Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1903-06-19
CHAPTER XI.

September, it is still lone of those heav'
emily days that cannot die" The sun Is
warm in the heavens, though gradually
sinking, poor, tired god, toward his hard
earned rest. There are many softly-coior'
ed clouds in the sky.
Tea is brought to them presently, ond
plums for Dicky; and then they are all
for the most part-happy. That Is, all
lxcept Dulce and Roger. who are spar
ring covertly, but decidedly, while julia,
who never sees anything, is fostering the
disputn by unmeant, but most ill-Judglng,
remarks. Stephen Cover has gone away
from tAem to have cigarette IN lne
strawberries.
Drlce and Roger are alone after time
She has brought affairs to climax. Oh
lence follows, that lasts for full minute
"a long time in such n case), ana theh
Dulce speaks.
81 think it is time this most mistaken
engagement of ours should come to an
end" she says, quietly.
"That is as you wish, Of course, re-
plies he. "But fully understand me: II
you break With me now, it shall be at once
and forever"
"Your manner is almost threat, she
saws. 'it will be difficult to you, no DOUBT,
but please do try to believe II VIII nc
very great JOY to me to part from you
at once and forever
"Then nothing more remains to be said,
only this: it will be better for you tpat
Uncle Christopher should be told was
the one to end this engagement, not
"Why?" impatiently. =,
"On account of the will, Of course. III
vol, will say have refused to marry you,
the property will so to you ,,.
"Tbat YOU have refused me!' says Miss
R,onnt with extreme Indignation. Ger
tainly, shall never say that.-never'
You can say with truth have refused TO
marry you, but nothing else!
ct is utter insanity says Roger
gravely. "For the sake of RIDICULOUS
within, you are voluntarily resigning
great deal Of money"
81 would resign the mines Of Golconda
rather than Do that. l would far rather
starve than give you the satisfaction OF
saying you have given me up"
AS she has a v'ry considerable fortune
of her own that .othing can interfere
with. She finds it naturally the very SIM
n,est thing in the VOID to talk lightly
about starvation.
"Wbat should I say TIT for?' asks
Roger. rather haughtily.,
GLOW can l tell? / only Row you are
longing to say it," returns she, illfully.
aYon are too silly to argue wh," pro.
tosts no. turning away with snr..
Rnnn;np down the steps Of the b'cony
Dulco With her wrath still burning lily
w;tb;n her. goes along the garden p,h
ond co mast the small bridge, and u,
no. and the mighty beeches that arr
s,rov;no 70 and fro. Turning the corner
she comes suddenly upon COVER wno i
still smoking cigarettes, and no uouo' u"'
dreaming about her.
oyou have escaped from somebody,
T., sors to her in some surprise, Dulc
being person very little gwen u So'''"D
or her own society undiluted.
at appears l have not" returns s''
bitterly. 40
"Well. I shan't trouble you long; l ca
take myself off in no time" ne says, eoo'
humoredly, drawing to one side TO let IN
pass. IL. ,o 1. ~
core TO-" she says, YEARLY, ashameo
Carer he says, reproachfilly; al
then. coming nearer to her, you are d
hanny! Something has happened!
saws. quickly, what is i"
Nothing unheIQy," says Dulce, In
.,onr soft voice: certainly not TIL
Something very different; something,
decd have been longing and hoping
Sor weeks. for months, nay, all my lire
think"
"And-" says Stephen.
81 have broken off my engagem
with Roger" ..,,
A great, happy CLEAN awakes within
dork ewes. Instinctively he takes a s
nearer to her, then checks himself
draws his breath quickly.
care you sure" he says, in a caref'
calm tone, "are you sure you nave u
wisely 81 mean, will this be for J
own good| 80 .s.,
patience. ut was my own DOING.
wished it," %,
"How did it all come aboutT asks
gently. :, ~.
throwing out one hand in quick, merry
fosh;on. Nothing matters much,
It? And now that we are on IT, VIII
sver your question. l believe IL
the only woman in the world Roger W.
never have even liked me! lie see
clad. thankful, when | gave him ms
lease: almost" steadily, "as glad as l
to give itr' 49,. - nm,
"Nere you glad?" asks Cover, eagg'
Going up. to her, he takes her mana
holds i, with unconscious force in bot
! own.
/ "You at least do not hate me-" she
with faint, sobbing cadence IN
voice. that desolates but sweetens It.
Inns culver. In very truth she is III
full to him in a measure. Her heart w
to him. There is to her comfort II
thought Ga comfort she would have sh
from acknowledging even to herself) l
certainty that he would be only 100 p
too pleased, to be to her what an
might have tried to be but w YOU,
Here is this man before her, Wli'iHs