The suburban citizen., 1902-04-12

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II want you, who know the rea
facts Of the case, to stand between
me and the Misrepresentation or even
slander which may arise from my ex
pertinent"
II follow you in every particular
but one" he said, "supposing you fail
to cure the boy of the infatuation-
or say the love for you which is to be
part of your plan-what would he be
bettered"
HE would be bettered by being un.
der the influence of a good woman III
stead of an utterly INSCRIPTIONS one.
But shall not fail"
There was not a shadow OF hesitancy
in her tone, but the man doubted.
Il judge by past experience" he re-
turned, quietly. You have been for
six years trying to cure me and have
not succeeded yet"
She looked down; her color came
and went swiftly; she had no answer
ready.
How do you explain that?" he per-
sisted.
There was a faint flicker Of a smile
about the corners of her mouth, but
she suppressed it sternly.
"Perhaps-it is because-I have not
been sufficiently in earnest in trying
to do So" was her reply.
His grasp frightened on the small
soft hands he held in his.
"Then why will you not give up try
ing altogether, Grace?" he asked
quickly
But to this question he received no
satisfactory answer.
SIX weeks had passed away. The
season was almost at an end. Already
the numbers We're considerably thin
ner on the beach in the gardens, and
on the golf course. Mrs. Miller's
house had been crowded since June,
but during the last week two leaves
had been taken out of the dining table,
and the gas had not been lighted in
the second drawiug-room
In the balcony OF Cliff House one
evening in September Hugh Cameron
was talking to Mrs. Miller The moon
was at the back of the house; the
balcony lay in the shadow inside the
open windows AL was silent and de-
serted. There was the last fete Of the
season at the gardens, and the guests
had betaken themselves thither.
Mrs. Miller lay back in her wicker
chair her face white and set in the
dim half-light. While the soft swish
Of the waves stole up from the beach
below, and the distant strains Of the
band were waited on the fresh even
ing air, for the first time she realized
TO the full the strength of the torrent
it was her duty to stem. With Flor
ence Martin, a coarse, loud voiced,
yiyacious blonde, the boy was simply
infatuated; but for his youth and in
experience he would never have been
her prey; but Grace Miller had touched
his higher nature, and to her he had
given the best love of his life.
SO in the still twilight hour Grace
Miller recognized that she must listen
to what Hugh Cameron had to say,
and that she must answer him as
man, and not as the boy she thought
him.
Mrs. Miller" he said. in hoarse
broken voice. Il can be silent DO
longer; you know that I love you"
"As | loved your mother" she re-
piled, "and as l also love you, Hugh"
But the boy was not to be turned
aside. He knew exactly what he
meant, and he intended to say it,
No" he answered firmly, mot in
the least as you loved my mother
l love you as man loves the woman
he wants to marry, the one woman
in the world"
There was silence for moment,
then her words We're as firm as his
own.
But a man does not marry his
grandmother" she expcstulated.
Cameron drew a stool near to Mrs.
M!ller's chair and sat down at her
feet.
Grace, you are too good a woman
to play with me-" he pleaded. What
has your conduct to me these last few
weeks meant?"
Again she hesitated. Then she de-
cided not to fence the question, not to
equivocate, but to tell him the whole
truth.
Hugh she said, gently, 81 saw-I
knew that your intimacy with Miss
Martin could only end in disaster.
might possibly spoil your whole life.
tried to turn your love towards N.Y.
self"
She had not anticipated the effect of
her words. The boy leant towards
her, his face glowing, his pulses quiy-
ering
my darlinrn bn rubfenarod ,o,,4,,,.