The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1901-12-12

i llC ooIIlSIS SCI n
the feeling of half contemptuous pity
that stole over her as he spoke.
Were she man, she thought, she
would never confess at forty to the In
competence of twenty-five. That Kin
naird did so. but absolved her again.
Also, she reflected, she had had head
ache yesterday, and therefore II was
very lucky this conversation had not
been started yesterday or she would
have been much more provoked than
she was now.
81 shall not stop you" she said In a
half mischievous tone. go on won't
be angry. You will perhaps admit that
If there is anything ranking 1t is as
well for you to abuse me and have 1t
over, even after all these years, whose
obituaries you have written"
My dear. my darling" he said. his
strong hand clasping hers so quickly
that Involuntary her arm struggled
like birds wing to wrest itself away.
"it is well for me to tell the only wom-
an ever loved that love her still and
do not mean to let her go again."
Arthur
Margaret, I love you more than
ever"
at is impossiblew
81 love you!"
"You cannot, cannot be in earnest"
she stammered. "Why. you have new
er told me-"
"Never-until now" he laughed. 81
learned something when lost you the
first time-my darlingm
This" said Mrs. Hugonin, partially
recovering herself, lis folly, Arthur,
and 1t is most unfair"
"Unfair.' he said, ito want you for
my wife? No; you mean unfair to take
you off your guard. | will not bubble
with your words" he said, smiling.
MAY the hour and the scene suggest
to you all that they will; may they
bring you back tot was twenty that
you were-when 1t all happened! Mar
garet, when you were twenty-six l
went away from the city of all my
hopes. but before l turned my back on
1t | did as many refugee had done
before me- sealed up my treasures
and hid them. and my store Is where |
left it. That is why l want you to
marry me. All that | had looked for
ward to telling you-when you were
twenty-all that | had to say to you,
the secret hoard that | had been piling
up for our married life, Is intact, and
now | want you to share 1t with me-"
He paused a moment and then went
on: my dear, have simply had to
wait; that is all. But, please heaven,
we will begin again."
Poor Mrs. Hugonin's breath came
and went, an unwilling messenger of
passiou-or, 1t might be. of sentiment
Perhaps ! was in the wrong" she
said. But why did not you think more
of yourself?"
81 am thinking of myself now" said
Kinnaird.
Suddenly. as Mrs. Hugonin hung dis
tracted and in doubt, the cliff before
them rang faint and sbylline with an
echo. 1t was the town clock of the vii
lage striking over beyond the trees
They could not hear it, but, sent from
ledge to ledge in the still night air, it
struck silvery and remote on the gran
lite facade. AS 1t sounded they both
started, he at its elfn suggestions, she
at its material reminder.
Good graciousw she exclaimed. at
is II o'clock"
at is" said Kinnaird.
"And we must positively go back IT,
the hotel ut once. We are IA scandal
Arthur-and you know it, for l saw
you start too" She began to smile.
"Do you see nothing in the augury?'
she asked.
"The auguryY
1--WE are two old FOOLS" she said.
"Think of my boy in his bed, Arthur.
"Think Of my thirty years-be quiet, if
you please. | choose to be thirty for
formality's sake. 1t Is only the night
and the moonlight. When II o'clock
strikes, we recollect that we ought -
be respectfully at home. 1t is only an
echo All. my dear old friend we have
had our past, and it is over. Yours
has been unhappy, and l am, oh, so
very sorry, But you are contented
now and, what is more, you are kind
and strong-it is better as it is. Take
me back TO the hotel-and we shall be-
ware of echoes in future"
Il thought you said you had grown
DID," said kinnaird. ut is only youth
that refuses the echo"
And he took her in his arms and kiss
ed her.