The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1904-05-06
her husband. while pride ccmpsls her
to wear mask of Indifference"

her husband, while prld0 Compass mex
to wear mask Of Indifference.
"Of course, there Is unQuestionably
right and wrong on each side, Miss
Magruder: that Is indisputable; but
that is not the point in question. He
wants to know whether to apprise the
object of his love of his affection for
her or drift ON in the old, delightful
way?" ,
"Well, If he tells her of his love, he
should not exact of her to betray the
state of her feelings, do you think
For what good could possibly come
Of it,"
Exactly So" leaning forward in his
chair more eagerly. Il agree with you.
Suppose 1 should tell you the case is
not that of a friend, but-but-that it
concerns myself, and that you are the
heroine of this tragic little story? Yes
-Elizabeth-it is yourself. I am most
miserable. You may reproach me with
scornful glances, for should have
concealed my love for you-buried it
under an Indifferent exterior-but; oh,
Elizabeth! I could not. love you
with a pure love, and l ask nothing Of
you in return except your good Opin-
ion. You shall see me no more. Your
bright sky shall not be darkened by
the cloud of my unhappiness. and the
love l bear you shall never burden
you."
During Horace's passionate outburst
Elizabeth sat motionless, but an OBJ
server could not have failed to detect
a culver of the nostrils, the clenched
hands and the pallor of her face and
brow, all revealing intensity of feeling
| and suppressed emotion.
"Have you nothing to say, Eliza
beth? Do you mean to condemn me in
silence:"
Horace had risen. lone word, Eliza.
beth, is all ask. Say you forgive me,
and my sufferings will be lessened."
Still she sat immovable with a cold
fixed expression.
Horace moved to the door, when with
a cry Elizabeth sprang toward him.
! faltering, II forgive! But you, and l,
must forget"
No land was discernible as far as the
eye could reach; naught interrupted
, that great expanse of sky and sea as
Laughing Water" sped over the
mighty waves, to the tropics bent,
bearing a number of passengers on
missions of pleasure, in interests Of
business, in quest of health, or prompt
! ed by the curiosity of the tourist.
Elizabeth Magruder, seated in a
steamer chair, iazily watched the
gorgeousness of the tropical sunset,
and unconsciously turned the leaves of
her diary, when a sudden gust of wind
caused several pages to become de-
tached and to flutter out scattering
themselves to the far end of the deck.
With an exclamation of regret, she i'm
mediately hurried to collect the miss
ing sheets, and was assisted in her ef
forts by a gentleman. His back being
turned during the process, she was
prevented from obtaining glimpse ct
his countenance, though there was
certain familiarity about his pose and
general bearing.
ALLOW me-to-why! Miss Ma
sruder! Who would have thought OF
meeting you? Fate is determined to
throw us together
Elizabeth replied with few coldly
formal words of thanks, showing Capt.
1'rentshaw the attitude she intended to
maintain toward him.
Elizabeth's feelings were painful in
deed. upon discovering the presence
of Horace Trentshaw on board the
steamer. What right had he to force
himself upon her, after these three
| years, and after all her struggles to
blot him from her mind? Cruel! Yes,
it was nothing else-and she made up
! her mind to remain in her stateroom
and to avoid encountering him..
| This determination was carried out,
and nothing more had she seen or
heard of Capt. Trentshaw. The boat
was making for Porto Cortez, S. H.,
after having left Belize, B. H., and
from information gathered from the
| maid, Elizabeth was under the i'm
preston that Capt. Trentshaw had left
the steamer. With sigh of relief
she mounted the deck. The young
moon was shedding it's silvery reflec-
ton upon the beautiful Bay of Hon.
duras, and all was bathed in its mel
low light.
Leaning over the rail of the deck,
enjoying the invigorating splash of
spray, stood Elizabeth. Standing a few
feet to her right and trife to the
rear, so as not to be observed by her,
Horace Trentshaw stood watching her
with an intensity of longing and an
! expression of unutterable pain. Softly
approaching, he placed his hand upon
that of Elizabeth and held her thus
trembling prisoner.
"Elizabeth. the time has come when
you need avoid me no longer-and you
must listen to what have to say. We
parted three years ago. l was brute
/ then, Elizabeth, and confessed love
which could not honorably offer you.
You, with your gentle, noble soul, I'M
derstood and sympathized with the
temptations to which poor, frail hu-
mainly is heir. You forgave me-and