The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1900-05-19

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MY duty to the firm must be the sec
ondary consideration in this case, Mr..
Bunting, replied Hinde. II cannot
send the cable, and whatever the conse-
quences, | must accept them.
Without another word he went out Of
the room and walked to his desk 1t was
after 6 clock by this time, and most of
the clerks were gone, but he stayed at his
post till the hands of the clock pointed to
:, putting his papers in perfect order
against his expected dismissal next day.
An hour later Hinde was sitting in the
cosy little drawing room of house in
Crosshill, one of the suburbs of Glasgow
4 bright fire was burning in the CRATE
aud a shaded lamp in a corner of the room
ditfused soft glow throughout the apart
ment The furniture in the room was in
expensive but 4 few delicate water color
drawigs on the walls and the fresh chrys-
anthemums in vases on the mantel shelf
and on the occasional table and piano were
evidences of refined taste of their owner
In the centre of the mantel shelf stood Il
tull-length photograph of Hinde himself
He was taken standing erect one hand
grasping the lapel of his coat, his head
thrown back, aud look in his fine eyes
which seemed TO defy the universe.
He sat now in his chair facing the pho
tograph and soliloquized
"Yes. he said in low tone of voice,
you seem to think you re fine, indie
pendent sort of chap, quite ready to say
Come on to anyone, and certain that it
won be you that will get the worst of the
now fight And you We said it, and |
hope you re satisfied What right has
poor beggar ike you to indulge in the lux
ury Of conscience ? Heigho Wen,
YOU We game your ain gait, and you know
what the result will be- We hereby give
you notice to leave our employment In
plain words, Dick Hinde, your pernickety
conscience has got You the sack, and
Isobel-ah my darling Isobel his
voice softened and his bright eyes grew
dim as he murmured
Il could not love thee, dear. so much.
Loved | not honor more.
A pair of soft hands covered his eyes;
there was musical laugh behind him, aud
a merry voice demanded
And who is this Miss Honor that you
love 80 mnch sir? shall keep you
blinded till YOU tell me DO You want to
make ne jealous ?
Hinde gently raised the hands from his
eyes, aud smiled up to the sweet young
face that was looking down on him over
the back Of the chair.
Al YOU witch, he said, tenderly,
when | am with YOU l am always blind
to everything save your dear face.
He rose and took her in his arms, and
their Iips met in lovers kiss. Some
minutes went past without a spoken word
from either, so delightful l. the converse
ton that can be carried ON in certain cir
eumsiances by the language Of she eyes.
Then Isobel sighed happily, hlushed, aud
said
oh, Dick, YOU re dreadful | don t
know what my hair must be ike
"Its perfectly beautiful, said Dick,
truthiully You look, if possible, even
more charming than usual when it is ruf-
fed. These little curls about your neck
are ike waves OF gold, only they are a
thousand times more beautiful than gold.
You must remember, darling, how long 1t
is since saw YOU last 1t Is twenty
Why, it 5 twenty lone hours.
IsObel Masters glanced at the clock on
the mantelpieee.
''You are wrong, sir, she cried, laugh
ing. 1T Is exactly twenty two hours now.
And, by the way, she added, you are
late tonight Were you very busy at the
office p
Hinde face fell
.'Sit down, darling, he said gravely,
Il have something to tell you.
lsobels airy manner disappeared in a
moment.
Is there anything wrong, dear? she
asked, a. Dick led her to chair and sat
down beside her
Yes, there is something wrong, he
replied, and then he related the events Of
the afternoon.
The girl listened intently to his story,
her bright young face growing serious as he
proceeded.
"And now, he concluded, II may as
well look out for another situation at once.
| expect NY dismissal as soon as go IN
tomorrow morning. 1t is hard, indeed, is
it not, especially when We were looking
forward to being married so soon?'
"Oh ! my own love = cried Isobel,
kissing him tenderly on the forehead, ''you
have made me so happy" Her eyes filled
with tears, but they were tears of joy.
e.It is hard, and yet it is not hard. You
could not have have done otherwise, and
YOU know, Dick, we can wait Better so
than that you should do what is not right.
She smiled bravely, and as Dick took her
to his heart without word, she said
gayly
Il am not jealous of Miss Honor [
hope you will always love her more than
me. ~
Next morning Hinde was at his desk
punctually at o clock, and as he got out
his papers his face was calm and his greet
iny tn Fraser cheerful His pulse was