The Coalville times. [volume] (Coalville, Utah) 1894-1923, 1903-10-30
INTERNATIONAL rREss AssoeIArIoN


perceived or fgncled she perceived.
tnarked alteration IN the dcmoanor OF
her brOther-in-law He was not less
kind. and his fratcrnal attentions were
rendered freely and cordially as ever
but he was less gay. and was addicted
20 fits OF abstraction, profound. al
though apparently not sad. while his
absence from the family circle. With
out apology. became 30 common shat It
reascd to provoke Harriets frivolous
wonder. and to dlsappont Mr. Withers
Constance had never complained OF or
remarked upon this But her mind
WAS tossed night and day upon tu-
multuous tide Of coniecturos. she would
fain have termed approximations. rath-
sr than hopes. Up 10 this date she had
believed her love and her misery TO be
hnshared and unsuspected by him; had
reiterated, In her fiimsy self-dccopton,
hhanksgivlngs chokel bv tears that she
was tho only sufferer from her wretch
I'D folly. Did she grow suddenly cruel
bnd base the moment when the thought
that the error was mutual awoke
captures. the remembrance Of the suf-
kerinr he must also taste had not tho
power to stIll?Was the snlve TO her self
respect supplied by the discovery that
her divinity was falllble man, lmpo-
tent to resist the subtle temptation that
had overcome her preiudlces and sense
OF right, worth the price paid for IT. a
new terror, more sweet than any Joy
she had ever known, soon laid hold
her. II was Idle to ignore tho fact
that Edward furtlyely but persistent
ly sought a private Interview with her
She might disregard his beseochlng
glances, affect TO misunderstood his
signals and his uttered hints. might
seek, In constant minislrations to her
husbands wants and whims TO guard
herself, and to forget these omons OF
nearing crlsls. But she comprehended
his designs; marked with thrill, that
was the opposite TO pain. his chagrin
at his failure and the augmented rest
1ossness Of his mien, betokening per-
plexlty and desire. What was to be tn
pnd OF this pursuit, and her evasion %
II, when her own heart was the temp
ter's strongest ally She dared not
hear him say that she was dear to
him az he had long been TO hor. Know
ing, as she did, that she ought to epurn
him from her at the remotest approach
10 this theme, she was never able to
Say with an honest purpose that she
was likely to do It. II she doubted his
Intentions. she doubted herself yet
more.
y II was by no connlvance OF hers that
he\ gained his point. She was taking
her usual afternoon drive one day
nlone. when she was aroused from a
roverle by the slower motion OF the
carriage, to observe that the coachman
had turned into business thorough
fare instead OF taking the most direct
route homeward.
John" she called through the front
window, where are you going? What
brought you here?"
mir. Edward told me 20 call for him
at 4 o'clock, ma'am. ! thought he had
spoken to you about IT," was the re
speciful rejolnder
There was no immediate reply, and
he checked his horses to inquire.
"Will l go back. MANN
mo; go on"
She threw herself upon the back scat
again. with throbbing pulses and
feeling that she had spoken the sem
tence which was TO decide her fate for
time and for eternity. Heaven help me
10 stand gast" the tongue essayed to
say, and while the heart was melting
into tenderness, and vibrating with ex-
pectatlon.
II lacked ten minutes OF the appoint
ed hour when they reached the oflco,
hut Edward stood upon the door step,
hat and gloves on.
ut is good In you to submit 30 quietly
TO my meddling.' he began, by the
time he was seated But have some
thing TO say to you. n story to toll
which l can keep no longer. You must
have seen, although you have seemed
not to do so. how 1 have logged your
steps for some weeks past. In the hope
of stealing an opportunity for confess
sion. / have sometimes ventured TO
believe that your woman's wit and
woman's heart had penetrated my Sc
cret: that what entered so largely into
my thoughts and motives, made up 80
much OF my life, could not remain hid
den from your eyes. / wanted TO tell
you OF It long ago. dear Connie, but
the recollection OF what was due to
another withheld me. while ! was yet
uncertain that my love was returned.
had 80 little reason for hope, although
hope has never tagged mine is a san
guine nature. you know-that I hesl-
tated TO speak openly. Now that l can
feel firm ground under my feet. my
happiness is mixed with much alloy. I
must either take from one who is
hopeless invalid the ablest and most
lovely nurse that ever man had; con-
denim him, whose claim the world would
declare to be superior 10 mine to lone
illness and sorrow. or consent to a sea-
son OF dreary waiting before car
call my darling my own. DO you wou-
der that thoughts such as these have
preyed upon my spirits; racked me
with anxiety. even in the blessed holr
Of assurance shat my devotion was not
Wasted?"
CHAPTER XI.
0IHNeSlul finn mad giyon 81,