The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1900-10-05

s.s7s -
She 1rdS the most absolutely cIu?rnin1
arOmdn hdd CCCr seen
significant nonentity, and impossible
whereas if l were duke, or an Ameri-
can millionaire, you might-perhaps"-
''Do you mean to say that you have
been decciving me all this time? al
together refuse to be bound by any
unguardcd words | may have uttered,
and If you persist shall also decline the
honor Of your acquaintance
Hear me out, at any rate" plead
ed, as l seized her hand and gently
drew her back, for she had now got
up and was leaving me like n frighten-
ed bird.
Then I blurtCd out the whole story,
in that clumsy, laundering way man
has when his heart is full and all his
happiness depends on what he is say
ing. Still never Il word from her, until
at last l cried dcspairingly.
"Frida, darling, my first thought
when l heard Of this fortune was of
you-say you will share it with me-"
Il think you have been most abom-
nably deccitful and undcrhand," she
faltered. You should not have kept
it from me, had right to know, l
should have been told-I-P'-
II only heard the news myself this
very morning"
"But just think what people would
say. l should be called n mcrcenary
wretch, accused of selling myself for
your millions"
They shall be yours. l will make
them all over to you at once do not
care for them one bit, except that they
give me the right to ask you for this"
1 took her glovcd hand and kissed it,
but she herself turning her blushing
face up to mine, offered me her lips.
When | left Princes Gate l seemed
to tread an air. We had been among
the last. Frida and had fingered OH
among the aZaleas till Mrs. Fair
holmes patience was fairly exhausted
and she came herself to end the tete-
a-tete. think she saw enough in our
conscious faces to comfort her with
the hope that the pains of her chaper-
onage were approaching their term,
and she heartily indorsed Fridas invi-
tation to come to lunch, and come
early.
Then saw them into their carriage,
refusing their proffered seat, for
wished to be alone with my new found
happiness.
The night was fine, the air soft,
under the pale sky, for dawn was near
ut hand. and | stepped out gayIy, with
all the buoyancy of one with whom
the world went WE'LL
was brought up shortly and sharply
to the realities of life by running up
plump against my shadow" The
man who had stuck to my heels so
pertinaciously all the evening was still
on the watch.
But he was not lurking in the re-
eesses of house porch. l met him
face to face upon the pavement, aud he
could not escape me.
Look here, my fine fellow" cried,
tackling him at once, "this has gone q
little too far. Take yourself off, now,
or l shall give you in charge. Come
walk
Then I caught sight of his face under
the gas lamp and instantly recogniz-
ed it.
What, you. Mr.. Snuyzer" I laugh
ed aloud. Upon my word, am in
hnitely obliged to you. But really you
might have saved yourself the trouble.
And-pardon my saying SOL don't
think you do 1t very we'll"
He would not own up at all. easy.
guv'nor, easy" he answered, with n
well assumed snnfling voice. "Wot
are you a-driving at? I've as good a
right to be ERE as you ev. Wotss
amiss?'
II tell you plainly, Mr.. Snuyzer, 1t
won't do" l continued. "I don't want
you, and won't have you dogging nv
Footsteps wherever 60. It's not the
way to get round me, and you'll have
to drop it. Begin at once. Go your
own road-that way-and I'll take
this"
1 pointed him down the Exhibition
road, and myself turned into Knigh ~
bridge, and walking eastward. half di =
posed to do the whole distance on foot
But n hanson came Up out of some
where, n news, or a side street. or
overlook me on the road, and The
driver, after the custom Of his cljlss.