Western liberal. (Lordsburg, N.M.) 1887-1919, 1902-02-21

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"After that" said Kinnaird, pursu-
ing his subject. Il acted consistently
on the same mistaken theory. And
when Il came to the question Of giving
you up I thought always Of you Erst.
That was why l gave you up-whlch
you naturally considered a weakness"
II did not escape Mrs. Hugonin that
a dormant weakness Of her own was
reviving under the continued stress Of
this absurd conversation. a weakness
for sentiment. But Il was checked BY
her vsxation with her friend for break.
ing their tacit understanding. and By
the feeling Of half contemptuous pity
that stole over her as he spoke.
We're she q a 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 a head
ache yesterday. and therefore II was
very lucky this conversation bad not
been stnrted yesterday or she would
have been much more provoked than
she was now.
Il shall not stop you" she said In a
half mlschIevous tone. go OIL won't
be angry. You will perhaps admit that
II there is anything ranking II Is as
well for you to abuse me and have It
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
Ike a birds wing 70 wrest itself away,
at IL well for me to tell the only WON
an ! ever loved that | love her still and
do not mean to let her 20 again"
Arthur"
Margaret, I love you more than
ever"
at ls ImpossibleT'
~ love you'll"
"You cannot. cannot be In earnest
she stammered. why. you have new
or told me-"
"Never-untll now" he laughed. II
learned something when I lost you the
first time-my darling!"
''ThIs." said Mrs. Hugonln. partially
recovering herself. lis folly. Arthur.
and II Is most unfair"
UNFAIR" he said. ito want you for
my wifc2 No; you mean unfair to take
you on your guard. | will not qulbble
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 werP-when II all happened! Mar.
garet. when you were twenty-six
went away from the city Of all my
hopes. but before I turned my back on
II | did as many r refugee had done
before mel senlcd up my treasures
and hid them. and my store is where
left It. That In why I want you tC
marry me. All that l had looked for
ward to telling you-when you wer'
tw%enty-ail that ! had to say to you
the secret hoard hat I had been pllinI
up for orr married life. Ii lntnct, ant
now | want yOu to share It with me.
He paused n moment and then wen
on: MY dear. have simply had I
walt; hat is NIL. But, please HEAVIER
we will begin again"
Poor Mira Hugonin's breath cam
and went. an unwilling messenger {
passIon-Or. It might be. OF sentimen
Perhaps ! was In the wrong" sh
said. "Rut why did not you think moi
Of yourselfT'
~ am thinking Of myself now" sal
Kinnaird.
Suddenly. as Mrs. HugonIn hung di
tracted and In doubt. the cliff befOI
them rang faint and sibylline with a
echo. II was the town clock OF the vi
lage striking over beyond the tree
They could not hear IL. but. sent frol
ledge to ledge In the stu night air.
struck silvery and remote on the graz
lite facade. As 1t sounded they bot
started. he at It's elm suggestions, 81
at It's material reminder.
Good RTaclOusi' she exclaimed. ="
Is IL O'Clock"
at is" said KinnaIrd.
And we must positively 90 back
the hotel at inc We are a scanda
Arthur-and you know 1t. for / sa
you start too She began to smil
"Do you see nothing In the augury'
she asked.
1.-THE auguryT'
I'VE are two old FOOLS" she sal
'"Think OF my boy In bis bed, Arthu
Think OF my thirty years-be quiet.
you please. | choose to be thirty 4
formality's sake. II is only the mig
and the moonlight When II o'clo,
strikes, we recollect that we ought
be respectfully at home. II is only
echo. Alb. my dear old friend. We ha'
had our past, and Il Is over. You
has been unhappy. and ! am, oh,
very sorryl Blu; you are contents
now and. what Is more. you are kiI
and strong-it ls better as It is Tai
me back TO the hotel-and we shall b
ware Of echoes In future"
II thought you said you had grow
old" said Kinnaird. "It Is only you
that refuses the echo"
And he took her In bis arms and his
"a 49,.