The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1902-01-31

how you happen to be here 1t was
spoken quite steadily.
Il am visiting my cousin, Mrs. Lowe
Mrs. Chandler Lowe. Doyou know
herr"
He reflected, gazing at her face
across which the white rays of an arc
light passed.
"Er-I don't think so" he murmurcd
absently.
"What are you doing here yourself?'
she asked.
IL came out here to practice. You
know I always thought this good old
State"
II suppose you have some clients by
this time" A tinge of bitterness crept
into her voice, in spite of her control
II get along" he answered smiling.
ly.
She looked away from him over the
snowy street.
GLOW long will you stay?"
"Two weeks she answered, lightly
beginning to recover her equanimity.
"You must be nice to me. Billy, and
give me a good time for"
"For wha.?" h" insisted. rs size left
the sentence unfinished.
"For it's your pleasure" she finish
ed with a short laugh.
That wasn't what You intended to
saw" he observed confidently.
mo, it wasn't
He knew that lmpertincnt tilt of the
head to be final, and did not urge the
point.
Never mind, Ill give you a good
time as Tell me now, before some
body comes, why you stopped writing
to me-"
She turned her head slowly toward
him and smiled into lis eyes.
"We.l," she said coolIy, cit used 20
be the custom then. when man ceas-
ed to answer"
Ceased to answer Billy made an
under his breath. "After
a doz IN letters came back to me un-
openel-undelivcred-I saw it was of
no USE"
"Oh!" scornfully.
Il followed your directions explicit
ly, too
There was no reply.
"Why did you go away to such out
landish countries, without-with those
boys, any way, ard stay all these years.
"They could no. leave me here alone. "
Into the glaring light she turned her
face, and met unflinchinsly his gaze.
You knew loved you
"Did you?' Her manner was dis
tinctly contcmptuous.
"Frances!' lie came step nearer
and brought his eyes to the level Of
hers. 81 could not ask 4 girl to mar
ry me when had nothing"
She Was silent.
"In those year OF waiting she might
see somebody she loved better" He
did not speak with conviction.
Like steel, her eyes met his, as she
rejoined smoothly. "And he might see
he loved better
With passionate exclamation be-
caught her hand and drew her toward
him. surrounded her with his other
arm.
"You don't mean that, Francc>!'
She held him back with deter
mined hand. "Then you love me
so much that you wished to give the
other possible lover every chance"'
she inquired with faint, disdainful
laugh.
Listen. | will not let you 90. Do
you believe that man mi ght in all
honor love a girl and still be unwilling
to pledge her to him.
IL maintain that size has right to
say whether she shall be pledged or
not, and that he las no right to leave
her in doubt rs to whether he loves
her. What right has he To decide her
destiny for her? There arc too many
that 60 rs far as you did who mean
nothing at all"
"And-"
What else could l think, when you
me to 90 on that perilous tour
without word?'
He looked at her, as her voice tlut-
tered out, and made no answer. He
watched, fascinated, a flush creep over
her face, and saw her eyelids flicker
and fall. Then, with little cry, brok-
en- by the pain and love Of those de-
MED years, she yielded to his COMPEL
ing arms.
kiss me-" he commanded.
Up in the velvet sky the stars gilt
tered frostily. The purplish arc-light
stared unblinking at the two dark
figures on the tiny balcony, perched
high over the snowy street. Only the
crisp brush Of the bare branches of the
trees against the building and the rau-
cous hum of the electricity broke the
stiffness.
He found her warm hand and held
it softly against his cheek, saying, with
pensive humor: "If the Lord will for
<l,;, %;,,,o f,r that hDnor hnSi