The representative., 1901-04-11
CHAPTER XIV.
TWO LOVERS.

/ W. AOV C1fS0.
| Miss Murdock was seated at the piano
In the drawing-room. her shapely dn-
| gers wandering dreamily over the keys,
| when q servant knocked at the door.
"A gintleman to see yer. MISS" said
| the maid.
"A callerl" exclaimed Agnes. in sur
prise. "At this time OF day? Did he
| give you his card?"
"No. miss. Nor his name, nayther." {"
swell, then, Mary said Agnes, with
| mixture of amusement and severity,
why do you announce him? think
you would better keep an eye on the
hat-rack."
! HE amt no thafe, MISS" said the
maid, positively; ''he do be dressed up
too foine fur that. Besoides. Olive sane
him here before. A hansum young
fellsr wild rid -Mister-Mister
Chapman"
"Chatham!" suggested Agnes, with
sudden seriousness.
| "Yis, miss; 1t do be the same"
II cannot receive him." said Miss
Murdock, in frigid tones. II am sur
prised that John should have admitted
him. after tho explicit instructions I
| gave him yesterday. Hereafter I am
never at home to Mr.. Chatham"
Your butler is not at fault in this
instance" said a voice from the hall
| way, and before either of the women
could recover from her surprise. a
fashily dressed young man with in
tensely red hair entered the room. He
carried his left arm in sling. His
face was pale; his eyes glittered with
feverish light; his voice quiver ed
with repressed excitement.
Il was waiting for your father in
his office, when l heard your maid go
! by, and I asked her to announce me.
hoped for, but can hardly say I
expected, more hospitable recep-
| ton"
Miss Murdock, after the first shock
of surprise, had drawn up her grace
! full figure to It's full height, and stood
| looking at the young man with undis-
! guised contempt IN her flashing eyes.
Chatham paused as If expecting .
reply; and then:
"Shall I explain the object of my
bitterly.
"You may leave. Mary. until ring
for you," said the young girl. turning
to the maid.
| The woman reluctantly left the
room, casting curious glances upon
her young mistress and her unwel-
| come guest az she went.
Chatham made a motion as II to
take q chair; but Agnes remained sig
niacantly standing.
Perhaps" she said, coldly, you
will be good enough to explain as
briefly as possible your object in fore
ing your presence upon me in this un-
gentlemanly way?"
II suppose my conduct does strike
you as ungentlemanly," said the
youngman, piteously; 'Fbut what could
do? I love you devotedly, madly,
and you will not allow me even to
tell you 30. You instruct your serv-
ants to turn me away from the door
like q beggar. II 1t crime to love
your"
mo, Mr. Chatham" said the girl,
more gently, ut is not a crime to love
woman; but it is at least seris,us
blunder to adopt the method you have
selected of showing your affection,
and it is certainly not generous to
force it upon her as you are doing"
"What else can l do?" he repeated
-,,1I 1xy
obliged to leave New York for long
time-perhaps forever-and unable to
get single word with you. I called
yesterday morning and was informed
that you were at that artist fellows
studio Then I wrote you a letter,
asking for an interview, and I left it
there for you myself. The only notice
you took of it was to give instructions
to your butler not to admit me if
called again. I cannot go away like
that, without ray of hope to tighten
my exile, and to leave you here sur
rounded by lot of men who are
anxious to marry you"
The tender-hcarted girl felt grow
ing pity for the awkward and vulgar
young man in whom she began vague
ly to discern genuine suffering.
II am sorry, Mr.. Chatham" she
said, more sorry than can say.
But what can l do? I do not care
for you in the way you wish, and af-
lection is not to be coerced. I have
done the best l could to discourage
you. because"
II know you have" interrupted
Chatham; ''you have avoided me. and
snubbed me, and taken every way you
could to show that you do not like
me-"
ut would have been mistaken kind
ness to do otherwise" said Agnes,
gently.
mo, It wouldn't" exclaimed the ac-
countant; II don't ask you to love
me; not at once, at any rate. But
give me a show; give me time; give
me little hope"
81 cannot do that" said the girl, in
low tone.
"Why can't you?" urged the young
man excitediy. II have sacrificed ev-
erything for you; have given up all 1
had; l have lost my position; | have
risked my life"
II don't understand you," said Miss
Murdock. looking at him in astonish-
ment.