Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1901-07-25

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entreated or despaired, as occasion
seemed to require :.
But it was not until q detailed &C
count Of Shirley Austin's death-pur
porting to come from correspondent
In Acknowledgements In daily pa
per. that Clarice showed symptoms o
yielding.
do with me as you please" she said
when her mother next spoke Of Philil
Grayson's proposal. "Shirley Is dead
I and my heart is buried in his grave
You say that my father is in the power
of this rich man, and that alone car
release him. Then, he promises you
mother, all the luxuries your delicate
health requires. Very well, then, an
willing to sacrifice myself. 1t Is hardly
sacrifice now, since I would Willingly
be disposed of, one way or another
This world holds nothing now that
care for;. do with me as you please.
Mrs. Mowbray kissed the girls pallid
cheek, little impressed by the despair
of the words and voice, for her shallow
nature was incapable Of understanding
heart like her daughters.
She then FASTENED with the news to
her husband, who. in turn. was soon on
his way to carry the joyful intelligence
to Grayson.
| 1t was agreed between the two men
that the impatient sutton might call on
the following day, and learn the full
extent of his happiness from the lips
of Clarice; and it was to keep this
same appointment that Philip fastened
away after parting with his sister.
Clarice was seated. alone, in the little
parlor, where he had first met her. He
was very much in love, and didn't try
to conceal it. His eager gaze drank IN
he.' whole appearance at glance she
was simply dressed in a half-tight
wrapper of wkite cashmere, without a
shade of color to relieve its cold'
| creamlike tint, save the violet OF her
large and lustrous eyes.
Her face, pale as her robe, was down.
cast. and her gaze was fixed absently
on her slender white hands, clasped
loosely on her lap.
Her golden-brown hair, fine and soft
as floss silk. that reached halfway to
her feet when unbound, was now close
ly braided and wound in glistening
beauty, around her finelX1shaped heao.
To the most Indifferent beholder she
would have seemed a very handsome
girl; but her restrained, cold, impas-
sive countenanca gave little idea of the
radiant brilliancy natural to her.
She did not move ,or even raise her
eyes, when the man she had promised
to marry entered the room; but as he
approached her wave Of color swept
over her face and neck, and he could
see that she trembled.
IJo oor,,o roaror and she rose SLOWLY.
Then he took the hand, she did not
offer, and held it closely in his.
Placing his arm about her. he drew
her to him. and kissed her passionately,
but quite with the air of a man taking
possession of his own property.
''My darling!" he murmured, Il never
saw you look so beautiful"
Clarice shuddered and drew away
from him.
"Oh, Mr.. Grayson," she faltered,
''pray don't expect too much of me so
soon! You know-I hope you have been
told of my sad story. I am a poor,
heartbroken girl. All my hopes of hap
piness are buried in the grave Of the
only man I can ever love!"
t. Grayson laughed lightly.
GAIL young ladies speak that way to
the men who come second" he said.
''But am content to wait, dearest. I
won't hurry you"
"Thank you, thank you. You are
very good to me. And you are my faith
er's friend. You promise to be kind and
generous to my sick mother. You will
see will be grateful, and if you will be
patient, Mr.. Grayson, will try to be
true and affectionate wife,
"And when vol you marry me, my
lovely Clare?"
"Whenever you please. Since T am
to marry you, the soner it is over and
done with the better.'
"Quite my opinion, too, you most
sensible little girl" and again Grayson
drew his betrothed close to his breast.
and pressed his lips to hers.
| But this was more than the tortured
girl could bear.
| She tore herself from his embrace and
dropped into a chair, buried her face
| in her hands, and gave way to violent
weeping.
For a moment her middle-aged lover
looked at her with a dark frown, and a
keen pang of jealousy smote him to the
heart.
Words that were half-resentful, half
! scornful, rose to his lips but, with an
effort he wisely restrained himself
from uttering them. The frown cleared
away from his face, and gentler, al
most plying, look took the place of it..
Poor child!" he murmured, poor
child! I will try not to expect too
much of you at first"
With caressing touch he stroked
the bowed head, and though it seemed
very hard to forego his rights as an ac-
copied lover, he turned away without
any further effort at farewell en-
brace.
Clarice raised her face, caught his
hand impulsively and pressed it to her
| lips for moment.
''Thank you!" she said. ''Thank you,
Mr.. Grayson. I appreciate your kind
ness to met"
He left her without another look. feel
ing that he had obtained kind Of vic
tory, and anxious not to spoil it.
And she sat listening to the sound of
steps descending the stairs, until the
loud bang of the front door told her he
had gone from the house. Then, with a