The Monte Vista journal., 1901-01-26


you know, and all that sort of thing
possibly more than | like any other
girl of my acquaintance-and l have
reason to believe that she is not en-
tirely Indifferent TO me, and that il
l only"
The doctors lips curved scornfully,
involun,arily, and glow of color
that was hardly blush suf!used his
face.
And Jess tells me" continued the
young officer, imperturbably, that
] might do very much worse thing
than marry Mary Wethered. You
know, old chap, I've led devil of
life in India and elsewhere, Ter
rible lot of racketing. We army
men, you know! So, you see, old fell
low, I-cr--oh-you know we'll
cr-love is for me "A dream of the
joyful past. and not II vision of the
future. Miss Wethercd's knowledge
of nursing might be invaluable to
me-
Metfora groaned audibly.
at must not be!'' hc exclaimed, in.
dignantly. C''shall not be-" he NUT
tered, inwardly) "You don't love she
girl. you have admitted it; you are
not half as fond OF her as of that
newest pup of yours C'l would die
to save her half a moments pain, and
l don't suppose she cares a straw for
me-" he reflected, bittcrly) Il feel
like kicking you"
He looked like kicking likewise.
Kick me, or thump me. or do what
you will. old chap! My feeling is just
this: am n worthless sort of fcl-
low. have gone the pace, and don't
deserve the love of any woman in
the world"
What man ever did?" growled Met
ford.
-Oh. but you haven't Il notion what
thorough bad lot I've been. Don't
look so unbelieving!" proceeded the
Noteworthy convalcsccnt. II WIS go
ing to tell you something that jess
told me which makes me tolerably
sure that Miss Wcthcred-but you
would only scnf l never knew such
fellow ms you. upon my wo-d!"
Mctford smiled illcgibly.
The position is a very simple one"
he said "Assuming that from what
your sister has beeu-pardon me for
saying so-unwisely suggesting to
you. Mary mean, Miss Wethered
cares enough for you to marry you,
a worthless and hcurtless but tolcr-
ably good d-lDosing chap like you. who.
as you justly remark. don't deserve
the love OF any woman, nor, for that
matter. the succession To one of the
oldest and wcalthiest haronetei.s in
England"
lie paused. his face white and drawn,
lines visible upon il that were not there
when this debate began.
You haven't any love to offer her,
You don't know what love is. You
merely want to cancel a supposed debt
of gratitude by Offering her your looks,
your wcalth-rverything you have cs-
cept the only thing that woman ike
Mary Wethered hunFcrs for
lie was becoming eloquent, too .lo-
qucnt. and he perceived 1t.
Love will come later" Winston an
swered. confidently; "grati,ud. is said
to be akin TO love. III. girl is not
quite my style | admit, but like her
i really do, old chap' She is pansably
good-looking, although. suppose, one
could hardly call her pretty"
Metford snorted.
"sings swell-suiiicicutly well, that Is.
for drawing. room purposes, Don, look
SO bcastly scornful, OF coursc. YOU
cant appreciate anything humber
than Italian opera, She plays III. piano
nearly as well as jess does, talks inter.
es,ingly, and has, must say, the
gentlest voice imaginable. Whatever
you may choose To say, you old calculai-
ing cynic, am more and more inclined
10 agree with my sister JcsS that II |
return to India without asking the girl
to be my wife shall be the stupidcs,.
most ungratcfui and most contemplate
beast ON earth"
II warn YOU" said Mciford. warmly.
that " you pretend love to Miss Wcih-
cred aud let her pledge herself TO you
You will repent yourself within week.
and the girl will find you out and hc the
most miserable woman On Gods earth
i'A VIVA AAhA'A W Wy NbiAh w Nif-
dom. Of course, for OF all the pig head
ed. obstinate mules
~ somewhat mixed metaphor"
laughed Winston. unabaNhsd.
MIXED metaphor bc hanged. he n
man and u gentleman 90 away und.-
elarod, and II, after you have had siN
months 10 think about II. you feel
something more ,hau gratitu etirrinr