Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1901-01-23

Instead Of this she looked ut him stead
lly for n moment. then slipped her
hand down his arm till she reached bis
palm. which she pressed with sudden
warmth. drawing him into the Dol as
she did so and shutting the door behind
them. lie was speeches.. for she ney-
er had looked SO handsome or so glow
Ing. Instead Of showing depression or
humiliation even she confronted him
with n smile more dangerous than any
display of grief could have been. for It
contained what II had hitherto lacked.
positive and Irresistible admiration.
Her words were equally dangerous.
Il kiss your hand. as the Spaniards
say" And she almost did so, with a
bend OF her head which just allowed
him to catch a glimpse Of two startling
dimples.
He was astounded. lie thought be
knew this woman well. but at this mo-
ment she was as lncOmpreheuslble to
him as II he had never made a study Of
her caprices and ever shifting expires
sions.
81 am sensible of the honor" said he.
"but hardly understand bow | have
earned It."
Still that Incomprehensible look OF
admiration continued to illumine her
face.
II did not know | could eve think so
well of you," she declared. "If you do
not take care, | shall end by loving you
some day"
"Ah." he calculated, his face con.
tracing with sudden pain, "your love.
then. is but a potentiallty! Very well,
Amabel. keep 1t so and you will be
spared much misery. AS for me, who
have not been as wise rs YOU
Frederick She had come so nea
he did not have the strength to finish.
Her face. with its Indefnable charm
was raised to his, as she dropped these
words one by one from her lips in lin.
gerlng cadence, "Frederick-do you
love me, then, so very much?"
He was angry; possibly because he
felt his resolution failing him. ''You
know" he holly began. stepping back.
Then with n sudden burst Of feeling
that was almost like prayer he re.
sumed: DO not tempt me-, Amabel. IL
have trouble enough without lament.
Ing the failure of my first steadfast
purpose"
".Ah." she said. stopping where she
was. but drawing him toward her by
every witchery of which her mobile
features were capable. your generous
impulse has strengthened into n pur.
pose. has 1t? Well, I'm not worth It.
Frederick"
More and more astounded, under.
standing her less than ever, but charm.
ed by looks that would have moved an
anchorite. be turned his head away In
a vain attempt to escape an Influence
that was so rapidly undermining his
determination.
She saw the movement. recognized
the weakness 1t bespoke. and in the
triumph of her heart allowed n low
laugh to escape her.
Iier voice. as ! have before said, was
u~ninusical though effective. but her
laugh was deliciously sweet. especially
when ii was restrained to a mere rip.
pie, as now
You will come TO Springfield soon,'
she avowed. slipping from before him
so as to leave the way to the dool
open.
!
"Amabel.,' His voice was strangely
husky, and the involuntary opening
and shutting Ct his hands revealed the
emotion under which he was laboring.
do you love me? You have acknowl.
edged it now and then. but always rs
II you did not mean II. Now you nc.
knowledge that you may some day and
this time AS if you did mean Il. What
Is the truth? Tell me without coquet.
ry or assembling. for | am in dead ear
nest. and He paused, choked and
turned toward the window. where but
a few minutes before he had taken
that solemn oath. The remembrance
Of 1t seemed to come back with the
movement. Flushing with n new agl-
tation, he wheeled upon her sharply.
"!No, no." H. prayed; SAY nothing. II
you swore you did not love me, |
should not believe 1t. and II you swore
that you did | should only find it hard
err to repeat what must again be said,
that a union between us can never take
place. ! have given my solemn prom
Use to-
well. wei! Why do you stop? Am
so hard to talk to that the words will
not leave your lips"
Il have promised my father l will
never marry you. He feels that he has
grounds of complaint against you. and
as ! owe him everything
He stopped, amazed. She was look
Ing at him intently, that same low
laugh still on her lips.
"Tell the truth" she whispered. II
Isaow to what extent you consider your
fathers wishes. You think you ought
not to marry after what tyok place last
night. Frederick, | like you for this
evidence of consideration on your part,
but do not struggle too relentlessly
with your conscience, | a forgive
much more in you than you think, and
II you really love me-
stop. Let us understand each 9th
err" He had turned mortaily pale and
met her eyes with something akin to
alarm. "What do you allude 10 In
speaking of last nlghti | did not know
there was anything said by US in our
talk together
III do not allude to our talk
"Or-or in the one dance we had"-
"Frelerick. n dance Is Innocent"