Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1903-11-26

May | smoke. Marie?' asked the
Young man. When 1 am nervous l
really ind tobacco almost necessary
When YOU are nervous" echoed the
girl. with a laugh. Il don't believe that
YOU have u nerve in your body, Char
ley"
oh yes. | have" said Hall, in bis
characteristic slow. steady tone. 4 u
full of them You don't know me-
I've known you ever since l was
born. she replied. You are one of my
earliest recolections. l distinctly re
member being afraid OF you i'll my era
die"
AT that early age" said he, "a girl
cannot be expected to distinguish be-
tween her friends and her enemies
between those who would protect and
those who would harm her But you
are eighteen years old now and should
know a great deal more than you did
then"
"It may bc 50" said she. Yet some
how I'm afraid OF you this evening. |
feel as if you were going to say some
dining q .sagrceable."
"A wumau's intuition is certainly re-
msrhablr." said Hall Il am going TO
say something disagreeable very dis
agreeable indeed. And that's what
makes NE 50 nervous" II was evident
that Hall meant what he said, and yet
the side of the house exhibited as much
perturbation as he did He lighted his
cigar slowly. eXtiuguished the match
with great care and leaned back in the
chair with the air Of one who is AT
peace with himself and all the world
Miss Winsted got up from the railing
and then sat down again. She leaned
far ont. looking up the street as If she
said suddenly:
well. Charley, what is it,"
q want 10 say something about Mr..
Brooke" responded Hall
III it's really very disagreeable,' y said
Marie. don't you think you'd better
say il when he is present.
Il will repeat it when he is present,
replied the young man calmly, but l
will tell you first il you'll permit me"
Charley Hall" said the girl Il new
ri know what TO do with you. II you
sere any other man, shouldn't hest
fate q moment | should simply tell
you to mind your own business But
there's a dire, deadly insistence in you.
You possess the attributes of fate. | al
ways feel Is II 1t were useless to try 10
stop you"
1T is in this instance" he replied,
quite useless As for my business, you
are my business. ! would drop any
other III moment to take up the small
est task that might be OF service To
you. That's true, isn't itF'
Il wish II weren't" she replied. You
do worry me So
I'm sorry" said he earnestly, and
with the faintest intonation of bitter
ness 1T is undoubtedly very unfortu-
nate that should happen to be i'll love
with you, but am and always have
Dsen. and
You must not talk like thatr she eI-
claimed. Il am engaged
ITO 4 man whom you know nothing
about" he Interrupted. six months
ago Stanton Brooke came here 10 be dl-
vision superintendent OF the railroad.
There ia not a soul Ia this city who had
ever heard OF him before. He came
from somewhere in New England"
From Boston" said the girl hastily.
MY mother and / know all about him.
or course he has told us everything.
Really, there's very little TO know. He
has been an orphan from his childhood.
He got an education somehow. Worked
his way through college and has been
at work ever since. | don't think you
ought TO say anything which would
teud 10 make me unhappy. | shan't be-
neYe II, whatever It ID. but il may tor
msnt me
The fret time my eyes lighted OIL
Stanton Brooke" said Hall deliberate
iy. Il knew that he was a man who be
ieved that 1t was 4 natural law that
every girl he met should fall IN love
with him"
You can't make NE Jealous" said
Marie Il know Stanton Brooke better
than you do"
10 you KNOW " ucIe ne ~ as ihSl
evening demanded Hail
Certainly" she replied. He was de-
talued at the office"
He was not al the Office after half
past 7 O'Clock" d" said Hall. Il know, be-
cause | was there myself until mid
night"
Really. | can't hear another word, "
said Marie This Is the same old in
comprehensive scene that has occurred
80 often between US. 1t Is the miracle
OF my life that | permit you to talk TO
zoe OF your love and TO dissu8de me
grUm trusting the one man in all the
world whom | desire TO trust with all
any heart. 1t is your immOyable per
eistence"-
u am determined to save you from a
terrible mistake" said Hall.
Il believe I'd rather make IT," eI-
claimed the girl. than be saved IN a
way that Kills my self respect. Thank
heaven" she added feryently, here Is
Mr. Brooke"
Hall rose slowly from his chair "a
Brooke came strldlng up the walk that
led from the gate. He was a tall young
man, rather slender, but with good
breadth in the chest and shoulders His
manner was brisk aud decided, and he
spoke rapidly with a clear tone very
agreeable 10 the ear
Marie Euyr both her hands to him as
he greeted her chcrrfully. and then he