The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1904-01-29

IN the mC1tGS, that followed he saw
Il great deaf of Miss Merriam. 1t was
clear that tic girls liking for social
pleasure remained unaltered by the
cnanSc i'll her circumstances. She went
everywhere and to all appearances en-
ioycd herself in spite of the sudden fall
ing Off III the number Of her admirers
There had been time when the man
who wished q word with the beautiful
Miss Merriam was obliged to fight his
way through double ring of black
coats, but Hollister had no difficulty in
gaining her side whenever he went
Yet the dcpoSed queen of hearts SEEM
cd so unconscious of anything about
her which called for sympathy that
Hollister suppressed his pity as If it
had been form of disloyalty, and aft.
er Il time he no longer found this diff
cult. He admired Miss Merriam. too
9uch to be sorry for her. In every
quality of. mind and heart she met his
ideal Of what woman should be. AS
for the scar, lie looked at it now un-
slrinkingly. Whatever he did, he
meant 10 act with his eyes open.
The night lie asked her to marry him
they sat in Miss Mcrriam's little II.
hrary. where the flickering light Of the
CRATE fell full upon her face. No man
worthy of the name is voluble when
he lays his heart and life in the hol-
low Of u woman's hand. Hollister
st0mmered through his lovcmaking
like boy. AS he went ON Miss Mer-
ram turned away her face so that
the profile was toward him. The light
of the fire flashed OH the scar, and it
stood out in livid relief. AS rule,
Hollister was not fanciful, but for an
instant the cash seemed the mocking
mouth Of Il demon stretched in Il fiend-
ish grin.
Hollistcr waited long time for an
answer to his question. Miss Mer-
riam's face was avcrted, and lie could
see that she was stirred by some strong
emotion. When he made movement
to take hcr. hand she turned toward
him suddenly, and he saw that her
eyes We're brsnming with tears.
you arc 4 brave man, MI. Hollis
ter" she said in q voice not quite
steady. "lIave YOU thought of this?"
Her fingers touched the scar with
strange, half caressing gesture. "IIave
you thought what it will mean to have
every passerby look ut your wife pity
mgly ana whisper as you passT'
81 love you," was HOLSTERS answer.
"If there is hard thing in your life
it is my right to share it." Then his
head whirled at the look of sudden
alteration that leaped from her eyes.
"Oh, l wanted, to find n man like
you," Miss Merriam whispered. 81
was sure there must be such n one In
the world" And then she was in his
arms, with the poor, SCARED cheek
pressed to him, sobbing out her heart
in burst of eXultant triumph that en-
raptured him without his understand
ing it in the least.
When they said good night Miss
Merriam clung to her lover as If re.
luctant to let him out of her sight.
81 must see you in the morning, dear
est" she said. "You must spare me a
few moments" And Hollister, who
was looking forward to the separation
Of few hours as if it had been as
many weeks, agreed with a sudden
aightness of heart
He wondered little when he came
next morning that she should keep
NultIuS. Ills AlcdEl Ut every
footstep in the hall for the first half
hour, and when at last she stole into
the room, closing the door behind her,
she took him by surprise. Hollister
sprang to his feet, then stood staring
blankly.
An enchanting face smiled up at
him, face rosy with bushes. He
saw the play Of the dimples and the
curve Of the check as if lie were look
ing on it for the first time. The scar
was gone"
"My Godw said Hollister helplessly,
and he dropped into chair, his own
face dead pale. Miss Merriam ran to
him and dropped on her knees beside
his chair, looking into his eyes with q
fascinating mixture of timidity and
confidence.
Forgive me, dearest. Don't be angry
with me for deceiving you. If you only
knew how tired l grew of men who
couldn't see anything in me TO love but
my pretty face! That little accident
with my automobile was too good an
opportunity to miss, and the scar was