Greene County herald. (Leakesville, Miss.) 1898-current, 1906-09-21

sooner have died than have submit
ted to for any advantage to herself.
No self-interest could have ami
Inflated her pride and urged her to
such lengths as she went unhesita-
tingly for Testers sake.
She rose the morning after Rich
ard Harwood's visit with a great re-
solve already fixed in her mind She
dared not reflect too much upon it or
upon all its fulfillment must mean
to her, for fear her courage should
fail her; but early in the evening
she travelled westward, and for the
first time, realized her intention to
the utmost, and was alarmed at her
own temerity when she found her.
self knocking at the door OF the state
ly house in Kensington.
If her knock had not been heard
she felt she would not have dared to
repeat it; but it was heard, and a
supercilious footman presently
opened the door.
rs Mr.. Harwood at homer" she
asked, shrinkingly.
The man eyed her dubiously; she
made rather shabby, quite insig-
nifcant little figure standing there
on the doorstep.
"Well-yes-he's at home What
might you want him for?"
His lofty condescension reused her
to resentment, and so stiffened hel
RI nd ct 4
her self-control.
will you tell Mr.. Harwood, my
man, that Miss Quincy wishes to see
him? Say Miss Quincy, formerly Of
Barndene, please"
He sullenly obeyed, and after ar
interval, returned to her in the hal
with perplexed expression darken.
ing his countenance
Mr.. Harwood will see you. This
way, please
She followed him into a spacious
elegantly appointed drawing room
and sat down there, feeling curiously
out of place and bewildered.
And minute later gray, elderly
gentleman entered and advanced
toward her. Altered as he was she
knew him, and was aware that he
recognized her as readily He of
fered her his hand with an obvious
embarrassment, but she bowed dis
family without appearing to notice it
Il am pleased to see you, Miss
Quincy" he began lamely, and then
sat down and looked at her, and
seemed waiting for her to speak.
But she could not trust herself
yet; her heart was fiuttering suffo.
| catingly, and she felt that if she at
tempted to answer him she was Sc
unnerved she must burst into tears
and the very thought of thus hum.
bling herself in his presence helped
to strengthen her.
1T is very long while" he made
an effort, and resumed namely, "since
we saw each other, Miss Quincy
"A very long whilei" His halting
words had an unintentional sting in
them, and all at once she had fluns
her weakness from her 81 would
not have troubled you now on my
own account"
Please don't say that" She was
vaguely conscious of wistful eager
ness in his tone. IF there is any
thing I can do for you
s'There is nothing you can do fol
me- DEe said, with S"iet ase;c.S::s
You should know me better than t.
think l would ask any, even ths
smallest, favor of you for myself =
He quailed under her Indignant
glance, and threw out his hands with
a gesture of despair.
Forgive me. / know what yol
say is true" he returned sadly ''Yol
must not think, Ruth" the name rose
| involuntarily to his lips, that have
forgiven myself, or forgotten. or tha'
have been altogether happy
know I wronged -terribly-ant
the memory of it has come between
me and happiness more and more al
| have grown older and had time t
think. / have been punished"
And IT. she interposed harshly
But | did not come to talk of what
is past mending. You did me gSea'
wrong, and I never dreamt till yes
terday of seeing you again. or thai
| there was any way in which I NIGH
be brought TO forgive YOU
And is there? Tell me what ii
! is, he cried. 4 would give greal