with him. ana always to
the formers disadvantage. For after the
first gamor of their enga cement she had
seen the shallowness and selfishness OF
Aliens nature, and in the close relations
into which. through her enga cement she
was brought with Aliens Cousin Laurence
character OF The latter.
And these last years, how the ten 1eruess
OF his nature had shone out. What care
he had given 10 Aliens desolate mother.
He had almost filled the place of her son.
Still at first. her feeling for him had been
only a strong admiration. In spite Of her
recognition Of Aliens weak nature the
fascination of his glance and soft voice
had held her captive. But now! When AL
len had gone West on the prospecting
tour, which was TO occupy ten months
she had promised to be ready TO marry
him upon his return. But the ten months
had passed. and other months had
grown into years, and he had Tot return
cd They had had no news OF him after
that last letter, written seven months
from his departure. Laurence had employ
ed every means al his command TO find
some trace OF him but In vain lie op-
peared 90 have vanished utterly The
only reasonable solution OF the mystery