The southern sentinel. (Winnfield, La.) 1883-1910, 1901-09-27

Il Neu stdTteu anu stOppeu IOT a no
ment In her work again.
shielding! am shielding nobody
wouldn't shield a thiefr'
If Clifford had been as suspicious o,
her as he was. on the contrary. SIRE OF
her innocence. he would have had al
his doubts swept away by Inc burst Of
superb pride with which she flung
these words at him. 1t was the very
tone he had wished to hear in her. the
very scornful utterance OF the pur,
soul. capable of no wrong. II made
the whole matter more mysterious, bu
1t soothed him. He heaved n great
sigh, and. in spite Of her warning ges
lures, came nearer.
"Nell," he said, Il had been waiting
to hear you speak like that Those are
the very words / have been longing
for you to say"
well, now they are said. you had
better go back to Stroan to your
friends" said she. coolly. "And try to
persuade them to take your view of
the story. For certainly it will be all
over the place by this time that Nell
Claris is thief. or the accomplice of
/ q thief"
And the girl. having flung this speech
at him with all the dignity Of outraged
pride and innocence. suddenly broke
down at the end, and burst into such
bitter sobs that Clifford's heart was
wrung. But as he sprang toward her,
she sprang back and made a rush for
the door Of the cottage. Clifford. how
ever, was too quick for her. and plac-
ing himself between the girl and the
refuge she wished to reach, he spoke
to her in imploring. passionate tones:
"One moment You must listen to
me. All the world will be against you,
you say? Not all, Nell. not all. I will
take your part. 1 will show them
what to believe. Take me for your
husband, Nell, and then who can dare
to think Of you except as think? Who
can dare to say word when you are
my wifeT
The girl stood transfixed. He was
pleading as eloquently. as earnestly. as
IL it had been for his own life. When
he paused. letting his burning eyes
speak his love. as he watched her
startled. blushing face. and fancied he
could trace the feelings OF amaze
ment incredulity. pleasure and doubt
as they struggled in her heart. she
presently shook her head. and turned
away SO that she should not again
meet his eyes.
do you know what you are say
mgr she asked In a usatter-of-fact |
tone. after a sort silence. "And do |
you really expect me to listen to such |
1T Is not nonsense. 1t Is my firm In
tention to make you my wife"
"Ah, but it's my firm intention to be
nothing Of the kind. / am very much
obliged to you for your good inten-
tons. and I quite see that you think
you are doing a fine thing in Offering
to marry me. But" and she drew
herself up. and flashed at him a de-
dant look. II am not going to be mar
ried like that and out Of pity. too. to
! man I never saw till yesterday
These last words came upon Clifford
With shock Of surprise. He had for
gotten what a short time 1t was that
ais acquaintance with Nell had lasted;
{ seemed to him that he had known
Ter for months-years. He was ready
With his answer to this objection.
AS to that. have known you for
very long time. Nell" he said. grave
y. Il have known you just as long
Is I have looked forward to meeting
girl exactly like you. And have al
Ways intended, when did meet her, ~
o take no rest until had persuaded 7
er to become my wife. I think you {
nay take this as an answer to the Q
digestion that there is any pity In {
be case. The pity will be for me IL Q
on won't have me-" {
Now this was rather prettily Out, Z
nd Nell looked Modified. She took q
er broom in hand again. and affected t
, go on with her sweeping, although Y
he pretense was not a very effectual F
ne. O
Unfortunately" she said, In a low A
dice. which was not so fiippant as she 4
build have wished. 81 haven't such q o.
lvid imagination myself. and can't a,
retend that have known you long m
,ough to be sure that I should like Ia
,u for q husband" "
Her tone was not so discouraging az Ct
n words. Clifford. who. much to his T
wn surprise, was quite in earnest. m
'essed his suit with proper eagerness. 81
II don't want to rush you into mar E
ing me-" he said. Take me on pro- al
ltiou. Let 1t be known that I have ey
'ked you to be my wife; give way SO Pi
r as to become engaged to me; and pr
before I 60 back to town next of
onth, have bored you so much that
~ have to break the engagement in
sgust. you send me about my bus1-
IS and refuse to receive any letters
ON me. At any rate. people won't DC ..
able to say unkind things when M
ey know / wanted you tn ha INV IN