Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1900-09-06

"Ah!" he said, deprecatlngly, and
making gesture Of regret; Il am
making more of muddle Pray let
us change the subject, before ! offend
you more deeply"
"No!" Pearle cried, all her indIgna-
ton concentrated in the one word.
"You evidently have had some motive
In saying this much; you are trying TO
mako me dissatisfied with and sus-
plcious OF the man who is almost my
husband-you, who pretend to be
noble mans friend"
Pretend" Mr.. Cheetham repeated,
In grleved surprise, and with sorrow
fully arching eyebrows
eyes, pretend. Had you been true
and honorable, you would never have
inflicted this sting upon me. You
are seeking to undermine my conf
dence i'm one Of the noblest men who
WALKS the cnrth-to poison my mind
against him. But you cannot do It,
and you arc but a protendor to the
friendship you claim to have for Rich
ard Byrnholm for no sincere friend
would accept his hospitality and then
betray his trust, as you have done to-
day"
Tho Rcorn and lOathing which the
fair girls words and manner betrayed
wero very hard for hdisOn Cheetham
To bear patiently; but he had not eX-
pectod that his conquest would be an
easy one, and II any amount Of for
bearanco would accomplish the result
no desired he could well afford to OK
ercise It.
"Ah how exceedingly unfortunate |
ami crave your pardon for the
thoughtlcss words ! have spoken
Miss Radcliffe, say that you forgive
me-" he returned, so respectfully and
humbly that for II moment Pearle was
iisarmed.
Sho glanced at him uneasily.
Was H. possible that Richard had
been wild and indiscreet while at
school, and had done something which
no would be glad to have concealed?
Hadshe been oohasty nj Crjudgmont
of tho man standing apparently so
crest-ralon by her BidoH Was he,
after all. true friend to Richard, but
out of a sincere regret for the past ana
regard for her had been betrayed
into giving Involuntary expression to
TT
These questions flashed through her
mind all in moment, and she began
to regret hor imperious words. Her
reason told her that she had been
hasty, but in her heart she did not
trust him one whit the more,
He saw her face soften into some
thing like pcnltcncc; he noticed her
iudocsIon and understood her
thoughts and he caught eagerly at
these signs,
patience" no said to himself Il
shall yet win
poarlo started to walk on her brow
her side, that respectful, humbIed look
stlll 8hndowIng his face.
"Uavo | your Gorglyonoss2" he asked
again, In a low, appealing tone, after
an awkward silence
81 hAvo no wish to be unjust to any
one" she replied, eyasiyoly
His eyes lighted The tone was
somewhat ro-aasurlng, If the words
were not
"Nou cannot pardon me; | have In
cured your deep oisplcasurc, when
would Margaret Radcliffe, | would
die to win your fayorl" he cried, his
voice actually growing hoarso vita
pn1l,nlV M Il
him,
She stopped still in the path whore
they wCrc walking and looked at him
for moment, spooChloss with aston
ishmont.
That one look was sufficient to make
her comprehend his meaning He had
dared to love her! THAT was why he
had been trying to weaken her con-
fidcnco In the man she loved
An angry flush again mounted to hel
brow, and then faded out into death
ly pallor. Her little hands opened and
closed almost spasmodiCailly while
her breath became labored and heavy
"You call yourself Richard Byru'
holms friend, and dare TO utter suct
words to mel refuse to listen to yor
further, Mr.. Choot-enl."
She could not help it-tho name
would come out with just that In
Election, He was n fraud, and she ha,
instinctively known 1t from the very
first moment of her acquaintance Will
him.
As sne spoke she had turned abrupt
ly from him and began to walk OF
again.
For a moment he stood looking aftc1
her. lurid. dangerous light in hl'
reddish brown eyes, His name hat
always been source of modification
to him. Time and again he had trleJ
to institute change, calling II Cheeth
am; but some way It would never stay
changed, and gradually degenerateC
into the old obnoxious pronunciation
very much us pearle had uttered Il
although not quite so marked in &C
cent.
He sprang after the indignant CIR