The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1904-02-26

hind her., and the next mOmen q voice
spoke her name.
You are going home, Miss Craw-
ford, I see. Is it not q charming day."
Margaret might be proud and self
contained, but she was not as COM
| plete mistress OF herself as people sup
posed. else she would have been able
to keep back that deep blush that
rushed to her cheeks. and to conquer
the wild. sudden beating OF her heart.
Yes. it is lovely-the first really
s~pring-like day we have had" she
said. as she quietly gave him her hand.
Paul Cleland walked by her side as II
| he had a right to do so. and almost In
| silence they went on towards the Mid
die Walk" az it is called. OF the
Meadows.
Though Cleland was a tall man,
whose upright figure and long strides
were more like those OF a soldier thar
a student, Margaret was nearly as tall
as he. She was finely built for a wo-
man, and the dignity and grace OF her
carriage were almost Queenly. Her
fair, pale face, with its features clear
ly cut as a cameo; Its dark-gray eyes.
shaded by long, straight, dark lashes;
its penciled, level eyebrows; Its mouth.
both proud and sweet, was a contrast
to Cleland's dark. strong-featured,
square chin and brow-not exactly a
handsome face, but the face of a strong
man
$50 you will know all tomorrow"
| he said at last. as IL he were pursuing
a thread Of thought. IL suppose you
| do not feel at all anxious as to the re-
sult?"
II confess to feeling a little anx-
ious." Margaret answered. Il have
been expecting to pass: but now I am
beginning to see what a dreadful thing
It would be If l did not. It Is so easy
to fail sometimes"
"You will not fail. Don't let that
thought worry you." said Cleland
quickly. He paused a moment; then.
with one swift glance down at the
graceful, fair head crowned with its
dark sailor hat, said, in a lower and
deeper voice: This is a matter of
sreat importance to you, l see May
l ask, in the event Of your passing,
what you are going to do?"
Il am going to remain in Edin-
burgh for a time. DR.. knight has
promised to use his influence to get me
into one OF the hospitals" Margaret
answered. readily enough. when l
feel that ! have gained as much knowl-
edge as l can there. / am going back
to Lancashire-Bolton or Bury. prob
ably-there to start for myself"
"And SO I am never to see you any
more?" Cleland asked, in q dangerous
ly quiet voice.
Margaret started a little: the shadow
Of 4 CULVER passed rel her lips.
II don't think that follows. DR.. Gle
land" she said. trying to speak as
quietly and as composedly as before.
LAS long a. I am In Edinburgh, IL
hope l may still see you occasionally.
You have been very good to me-you
have helped me q great deal. Do not
think / am ungrateful to you for all
your kindness-undeserved and disl2-
terested kindness as 1t has been"
Il do not want you to be ungrate-
full. and / don't want you to think
anything I did to help you was disin-
terested." he exclaimed. his voice sud-
denly becoming passionate with enc
ton. They were in q very quiet part
now-in the narrow lane. with Ivy
covered wall on n side and = railing
on the other, which led up towards the
terrace in which Margaret had her
lodgings. He paused. compelling hcr
to do the same. faced her. and, sudden
" taking both her hands in his. held
them close. Margaret, Margaret.
can't you guess the truth? love you
with all my heart! I have loved you.
I think. from the first time I saw you.
Do you remember one night two SEES
sions ago when I had just started leo
turing? 1t was q Sunday night, and
was at St. Giles; there was a famous
preacher there. BY chance, as 1t
seemed-but 1t was not chance. Mar
garrett went into the very pew in
which you were. l had no hymn book,
and you offered yours. so gravely. 80
sweetly. without any proud reserve or
coldnese. l remember the hymn. It
was My Times Are in Thy Hand It
has been a favorite with me ever since.
Margaret. I have loved you since then,
with q love that has grown stronger
and deeper. until 1t seems like a part
OF my being which I cant tear away.
There is no other woman in the world
there never will be any other woman
In the world-for me but you. Mar
garet. do you love me? Can you ever
love me.
The words were poured forth 30 rap
IDLY. 90 ~passionately. that Margaret
was quite unable to stem their torrent.
She stood quite still, without word or
emotion. her face very pale; only once
or twice that shadow OF q CULVER
passed over her lips again. When at
last Cleland paused, and looked into
her face eagerly, searchinkly. as II for
his answer. Margaret made an evident
effort to speak. Though twice she
opened her lips, no words came.
Her voice was very low when at last
they did come.