The Opelousas courier., 1902-11-01

NAN=AN AAS
ward it and picked it up.
He stood for a few moments gazing
ref1ectively at it, then with a decisive
movement he slipped it in the pocket
Of his coat, and set out at a quick pace
along the road to the vicarage.
In a few minutes he arrived there.
Miss Margaret was the only one in.
Would he see her?
He entered and was shown into the
drawing room. He sat down and wait
ed impatiently.
A few moments afterward the door
| opened and she came in.
This is a surprise, laurence" she
said, with a nervous little laugh. Il
thought you were so busy"
"a man is never so busy but what
he a spare time to do the thing l
have in view," he answered.
II have come here tonight, Mar
garrett" he continued, quietly, ito ask
you to be my wife"
She started back with a little cry.
mo, nor' she said. CAS- boy and
girl we played at being in love, Lau-
renee"
II was a man., and meant it," be
broke In.
mo; you must not mean it, Lau-
renee" she went on, gently. ut was
before you went to Landowners
made d member of Parliament; before
you became the famous ma you are"
She paused.
"What difference does fame make to
love?"
"Simply this, dear!" she spoke in a
low, trembling tone. "The country
clergyman's daughter is not the wife
for a man destined to hold the position
you are" He was about to interrupt,
but she silenced him with a gesture.
II should never be able to assist you;
in time you would repent of having
married a nonentity." She paused.
Your father has been here, Laurence,
and told me Of Lady Helen. You must
marry her, Laurence-thi1k of that
wonderful ~career-of what such a mar
riage means to it. When your father
told me of it." she said, gently, II
knew you would think that you were
bound to me-though, of course, you
weren't. But I knew how honorable
you are in every thought-that unless
I did something you would let this
chance slip by, so 1 did the thing" she
finished abruptly.
You wrote to the Doctor and &C.
cepted his offer of marriage"
HE asked me a week ago, and / said
I would write to him." She smiled
through her tears at him. Il knew
you would not say a word while | was
still free; so, when your father was
here I wrote and accepted him, and
he posted it.
But you are free still, thank
h~eaven?' he cried suddenly. "Your
letter was never posted. 1t was
dropped on the way to the box, and
| picked it UP. 1 recognized your
writing at once" He held it out and
she gazed at it in Wonderment. "And
whether you have me or not, Mar
S"ANIs AC SOI4tAA1uSNs L tSIL NOu- ILlS-
that, under no circumstances shall /
ever marry Lady Helen-for the Simple
reason that do not love her! | feel
certain you love me still!!' be cried.
AS for me, I've ceased to love
you from the day l first told it to you
on the Down! If you will not marry
me, l shall drop the whole life and 60
abroad; then your anxiety over my
career will have been entirely wastadr'
leave politics?"
"On my honor, yes!' he answered,
gravely. "But on the other hand, if
you'll marry me We'll do our best to
patch up the ruined career-make the
best Of it," he added, smiling. "My
father loves you and will accept the
inevitable. Besides, it is his fault
he dropped the letter." he added, will
a smile. (Which is it to be?" He was
very near to her. He saw a slight
flush pass Yer her cheek. A CLEAN
unutterable happiness crept into
her eyes.
IF it's quite inevitable" she whis.
pered, softly.
Her eyes met his, and the hex me.
.ent he had caught her in his arms.
This is the only real chance I've
had, dearest" he cried. I'm
going to make the most of itw
And he did.-Woman's Life,