The Elbert County tribune., 1905-12-28

i>dSt VI dii, ne UeiuHBS 10 ntr-dt
least, by Scottish law; and il the
secret of a heart ever shone in mortal
eyes. Jack reveals his passion at that
moment.
So. instead of the cold treatment he
expects and fears, the young squire is
amazed and delighted beyond measure
when she reaches out a hand and
catches hold of his sleeve. Well, he
makes no effort to break away, but
meekly submits to his fate-indeed,
nothing would suit him better and
cure the aching void in his heart soon
er than that she continue to hold him
thus indefinitely.
81 am pleased to see you, Squire
John. You find me distressed female
separated from the rest of my party
] must appea; to you to stand by me
until l can rejoin them; and i had in
tended when next we met to ask your
pardon for my rudeness on the occa-
sion of our singular Introduction.
forbade you to ever address me. l
was not myself. You can imagine the
conditions of my mind. You have
nobly kept your word, and yet what
do l not owe to your bravery?
want you to say you can pardon my
treatment Of you, and promise to be
one of my friends
She says this hurriedly, as though
not quite sure that she may get
through without being overcome by
confusion
Jack hears and exults.
His hour of triumph is at hand She
no longer bids him keep his distance
and freezes him with naughty looks.
Instead, she opens the way to her
friendship-perhaps more.
His first impulse is to eagerly seize
upon the golden opportunity.
Then, upon second thought he hesi-
tates. Perhaps she is grateful be-
cause of his risking a life in her be-
half. Bah! Gratitude is far from
what he seeks--it is the affection
shown by the dog as 1t licks masters
hand. He wants not that from her.
THAT were position should be
proud to occupy. but | am afraid it is
too late" he says. slowly.
TOO late! I-really. am not quite
sure understand your meaning" and
she gives him a startled, perplexed
look.
Many people are around them,
though the pillar prevents crush. and
yet there is sometimes a more marked
sense Of isolation in crowd than
upon lonely road. Besides. these
people speak Spanish, and are inter-
ested in other things than the two
who stand there close together.
Jack has seen this at glance, and
has determined that the die shall be
cast then and there.
He will never be satisfied until he
has let her know the true state of his
| mind. She may scorn him. Well and
good, the world is wide, and he can
go far away; but at least Jack has
never yet in all his life allowed a
game to go against him by default
That is not the nature of his Anglo
Saxon blood.
Forgive me if am brutally frank
| may never have another chance to
| speak to you. You asked that we
| may be friends. and l have said 1t
could not be. Let me explain in my
clumsy way what | mean. You re-
member. our lives were drawn to-
gether in very singular manner. You
forbade me to approach you after that
strange ceremony-to even address
you unless had permission. Please
do not interrupt me now. believe
kept my pledge to the letter. You
| will give me that credit"
"Yes-yes. Oh, was not respon-
si5le for my rude actions. believe me-
although you bound me to n prom
Use not to come to you without an in
| vitation, there was one thing you did
not demand-one thing could not
have promised had you asked it. be-
cause it was not in my power to grant
| you did not forbid me to love the
| girl whom a kind Fate had brought
across my path. There. have said
| it. Now do with me what you will,''
and he endeavors to nerve himself to
hear his fate.
And Jessie-was ever girl placed
in more remarkable position?
No wonder she lets her eyes drop,
and toys desperately with her fan.
"You-love-me?" she almost whis-
| pers; but whose hearing is SO keen as
that of lover?
Il dol swear it! love you with
every atom Of my being. II could
win a response from your heart /
should be the happiest man on earth.
Have made you angry in telling you
this?"
"N-no," she replies. still looking
down.
you do not dislike me?'
Certainly not"-promptly. for the
way in which he carried himself in
those trying scenes has made him a
hero in her eyes.
Tell me-" he asks. suddenly-eager.
ly-"would You give me a blessed
| hope-v