The southern sentinel. (Winnfield, La.) 1883-1910, 1904-03-25

young VtllerS Tor their girls. vlHeFs
mother and Mra Lynley had been Ike
sisters. When Madame Villers died 1t
vas to her friend she confided ner sou.
He was five years younger than
Marion-but what was that-with a
round half million dollars to bridge
the gulf!
Thus went on the two ladies. Red
mond had heard them outwardly calm.
inwardly raging. The upshot OF 1t was
his demand that Marion should either
marry him out of hand, or at once
forever forswear Villers' company. He
saw now he had been hasty-mighty
undiplomatic. He ought. instead, 70
have pressed for immediate marriage
and. failing that, to have insisted that
all the world should know they were
betrothed All along he had chafed
against the secrecy upon which MARI
on's mother had insisted. The insist
ence was, indeed. the original root OF
his jealousy The Lynleys were not
rich, for all the doctors practice was
90 big. His heart was of equal size;
therefore he made small account OF
money. His wife was another sort.
Naturally, she was ambitious to see
her only child well established in life.
stop! You-you are playing on my
heart strings" Redmond said. At last
half turning away his head.
| Marion laid down her bow, with .
little, shivering sigh. Il thought ]
was playing on-my own" she said.
very low. Saying good-by to-so
many things"
with me, Marion! Darling. only
come! Let me take care Of you'll" Red
mond entreated. trying to draw her
into his arms. She eluded him, and
said, with her eyes ON the fire: mo!
must try making my own way. Next
week l shall be 21-then shall take
the little legacy that comes to me for
my names sake and spend it in finding
out IL l may have q career. People
have said there was q fortune In my
flnger-tips. 7 don't care for money SO
much-but work, real work. will Be
godsend."
"Why," Redmond asked. his lips
whitening.
Marion looked 1t him an instant.
then let her eyes fall again to tho leap
ing fire. saying: Because l do not
want to be unhappy-and one must be
unhappy. remembering happier things.
You love mel know that-but you do
not trust me-your jealousy would a.
ways be . thorn In my heart. II mar
ried you As said. 1t 10 best the part
Ing comes now. But think what 1t
would mean to stay here-and remem-
ber-with my mother always fretting
to have me take the villers fortune!"
marion! Marion! Forgive me: Let
me take back everything" Redmond
entreated. making to lay hold on her
hand. She drew away from him, heed
less In her stress Of emotion that the
lfierce flre draught caught her skirt
and drew It into the heart Of the
names. Instantly they leaped ut It.
seized ON 1t and ran up about her
throat Redmond caught her. held her
tight, and beat out with bare hands
their perilous red legions. Thus he
saved Marion's face from Ill seattle
thus. too, he saved her from inhaling
flame. But her right hand. Instructive
" clutched amid the aercest of 1t ali.
was piteously SCARED: 70 was the
right arm higher than the chow.
! Elsewhere the burns were mere red
scorches. But Dr.. Lynley got white
and his hands shook badly "a he put
on salves and bandages, and thought
Of what might have been.
Redmond would not 60 away. All
night he mt in his hotel chamber. lis
tening to every sound. starting up =
dozen times an hour ct . fancied
sound Of hurrying feet Marion's dan
ger had cleared his spiritual vision as
nothing else could have done. He knew
he loved her supremely-that hence
forth he must 60 mourning II, by his
mistrust. he had truly lost her. He did
not heed the sharp cold. the pelting
snow outside. nor the drifts through
which he struggled 1t daybreak to-
ward the Lynley house. Early - It
was d.. Lynley greeted him. smiling
tremulously, and holding both hands
In = warm clasp. unable to say q word.
It was after breakfast that they let
him see Marion-Mlrion. almost her
self save for = bAndaged arm She
gave him her left hand. saying. with
wan smile: You saved my life, John;
but you could not sxve the best OF me.
Daddy says the chances are shall
have stiR nngers-and that means
ohD01 vanuor v11nv amNym -