Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1904-10-19


ing my living in the city 1 am a
chorus girl in the Felicity theater.''
John Medhurst opened his mouth to
speak, but she stopped him with a
gesture.
Wait. You must hear all before
you tell me what you think of me. I
heard from your cousin, Dick Haslam,
that you hated women in general. and
chorus girls in particular; and he also
told me that you were coming to this
farm under another name, so that
you would escape being worried by
friends-''
She paused, again seeing things
through mist, and did not notice a
look of bewilderment on the pale. set
face of the man who listened to her.
Il meant to try and see if I
could make you propose TO me-" she
continued, almost in a whisper. 81
was ambitious, and thought it would
be a fine thing to marry a lord who
hated chorus girls, so l came here, and
pretended to be all that you thought
me. l told you lies, even my name
was lie; and it was all done on
purpose to make you ask me to marry
you"
Her voice came to a sudden stop.
She half waited, as though dreading,
yet hoping, he would speak-say any
thing-rather than keep so awfully
still. But he made no sign, and. with
curious stiffening of the muscles OF
the throat, she turned away.
One moment, Miss-I.ove. | wan:
to ask you a question" John Medhurst' S
voice cried quickly after her
She stopped, looking at him fear
fully.
Why, If, as you say, your ambition
was to make me propose to YOU" he
began slowly, did you, when your mis-
sion was accomplished, reveal your
plot to me? You could easily have
waited until you had made quite GER
tain OF your quarry. l don't under
stand what you gain by having told me
now"
why did l tell you all this?" she
broke in, quickly, a burning color
staining her face. Because sometime
happened that held me back from let
ting you think we'll OF me longer.
Something SO wonderful, so-sad, and
yet so terrible, that was obliged to lei
you know the truth, and receive an
other punishment besides your scorn
of me-"
What was it happened that could
be punishment to you?" he said in a
low voice.
She clasped her hands TO her face fol
moment, and when she looked a;
him her eyes were bright and steady,
Love! | loved you, and, to my
bitterness, l knew that it was to be
worse punishment than anyth ing
The knowledge that l had wronged the
man loved!" She flung out her hands
passionately. Il tell you now-this
is my triumph, Lord Carslake. l could
not go on with the deception because
the thing for which l plotted was th4
stumbling block in my way. I wish
had never met you, or that you were
really the plain John Medhurst you
seemed to be. But as it is, I will 60
out OF your life as came into it"
He caught her hand in his
"YCu love me? You would marry
me if were just plain John Medhurst
with no rank?''
She looked at him proudly.
Yes. | would marry you if you were
plain John Medhurst' would b,
content TO live in cottage with you
content with you-and love: So yor
see you have conquered
He drew her to him With glad littl,
laush
eyes, I have conquered. I and-love
I have no other feeling fer you sweet
heart, save reverance and honor, il
spite of the little plot you have con
fessed. 1t does not even affect me. fol
your love is for the man, not for thu
peer"
Yes. yes" ne murmured. 'You
John, just Il and. o. to think tina,
I can never prove my love, That +,
doubt as to my sincerity must Away
lin3er with you. That is punishment
enough for me-"
1T need not be-" he returned. q
| also have confession to make I an
not Lord Carslake. the man you plotted
to marry. | came here and took thes,
| rooms that had been thrown over a
the last moment by another man, pre-
sumably Carslake; so, darling, yoJ
may really know that you are marry
ing a man who believes in your love-
Not Lord Carslake! o. how glai
l ami" she cried. with a tremulou
laugh. How glad that 1 may prov,
my love is for you, even though yol
were beggar, so long as I could wall
by your side,"
Then he bent his head, and their lip
| met. And in that kiss of love Lotto
| left the world behind her.
| Four weeks later quiet little wed
ding took place at a rural church. TIL
bride and bridegroom came out quietl,
and drove to the station. Lottie ha,
broken her contract with the Felicit,
management. and ignored the man,
questions CT her friends as to her re
! treat into ccI,ntYv life