Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1901-01-02

he was standing with his eIcellently
dat back 70 the .nantelpiece, and Miss
GreatorcX was covering silk bandan-
ma handkerchief with an opposition
psiitern in colorea wools-why, Mr..
markham could not make out. There
was no one else in the room, and. as
was evident, the gentleman was cls-
posed &c be confidential.
: MSS Greatorex smiled,
E.-.sAlnd why have you not?"
tY have at times been, half afraid
that you. might accept" replied the
candid young man AT Others" he
added tthoughtfully removing an al
most Invisible dust speck from his
sleeve). 81 have been much perturbed
Fay the possibility-that you might re-
fuse" -.-.a-, 80 =
"It would be .disagreeable te be re-
fused" remarked the lady, impersonal-
".
THAT the gentleman considered,
<'depends n was sure wanted to
:. marry you, itwould sunquestionably
: disagrseable to be refused"
END you arc sure?"
s'No; very far indeed from being so.
AT times I think should much enjoy
the role of Mr.. Greatorex, so to speak"
-But not always"
~ sob, dear Eo!-not nearly always"
Miss Greatorex had canary, which
at this juncture began to sing with an
alr OF the most uncomfortable merri-
ment. Mr.. Markham went TO hcigh-
boring drawer and produced thence
cloth, with which he covered the cage.
"You ere not sure whether you are
in love. with me Or no?" remarked
the young lady, as the BIRDS indignant
silence succeeded to his pyivious irre!e.
Ta.st rhapsody.
.Ir. Markham came back to the man.
tnlpiece and, having readjustea his
back, he said in low voice, und look
ing down at the very adjacent brown,
bent bead
"I admit am disappointed"
She looked up rather quickly.
"BitSerly-.1 had no idea that You
could be. stupid-it is evidently posi-
.ple. ~ -.
From the motion of Miss GreatoreH,
her head-as they would say in the old
books-he implied note of interroga-
ton. .....
It is stupid not to have grasped the
question. 1 have for quite long time
: known that was in love with you"
ever since. luncheon?"
Perhaps not quite so long as that
But certainly ever since, almost ever
since, Lady Greatorex left the room.
The young lady laughed.
ssrny methcr such an instance &c
George Eliot's mallgn prophet standing.
behind her daughter and threatening
what she will be-"
I merely meant that the presence
Of chaperon is incompatible with
sentiment
"I," observed the young woman. "do
not mind admitting that am getting
confused. You now assert that for
more than 90 minutes you have ado.ed
mes CIr. Markham's shoulders ap-
peared to de- -eciate the exaggeration
Of. this .rhetoric), "and a moment ago
you seemed much to doubt your love-"
seNot at all. That is why 1 lately
called YOU stuDid. i am sure that
am in love; but am very uncertain as
to whether / would like to marry the
beloved object"
AIiss Greatorex laughed.
"I admit It sounds, perhaps, improp-
or. 7 merely mean thot marriage as
the necessary denouement Of beipg
what IS called in lova sepms to mo quite
n doubtful exne1ient When there is
no m,estion of be,nc IN love-" he con.
tjntied ralaxino himself nv short
ws1k to thp other end of tbe room and
hack "I think marriage NOT. n had ar.
rsnpement. It is then merely q form
of business partnership, and now that
It has ceased TO ba .insoluble has no
special terrors. But YOU and | have
nothing to gain by that. am exceed
ingly-well off, so are you. 1 do not
need to marry for position nor do you.
sWeSnefther' OF us need to demand
, blood; Ike Hamlets aunt. In fine, as
they say in the Arabian Nights,' you
have nothing TO gain. by me, and
have no material need of anything you
can supply to me. Markham is Just as
fine place as; Greatorex abbey. and
not bit finer. When speak of being
in love il is purely personal sensa-
tion; 1 should like it to become chronic.
really enjoy being in love. But If
we got married."
"You cannot anticipate your love
standing that crucial test?'
81 honestly admit that l have my
doubts. We live in a straightforward
age; let me make a clean breast of
them. Do you, for instance, Ike TO