The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1903-01-29


AT Lady Maxwell's ball"
She inclined her head.
I've been travelling downhill bit
since then, you perceive"
"Is it $3.50 bad as all that?" she
inquired with an infection of anX-
iety.
"les. / have nearly reached the
end; | am quite candid, you see-l
have got beyond the stage of false
pride, otherwise, / should not be sit
ting here, beside you, in this rig-out.
And-to be candid do not know
why | am sitting here"
"Iou look most awfully hardup."
her voice faltered
II look what ! am. But had you not
better stop the hanson and let me
get out before We reach the West
End?"
/ "No-not yet"
lie raised his eyebrows.
You wanted to speak to me?"
YES"
! Bcllairs gave n curious laugh.
How monosylahic you are" he OBJ
! served. "You used not to be-" he
! added.
II have not quite recovered from
! the shock of-of-"
"DiscOvcring your old admircr in
this somewhat undignificd plight?
| No wonder. | was rather n smart
chap once. But that's all over since
since Well, what is the use Of
whining? | did not want to see you,
Eleanor. never wished to see you
again. You cannot be surprised, |
think"
Il suppose should have no right
TO be"
"l suplc not Under the circum-
stance, .a, perhaps, less surprising
,til!, TIE ,r Il is funny place. One
ght = Dom, the next London
ridge. .g-dong affair, and even
.ae be } under sometimes, you
lHow l never myself laid claim to
distiae-i = sf,--heing considered
Of the best--or even the seconu
Dest," he added candidly, 81 fear |
crush your skirt?"
He moved ostentatiously a littls
further from her.
"DOn't," she murmurcd.
II cannot conceive why you asked
me 10 get in here" he exclaimed i'm
patiently. 81 am no longer Il fit play
thing for dainty miss. My ball
room days are over. am quite
brutalIy matter of fact. don't mind
telling you that am hungry. If that
doesn't make you despisc me-l give
it up!'
The girl stihcd something that
seemed like little sob.
Hungry! Oh. Capt. Bellairs!"
"Kindly drop the captain please.
am no longer a credit to the serv-
ice," he said, almost roughly. BE
sides, hate anything in the shape of
pity.
And you have quite forgotten the
the old days?" she murmured.
"Ycs. 1t doesn't do to remember
thcm-when a man is down to bed
rock Then you are not yet mar
.ird?"
She started slightly.
NO"
"Nor engaged? / take the liberty
of an old acquaintance. you see"
"Nor engaged" she said slowly.
Belairs looked at her.
THAT is strange!" he remarked;
"for, pom my soul Miss Nugent,
never saw II prettier girl"
"You have not forgotten how tc
hGtter, at any rate" she replied, will
nervous laugh.
81 didn't mean it as flattery; bu
you remember the occasion of oul
part'ng?'
"Ncs-I remember it."
81 asked you to marry me. You re
fused. You were wisc,' he added
smiling bitterly. "a girl should nev
or marry man she does not care for.
"It was not that
Rrliairs turned suddenly.
Not that?" he repeated.
- couldn't. I-you-" she fal
tered and stopped, confused. Their
was moments silence. Bellair'
, eyes were fixed strangely on her face
"What do You mean?" he said, in
hard tone.
= "Wcl, surely you know!" she ar
swcred, appcalingly. ut was-impo:
, srhlc. You were 500 poor!" sh
q suircd at the word.
The hanson turned corner sharI
iy and gralrd a curbstone with jol
! BelIairs' arm touched hers. His han
closed suddenly on her wrist.
3 Then you-you cared for me a
J, the time?" he exclaimed passionatel.
facing her with burning eyes.
: Her response was inarticulate. BE
t lairs flung her wrist from him almo'
fercely.
o "My God!" he groaned. "And II
il had only known-only known!"
a She touched his sleeve with q II
!, tie, timid, frightened gesture.