Middletown transcript., 1905-05-13
THAT GIRL AT THE COTTAGE
BY PHIL ALISANDER


am to be to you herceforth, I must be
your friend tonight. Tell me why you
are bound to be the friend Of Fred
Parsons r.
Il am not" she said. But it is
easier. Oh, if you knew all If be-
lieved it to be possible that you said N hat
you did just now from any motive but
that Of pity One day | shall be able
to prove if MIR. Pars ons has lied to me,
and until then ! am strong enough to
stand alone and to suffer alone.''
"This is mere question Of PRIDE" lie
said. drawing his chair to her side. "You
are not strong enough TO act alone. Must
prove that am in earnest before con
vince your sceptical heart? From the
day that your courage and charm first
compelled my interest-from that day !
have loved you, perhaps unconsciously
but none the less in deep earnest and
to-day | come to you and tell you so.
Christian, ! love You and | want to be
your friend-ah, more than your friend
your protector and your husband
She lifted her dark eyes and fixed them
on him slowly.
81 believe you," she said in a low
voice-'1 believe you. But, oh, is it for
your good? | am so obscure and un-
known, and You are so great and noble.
Mr.. Moncrieff, because care for you, ]
will not do anything that will spoil your
career. Why don't you marry Betty
Foster and her fortune ~
The smile dawning in her eyes was
enchanting. He drew her into his arms
and kissed her forehead and her lins with
tender gravity.
Il have convinced you ~ lie said.
"Yes," she said with long-drawn
breatl-''yes.
So side by side they stood for while,
and then her hand stole into his.
1T is all for myself-my ordinary
workaday self % she sad, laying her face
against his sleeve.
He put his arm around her and drew
her lips up to kiss him.
For your simple uHadorned workaday
sef-the most enhancing self in tile
world" lie answered.
"Then may count you as my friend p
Friend Little icicle Christian,
why are You so reserved? ?"
Gam | reserved ?" she asked. swell,
am going to correct the fault tonight.
Perhaps tomorrow shall be more con-
gealed than ever-ice to the heart. But
il | am"-she spoke with a curious re-
pressed passion-"if l am, shall be
miles away, where you cannot see me,
where you will never see me again"
She crossed the room with swift and
eager step and unlocked the drawer of
small table. She took out large en-
velope.
"Open it and read it," she said.
He took it from her in surprise at her
emotion. 1t was her mothers
marriage certificate which she had put
into his hands.
While his eyes travelled over the scrap
Of paper, she stood by his side with her
head thrown back and her hands clasped.
rs it all right-quite right r. she
asked unsteadily.
He lifted his gaze and turned it on her
curiously. He was much more intent on
this white-faced girls welfare than on
the correctness Of the paper which he
held in his hand.
''Sit down. Why do your hands shake
SOP"
rs it all right p she repeated breath
lessly.
"What is that to you or me, Christian r.
"That is my secret" she said. "Sir
Nathaniel Capel- Copeland married my
mother, and this is the proof Of it. Soon,
when | feel better"-she put her hand to |
her head-'I will tell you everything.
oh, John, don't let me be dis
appointed Of my hope r
She dropped her head on her hands,
and her frame shook with dry and tear
less sobs. He stood away from her for a
time, with his anxious concern showing
on the strong lines OF his face but, after
a few minutes, the strain on his en-
durance became too great.
"Dear," he said, "you have promised
to let me be your friend. | mean to be
SO. As soon as you feel equal to it, ! will
listen to your story. And afterwards
" He looked steadily into the fire
and paused.
afterwards ~ she said, lifting her
head quickly from her hands.
afterwards | am going my way as if
we had never talked of what we have
tonight You are Sir Nathaniel's daugh-
ter-a rich and influential woman.
release you from promise which, had
known the disparity in our positions,
should never have claimed from you."
She got up from her chair and stood in
front Of him.
Disparity r she said rapidly. "Ds-
parity? Where is the disparity ?"
She held ont her slim hands towards
him, but he kept his own on his knees.
Then she went and stood by the fireplace.
81 have colifided the great secret pf my
life to you under certain conditions" she
said slowly, "and yet You ignore the con-
ditions and throw me back friendless
upon the world | am amazed at such |
pride r.
christian p he said unsteadily.
Il despise your sef-esteem."
"You tempt me. Christian-yon tempt
me Don't you see how your revelation
has altered everything for us 2"
ttNn- r A. ,,ot - cho caid 81 Chris |