Little Falls herald. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1889-1950, 1901-12-06
come guest as She went.

come guest as she went. = ! =: I
Chatham made a motion as if to
take a chair; but Agnes remained sig
nifcantly standing. L, st =:
"Perhaps," she said, coldly, you
will be good enough to explain as
briefly as possible your object in fore
ing your presence upon me in this un-
gentlemanly way?"
II suppose my conduct does strike
you as ungentlemanly," said the
young man, piteously; 'but what could
I do? love you devotedly. madly,
and you will not allow me even to
tell you so. You instruct your serv-
ants to turn me away from the door
like beggar. Is it q crime to love
you?"
mo, Mr.. Chatham" said the girl,
more gently, ut is not crime to love
a woman; but it is at least serious
blunder to adopt the method you have
selected of showing your affection,
and it is certainly not generous to
force it upon her as you are doing"
what else can do?" he repeated,
doggedly. Here am suddenly
obliged to leave New York for a long
time-perhaps forever-and unable to
get single word with you. I called
yesterday morning and was informed
that you were at that artist fellows
studio. Then I wrote you letter,
asking for an interview, and left it
there for you myself. The only notice
you took of it was to give instructions
to your butler not to admit me If I
called again. cannot go away like
that, without a ray Of hope to tighten
my exile, and to leave you here sur
rounded by lot of men who are
anxious to marry you"
The tender-hearted girl felt grow
ing pity for the awkward and vulgar
young man in whom she began vague
ly to discern a genuine suffering.
II am sorry, Mr.. Chatham" she
said, more sorry than ! can say.
But what can 1 do? I do not care
for you in the way you wish, and af-
lection is not to be coerced. have
done the best I could to discourage
you. because
II know you have" interrupted
Chatham; "you have avoided me, and
snubbed me, and taken every way you
could to show that you do not like
me-"
1T would have been mistaken kind
ness to do otherwise" said Agnes,
gently.
"No, it wouldn't" exclaimed the &C.
countant; II 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"
II cannot do that" said the girl, in
q low tone.
"Why can't you?" urged the young
man excitedly. II have sacrificed ev-
erything for you; have given up all I
had; I have lost my position; I have
risked my life"
II don't understand you," said Miss
Murdoch. looking at him in astonish-
ment.
"Your father would" he replied,
huskily; 1T was he egged me Oh to
this; he promised me that you. would
have me-" -.
my father promised"
Eyes, your father; and, by G."
Chatham, who was growing more and
more excited, brought down his
clenched fistupon table near which he
stood, and with an evident effort re-
pressed the oath which rose to his lips.
Miss Murdoch. startled and bewildered
observed him in speechless amazement.
After a momentary struggle, the &C.
countant suddenly broke forth in pite-
Gus pleading:
II don't ask much now. Tell me only
one thing and shall 60 away content
for the present. Say that no other man
has any better chance with you than l
have. Say that you do not love anyone
else" :.
The young girl tried hard to avoid
his ardent gaze.
"say it'll" he commanded. in sudden
sternness.
Agnes drew herself up proudly then.
II don't know by what right you pre-
sumo to catechise or to command me- -
she said, coldly, at the same time max
ing q motion az If to touch the button