Charlevoix county herald. (East Jordan, Mich.) 189?-1953, 1906-10-27
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@STORYG0
CHAPTER X-Continued
Copyright, 1905, by J. Il. Lipplncott Coz

good sense to walk her up and down
i'll the healing silence and darkness
for five full minutes before he ven
tured to say what was in his mind.
When he spoke ii was earnestly and
to the purpose. not without eloquence.
He loved her; had always loved her.
me thought. Could she not. with time
and the will to try. learn to love him!
not as cousin?
She turned quickly and put both
hands on his shoulders.
ooh Cousin Billy-don't," she fal-
tered brokenly; and he, seeing at once
that he had played the housebreaker
where he would fain have been the
welcome guest, took his punishment
manfully. drawing her arm in his and
walking her yet other turns up and
down the long platform until his pa
thence and the silence had wrought
their perfect work.
Does it hurt muCh?" she asked.
softly. after a long time.
You would have to change places
with me to know just how much it
hurts" he answered. And yet you
haven't left me quite desolate. Vir-
ginia. still have something left
all I've ever had. | fancy
And that is"
My love for you, you know. 1t
isn't at all contingent upon your yes
or no; or upon possession-it never
has been, think. 1t has never asked
much except the right to be-
81,
she said: Cousin Billy, | do believe
that YOU are the best man that ever
lived. And | am ashamed-ashamed!
What for?"
IF I have spoiled you. ever so lit
tie, for some truer. worthier woman
You haven't; you mustn't take that
view Of it. | am decently in love
with my work-a work that not few
wise men have agreed could best be
done alone. l don't think there will
be any other woman. You see, there
as only one Virginia. Shall we go
in now"
She nodded. but when they reached
the Rosemary the returning engine
was rafting upon the open siding.
Virginia drew back.
Il don't want to meet Uncle Somer-
vile just now" she confessed. Cant
we climb up to the observation plat
form at the other end of the carr"
He said yes, and made the affirma-
tive good by lifting her in his arms
over the high railing. Once safely on
she car she babe him leave her.
She was shivering a little in the
chill wind sliding down from the
snow-peaks, yet she would not go in
until she had made sure. In little
time her patience was rewarded. The
huge engine came stormng up the
grade on the new line. pushing its
three fat-cars, which were black with
clinging men. On the car nearest
the locomotive, where the dazzling
beam of the headlight pricied him
Su9t Tor her. stood Winton, braced
against the lurchines of the train over
the uneven track.
Goo speed you, my lOve." she muir.
injured. softly; and when the gloom of
she upper canyon cleft had engulfed
man and men and storming engine
she tuTned to 60 in.
She was cropping for the doorknob
i'm the darkness made thicker by the
glare OF the passing headlight when
IA voice. disembodied for the moment,
said: Wait a minute. Miss Carteret :;
I'll like to have a word with you"
She drew back quickly.
Is it you. Mr.. Jastrow? Let me
so in. please
I'm one moment. ! have something
TO say to you-something you ought
90 hear"
Cant it be said on the other side
of the door? | am cold-very cold,
Mr.. Jastrow"
II was his saving hint, but he would
not take it.
NO, it must he said to YOU alone.
We have at least one thing in com.
mon, Miss Carteret-you and l. That
i is a proper appreciation of the sue
cessful realities. /"
She stopped him with quick little
gesture OF impatience.
"Will you be good enough to stand
aside and let me go in?'
The keen breath of the snow-caps
was summer-warm i'm comparison with
the chilling iciness of her manner
out the secretary went on unmoved:
Success is the only thing worth
while in this world. Winton will fail.
but l shant. And when do succeed,
] shall marry woman who can wear
the purple becomingly."
81 hope you may, I'm sure" she
answered. YEARLY. yet you will OK.
cuse me if say that don't under
stand how it concerns me, or why you
should keep me out here in the cold
60 tell me about it,
Don't you? II concerns you very
nearly. You are the woman. Miss
= Carteret."
Indeed? And If decline the
honor?"
The contingency was one for which
the sutton seemed not entirely pre-
pared. Yet he evinced willingness
60 meet the hypothesis in spirit of
perfect candor