The Lamar register., 1900-04-04

another day brought you here post
haste?'
Don felt his breath come quicker, for,
fruit and invalid dainties with which
she had honored him in hospital he
was not at all sure how high in her es-
teem he had reached.
Il fear I made 1t point of neces-
sity," he answered bluntiy; "but / had
letter from home today, Miss Der
went. and-and the fact is I couldn't
sleep till I'd had five minutes private
conversation with you. You won't re-
fuse me it?" he broke off, with a look
in his dark eyes she could not mistake.
She flushed and looked down before
that ardent gaze.
Mrs. franklin is always engaged
with Cecil and his ayah just now" she
said softly. I'VE shan not be dis
turbed.'
Don rose and drew his chair nearer
hers but the tete-a-tete was disturbed
in a very commonplace way neither
had thought of at that tense moment
Darkness had suddenly set in, for
there is no twilight In India. A serv-
ant was noiselessIy lighting the lamps.
and the huge punkah had begun to
swing to and fro overhead to temper
the added heat.
1t was when tea and coffee were be-
ing served Lille broke the somewhat
awkward stlnce which had fallen upon
her visitor and herself by saying soto
yoce:
HTNL to- .A,& IL. n
appreciate Indian life is to have ones
comforts attended to as these natives
do it Really, We cannot rely upon
such faithful service from our own
countrymen."
II was the keynote for Don's wait
Ing eloquence.
That's rather rough on present
company, Is II not7' he objected. You
know. or you ought to know. Miss Der
went, l am ready to serve you any
where in the wide world"
She blushed crimson.
"oh. but you misconstrue my mean
ing altogether. Capt. Gordon. was
only talking OF hired service. not
She stopped in some confusion and
hurriedly added: Not friendship
willis; she blushed deeper than ever.
Don put up his right hand with a
little gesture of languid beseeching as
he poised his tiny cup of coffee in his
left palm and leaned back restfully in
his softly cushioned chair. for that
bright blush. which made his hostess
look so bewitching, had added much
to his eomposure and confidence.
Yes. she was really very pretty. and
he was not sure but that he loved her
very deeply indeed.
Don't throw the devotion of your
slave back In his face by calling 1t
friendship" he said. "Lillie," He laid
down his cup now. and leaned toward
her to get a glimpse OF the fair face
behind the fan she had opened and was
huttering uervously.
Lille. won't you believe meg You
hold my happiness in your hands; my
life is yours to do what you will with;
but want my wages as much as any
one OF your natiyes--I want the gift OF
this hand and the heart that owns it,
He had risen now, and, standing over
her, had imprisoned the white fingers
that held the fan with a masterful air
that bespoke all the ardor of deter
mined lover. Did Lilies thoughts fly
back to another night in the far past,
when thus another Gordon had stood
over her and claimed the love he be-
lieved to he hisT
But this was not the same Lille who
had allowed Roddy Gordon TO think
her heart won to his keeping who
looked up now in the eyes OF Roddy's
kinsman-
Love had taught her Its mystic les
son. and she knew now that IT was to
Don Gordon alone her heart must be
surrendered for all time.