The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1903-04-29

sion of constraint settled on her face
which looked almost like an expression
of pain.
/ Us IL absolutely necessary TO speak of
my marriage engagement" she asked.
in low tones.
rs It necessary 10 refer to It." an
swered; "but not 10 dwell on IT. Let us
. merely say that you may marry. or that
you may not marry. In the first case,
/ must be prepared, beforehand 10 draw
your settlement; and / ought not 10 do
that without, as matter of politeness,
first consulting you This may be my
only chance of hearing what your wishes
are. Let us, therefote. suppose the case
OF your marrying. and let me inform you,
in as few words as possible, what your
position Is now and what YOU may make
It, If you please. in the future
/ explained to her the object of a mar
riage settlement, and then told her ex-
acuy what her prospects were-in the
first place, on her coming OF age. and. in
the second place, on the decease OF her
matchmaking the distinction between the
property in which she had a life interest
only, and the property which was left at
her own control. She listened attentive
ly, with the constrained expression still
on her face, and her hands still nervously
claspcd together In her lap.
"Ard now" said in conclusion. tell
me II YOU can think of any condition
which. In the case we have supposed, you
WOOlu WISH me 10 make Tor SOu-SQDleCt,
OF course. to your guardians approval as
you are not yet of age"
She moved uneasily in her chair-then
looked in my face on sudden. very
'.If IT does happen" she began. family.
III | am
III YOU are married."I added. helping
Don't let him part me from Marian"
she cried with a sudden outbreak OF on
ergy. oh. Mr.. Gilmore, pray make II
law that Marian is to live with me"
Under other circumstances / might per-
haps have been amused at this essen
TALLY feminine Interpretation of my ques-
ton. and OF the long explanation which
tones. when she spoke, Were OF a kind to
make me more than serious-they dis
tressed me. Her words. few az they
the past. which boded III aor the future.
Your having Marian Halcome 10 live
with YOU can easily be settled by rri-
vate arrangement / said you hardly
understood my question, | think. II re-
ferred 10 your own property-to the dis
posal of your money. Supposing you
were to make a will. when you came OF
age. who would you like the monAy to
go tor
Marian has been mother and sister
both to me-, said the good anectionate
girl. her pretty blue eyes gllstening while
Mr.. Gilmore?"
"Certainly, my love" answered. But
you like II all to go 10 Miss Halcombe?''
She heSitated. her color came and went:
and her hand stole back again TO the little
album.
"Ndt all OF it," she said There is
some one else. besides Marian"
She stopped; her color heightened: and
the fingers OF the hand that rested upon
the album beat gently on the margin OF
the drawing, as II her memory had set
them going mechanically with the re-
membranco OF favorite tune.
you mean other mem her Of the
family besides Miss Halcombe?" | sug-
gested seeing her at a loss TO proceed.
The frightening color spread TO her
forehead and her neck, and the nervous
fingers suddenly clasped themselves fast
round the edge OF the book
There is someone else" she said not
noticing my last words. though she had
evidently heard them. there is some one
else who might like keepsake. if-if I
might leave ~. There would be no harm,
II I should die first
She paused again. The color tnat mad
spread over her checks suddenly. as suu-
resigned its hold. trembled little. and
moved the hook away from her She
looked at me for an instant-then turned
her head aside IN the chair. Her hand
korchief fell 90 the floor as she changed
her position. and she hufriedly hid her
face from me In her hands.
sad To remember her, as I did. the
lvhest. happiest child that-ever laughed
the day through; and TO see her now. in
the flower OF her age and her beauty, so
broken and 80 brought down as this,
In the distress that she caused me, I
forgot IN. years that had passed. and the
toward each other. moved my chair
close 10 her. and picked up her handker-
chief from the carIet. and drew her
ha nds from her face gently. Don't cry.
were gathering In her eyes, with my own