News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1903-05-20

dow. Then she turned to Miss An
drews.
"When did the doctor say the-the-
crisis for Mr.. Gordon would be
reached?"
"In about week." Miss Andrews an
swered gently. Her whole face and
manner betrayed the nervous strain
under which she had been living. LII
ella, who had come to know her as
once was not possible, admired and
wondered whenever this remarkable
woman was near her.
"Will the fever leave him any
81 think not. OF course be will be
very weak for long time, but he will
have hope to sustain him and-and
your promise" Miss Andrews added,
with an effort: "Forgive me, Miss
Marsh. | overheard yo,r promise to
him. 1t probably saved his life"
do you think it didY' Lucia asked
family. She shuddered again and
turned her eyes out of the window and
was silent long time. Miss Andrews
possessed the quality of keeping stu
and did not return to say anything
more. After awhile Lucia said. "..er
us pray God that all may be well wish
him when the crisis comes
Eyes, please God" NJ IS Andrews
7 whispered. Then she went out of the
library. and shortly after Luella Went
hcme.
IVhn,, CHI oor y,tn thn hOJCn chic
found Mrs. Penrose waiting to see her.
How is Mr.. Gordon" Mrs Penrose
asked the moment Luella stepped into
the drawing room.
Luella told her
"Then he is not out of danger"
mo The crisis will come next
week"
"Do you care very much, LCella"
Mrs. Penrose asked somewhat careless
ly.
Luella did net answe".
''If he gets well, what then? VIII
you marry him."
Still Luella did not answer. Mrs.
Penrose eyed her sharply.
"You are unhappy, Luella. Is it be-
cause you are afraid he will die Or
Luella looked up.
'If he lives, will you marry him;"
Mrs. Penrose persisted.
81 promised him that I would and
that would live with him in Hope
House But Mrs. Penrose was
watching her closely. Luella Was in
need of a confessor, and she went on:
"But | cannot live there. l promised
because thought lie was dying, was
carried away By nJ feelings, If tried
to live there WITH hin, | ohould he
wretched and make his life miserable"
$50 you have cccld9: to make his
life miserable by not living with him.
That's good feminine iCSic. For get
ting into real dilemlas commend me
to woman. The graceful thing for
him to do would be to die. 1t would
at least save you the awkward bust
ness of explaining away your promise
to him. | don't envy you your inter
view with him if he lives. I'd sooner
go and live in Hope House all my life"
Don't" cried I.uella. She walked
up and down the room like a man,
Mrs. Penrose watching her curiously.
of course you never really loved
John Gordon. If you had, no question
of Hope House would ever have risen.
Seeing you have never yet loved any
one, maybe you will allow me to pre-
sent the name Of a sutton
Luella stopped in her walk and faced
Mrs. Penrose angrly. Mrs. Penrose
continued in the sweetest manner:
Archie claims your attention. He
has wearied me with his persistent
appeals for my pleading in his behalf.
And this seems as good time as any
to bring his claims forward. You are
not going to marry John Gordon; there
fore marry somebody. And it cannot
be denied that Archie is somebody, at
least in his own estimation. He has
money he is no worse than good
many other young men like him, and |
he will not ask you to live in Hope |
House. What more could you ask, Lu-
ella? And what more could l say? 1t |
is not every day that one has an offer |
of marriage from such a young man as
Archie The occasion will never come |
again"
Mrs. Penrose spoke with smile that |
could be interpreted as meaning any |
one of half dozen things.
"Stop" cried Luella. "Never mem
ton Archie Penrose's name to me again.
If he were the only man in the uni |
verse, | would never marry him!'
ITO he continued)