Bryan morning eagle. [volume] (Bryan, Tex.) 1898-1909, 1901-12-27

And when we reached the ravlne yd|
Insisted on going first and let yol
Now. did that because reflected thJ
II you fell could catch you"
"wellY"
"You see. that was my first mIstak
should have gone FIRST and made vol
cling TO my-pardon me-coattails."
VERY likely" said Mrs. Hugonirl
half laughing. But I can't think 4
does MS any good to talk IL over now.
After that" said Klnnalrd. pursy'
Ing his subject. II acted consistently
on the same mistaken theory. ATI
when II came TO the question OF giviIl
you up thought always OF you lrsl
That was why gave you up-whict
you naturally considered a weakness.
II did not escape Mrs. Hugonin that
dormant weakness OF her own was
reviving under the continued stress Of
this absurd conversation. a weakness
for sentiment But Il was checked by
her vexation with her friend for break.
Ing their tacit understanding. and by
the feeling OF half contemptuous pity
that stole over her MS be spoke.
Were she a man. she thought. she
would never confess at forty to the In.
competence OF twenty-five. That Kin
nabd did 30. but absolved her again.
Also. she reflected. she had had n head
ache yesterday. and therefore Il was
very lucky this conversation had not
been started yesterday or she would
have been much more provoked than
she was now.
Il shall not stop you" she said IN a
half mlschievous tone. "Go on--I won't
be angry You win perhaps admit that
II there IL anything ranking II Is as
well Tor you 10 abuse me and have II
over even after all these years. whose
obituaries you have written"
"My dear. my darling" he said. his
strong hand claspIng hers 80 quickly
that lnvoluntarily her arm struggled
like n birds wing 20 wrest itself away.
"It Is well for me TO tell the only wom-
an I ever loved that love her still and
do not mean TO let her 90 again"
Arthur
Margaret. I love you more than
ever"
"It is impossibler'
81 love your
you cannot. cannot be in earnest"
she stammered. "why. you have new
er told me-"
"Never-until now" he laughed. Il
learned something when lost you the
drst time-my darllng.'
This" said Mrs. Hugonln. partially
herself. lis folly. Arthur.
and II Is most unfair"
Unfair" he said. Ito want you for
my wife? No: you mean unfair 20 take
you OF your guard. will not quIbble
with your words" he said. smiling.
May the hour and the scene suggest
10 you all that they will. may they
bring you back to-lt was twenty that
you were-when II all happened, Mar.
saret. when you were twenty-slx
went away from the. city Of all my
hopes. but before turned my back on
L did as many a refugee had done
before mel sealed up my treasures
lnd hid them, aud my store Is where
eft H. That Is why want you to
marry me. All that had looked for.
ward to telling you-when you were
.wcniy-all that had TO say TO you.
he secret hoard that | had been plllng
NJ for our married life. Is intact. and
low want you 10 share II with me-"
lie paused moment and then went
'n: MY dear. have simply had TO
walt: that is all. but. please heaven.
We VIII begin again"
Poor Mrs. Hugonin's breath came
md went. an unwilling messenger OF
'assion-or. Il might be. OF sentiment.
Perhaps I was In the wrong" she
aid. But why did not you think more
4 yourselfg"
Il am thinking OF myself now" said !
llnnaird.
Suddenly. as Mrs. Hugonin hung dis |
racted and In doubt. the clIff before
hem rang faint and slbylllne with an
cho. IL was the town clock OF the vii |
lge striking over beyond the trees.
hey could not hear II. but. sent from I
sdge 10 ledge In the stIll night air. II
truck sllvery and remote on the gran.
e facade. As II sounded they both
tarted. he at its elfln suggestions. she
its material reminder.
Good graclousF' she exclaimed. ut
J III o'clock
''It ls." said KlnnaIrd.
"And we must positively 60 back to
be hotel at once. We are n scandal.
rthur-and you know ~. for I saw
on start too" She began 10 smile.
Do you see nothing In the auguryY
be asked
THE auguryT
I'VE are two old fools" she said.
Think OF my boy In his bed. Arthur.
Think OF my thirty years-be quiet. II
1u please. ! choose 70 be thirty for
'rmality's sake. IL Is only the night
nd the moonlight When IL o'clock
rikes. we recollect that we ought to
, respectfully at home. IL Is only an
no. All. my dear old friend. we have