Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1900-10-04
again. this time directing his steps
toward the Murdocks' home.
CHAPTER XIV.
TWO LOVERS.

q
gers wandering dreamily over the keys,
when a servant Knocked at the door.
"A gintleman to see yer, miss" said
the maid.
"A caller," exclaimed Agnes, in sur
prise. AT this time of day? Did he
give you his card?"
NO. miss. Nor his name, nayther."
"WelI, then. Mary" said Agnes, with
{. mixture of amusement and severity.
why do you announce him? | think
you would better keep an eye on the
hat-rack.'
''Ile amt no thafe, miss" said the
maid positively; 'he do be dressed up
too foine fur that. Besoides, Olive sane
him here before. \ hansum young
feller wild rid Mister-M Mister
Cha-Chapman."
"Chatham!" suggested Agnes, with
sudden seriousness.
"Yis. miss; 1T do be the same"
Il cannot receive him. said Miss
Murdock, in frigid tones. II am sur
prised that John should have admitted
him, after the explicit instructions |
gave him yesterday. Hereafter | am
never at home to Mr.. Chatham
Your butler is not at fault in this
instance" said a voice from the hall
way. and before either of the women
could recover from her surprise, a
tlashiIy dressed young man with in
tensely red hair entered the room. He
carried his left arm in a sling. His
face was pale; his eyes glittered with
a feyerish light; his voice quiyered
with repressed excitement.
Il was waiting for your father in
his Office, when | heard your maid 90
by, and | asked her to announce me.
| hoped for, but | can hardly say |
expected, a more hospitable recep-
ton"
Miss Murdock. after the first shock
of surprise, had drawn up her grace
full figure to its full height, and stood
| looking ut the young man with undis-
! guised contempt in her flashing eyes.
Chatham paused as if expecting a
reply; and then:
Shall | explain the object of my
visit before your servant?" he asked,
bitterly.
"You may leave, Mary, until I ring
for you" said the young girl, turning
to the maid.
The woman reluctantly left the
room, casting curious glances upon
| her young mistress and her unwel-
| come guest as she went.
Chatham made a motion as if TO
| take chair; but Agnes remained sig
nificantly standing.
Perhaps she said, coldly, you
will be good enough to explain as
briefly as possible your object in fore
ing your presence upon me in this un-
| gentlemanly way?"
Il suppose my conduct does strike
you as ungentlemanly," said the
youngman. piteously; but what could
| do? | love you devotedly, madly.
| and you will not allow me even to
| tell you so. You instruct your serv-
ants to turn me away from the door
| like beggar. Is it crime to love
you?"
"No, Mr.. Chatham" said the girl,
more gently, lit is not crime to love
a woman; but it is at least serious
| blunder to adopt the method you have
| selected of showing your affection,
and it is certainly not generous TO
force it upon her as you are doing"
what else can l do?" he repeated,
| doggedly. Here am | suddenly
obliged to leave New York for long
| time-perhaps forever-and unable to
| get a single word with you. | called
| yesterday morning and was informed
| that you were at that artist fellows
| studio Then / wrote you a letter,
asking for an interview, and | left it
there for you myself. The only notice
| you took of it was to give instructions
| to your butler not to admit me if
called again. | cannot go away like
that, without a ray of hope to tighten
my exile, and to leave you here sur
rounded by lot of men who are
anxious to marry you"
The tender-hearted girl felt a grow
ing pity for the awkward and vulgar
| young man in whom she began vague
ly to discern a genuine suffering.
II am sorry, Mr.. Chatham" she
| said, more sorry than | can say.
| buJ WHAT can L 10 40 uOU care
for you in the way you wish, and af-
fection is not to be coerced. | have
done the best | could to discourage
you. becduse-'
81 know you have" interrupted
Chatham; you have avoided me, and
snubbed me, and taken every way you
could to show that you do not like
| me-"
at would have been mistaken kind
ness to do otherwise" said Agnes,
gently.
NO, it wouldn't" exclaimed the ac-
countant; Il don't ask you to love
me; not at once, at any rate. But
give me a show; give me time; give
me little hope"
Il cannot do that" said the girl, in
| low tone.
'Why can't you?" urged the young
man eXcitedly. Il have sacrificed ev-
erything for You; L have given up all