Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1900-10-12

gently
mo. il 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, III
a low tone.
"Why can't you?" urged the young
man eXcitedly. II have sacrificed ev-
erything for you; have given ny all |
had: | have lost my position; / have
risked my life"
Il don't understand you said Miss
Murdoch, looking at him in astonish-
ment.
your father would" ne replied,
huskily; ''it was ne egged me on to
this; he promised me that you would
have me
MY father promised
YES. your father; and, by C"
Chatham, who was growing more and
more excited, brought down his
clenched fist upon table near which he
stood, and with an evident effort re-
dressed the oath which rose to his lips.
Miss Murdoch, startled and bewildered
observed hlii' III SpeeclI'ss " li,'N'i''el'' l.
-Iler H'oIleli'",3 SuuSs'e' 'ie "'-
eouh 'Hn' Suuo'n'l "'oN' 4o' III III '''e'
Gus pleading:
aoh ASK IN uch now Zen me ohIE
one thlhg ana l ShdI 90 away content
for the present. Say that no other man
has any better chance with YOU than
nave. say 'ha' you 90 not loNe an one
else.
Inc young Sir4 trIeo nara 10 aNoIu
ms ardent gaze
say A. ne coininahc'o' IN sudden
sttrhh'Ss,
Agnes Grew herseh up proudly theh'
i oon Know ny "hat riSh' you pre-
sumo 10 caltch'Se or 10 co"ihaho me-
she sa'"' cody az the same lllle max
ing a mouon as IL 10 toucA the button
OF the electric beII'
Chatham saw the motion and sprang
before her TO intercept it.
All! that is the way of it, is il? >" he
exclaimed, with passionate jealousy.
You are-in loye-vith another mani"
The words seemed to choke him in
the utterance. The blood rushed 10 his
head; the veins on his temples stood
out in purple yiyidness, and, as he
clutched Spasmodically at his collar, a
wild light came into his eyes.
Agnes caught their mad glitter and
shrank back in sudden terror
II have been duped!" he shouted.
60,
and now that : have done all that was
wanted of me i am TO be turned off
like dog, with kick. The dirty work
is done, is it? Wen see about that;
well see what your father has TO say.
But, at any rate, you can be sure of one
thing"
His voice sank TO a hoarse whisper
and the words fell with impressive dis
tinctness:
IF l don't marry you, no one ever
shall"
AS he spoke he leaned forward upon
the table which stood near him, and
his fingers closed nervously upon the
handle of jeweled paper knife. There
was murder in his eye at that moment,
and the frightened girl qualed be-
fore it.
Suddenly her ear caught the sound OF
footsteps in the hallway. She opened
her lips 10 cal. for help, but before she
could utter q sound the door opened, re-
vealing the anxious face of the house
maid, who had heard enough to realize
that it was time TO interrupt the tete-
a-tete without further ceremony.
mr.. Sprague, miss" she an
nounced, with comforting nod at her
young mistress, whose pale face and
frightened eyes had not escaped her at
tention.
Sprague stood on the threshold in
evident embarrassment, looking from
Agnes to Chatham, and uncertain how
to act.
~ fear / am intruding, Miss Muir
dock" he said at last; your maid
told me she thought YOU could re-