The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1902-09-06

A few moments afterward the door
opened and she came in.
'sThis is a surprise, Laurence - she
said, with nervous little laugh. 81
thought you were so busy
"a man is never SO busy but what he
can spare time to do the thing | have in
view,' he answered.
II have come here tonight, Margaret,
he continued, quietly, "to ask you to be
my wife r
She started back with little cry.
"No, no p she said ssAs boy and
girl we played at being in love, Laurence
Il was a man, and meant it r he broke
in.
No; you must not mean it, Laurencel''
she went on, gently. cit was before you
went to London-were made member of
Parliament; before you became the famous
man you are r She paused
"What difference does fame make to
love p
Simply this, dear p she spoke in
low, trembling tone "The country clergy
man. s daughter is not the wife for man
destined to hold the position you are r
He was about to interrupt but she silenced
him with gesture. ~ should never be
able to assist you; in time you would repent
of having married nonentity. She
paused. 'sYour father has been here,
Laurence, and told me of Lady Helen
You must marry her, Laurence-th think of
that wonderful career-of what such
marriage 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
[ knew how honorable you are in every
thought-that unless | did something you
would let this chance slip by, so | did the
thing r she finished abruptly.
''You wrote to the Doctor and accepted
his offer of marriage p
He asked me week ago, and said
I would write to him. She smiled
through her tears at him. 81 knew you
would not say word while I was still free;
SO, when your father was here | wrote and
accepted him, and he posted it.
ssBut you are free still, thank heayenl
he cried suddenly sYour letter was never
posted. 1t was dropped on the way to the
box, and | picked it up. | recognized
your writing at once. He held it out and
she gazed at it in wonderment. "And
whether you have me or not, Margaret r
he continued, II tell you this-that, under
no circumstances shall I ever marry Lady
Helen-for the simple reason that do not
love her I feel certain you love me
still r. he cried stAs for me, I We never
ceased to love you from the day first told
it to you on the Down IF you will not
marry me, | shall drop the whole life and
go abroad; then your anxiety over my ca
reer will have been entirely wasted z
Leave politics p
ssOn my honor, yes T. he answered,
grayely. "But on the other hand, if
you Il marry me ell do our best to patch
up the ruined career-make the best ofit!''
he added, smiling. ssMy father loves you
and will accept the inevitable. Besides,
it is his fault-he dropped the letter r he
added, with smile. (which is it to be r
He was very near to her. He saw aslight
flush pass over her cheek. A gleam of
unutterable happiness crept into her eyes.
eff it quite inevitable, she whisper
ed, softly.
Her eyes met his, and the next moment
he had caught her in his arms
s'This is the only real chance I've ever
had, dearest f. he cried 'sI'm going to
make the most of it 7
And he did,