Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1907-07-19

Durand and I were seated. With pos
slbly an undue confidence in the adj
vantage OF our position, we were dis
cussing a subject interesting only to
ourselves when Mr.. Durand Interrupted
himself to declare: "You are the WON.
an I want, you and you only. And |
want you soon. When do you think
you can marry me? Within a week
if-if'-
Did my look stop him? l was star
tied. had heard no incoherent phrase
from him before.
"a week. l demonstrated. 1--WE take
more time than that to fit ourselves for
journey or some transient pleasure
1 hardly realize my engagement yet"
you have not been thinking of it for
these last two months as l have"
NO" l replied demurely, forgetting
everything else in my delight at this
admission.
Nor are you a nomad among clubs
and restaurants"
mo, I have a home"
"Nor do you love me as deeply as
do you"
This I thought open to argument.
1.-The home you speak of is a luxuri-
Gus one" he continued. 81 cannot Of
fer you its equal. Do you expect me
tor"
was indignant
"You know that I do not Shall /,
who deliberately chose a nurses life
when an indulgent uncle's heart and
no. 30 CHI
Drawing poverty with the man l love?
We will begin as simply as yon
please
mo" he peremptorily put In, yet
with a certain hesitancy which seemed
to speak of doubts he hardly acknowl-
edged to himself, 81 will not marry
you If must expose you to privation
or to the genteel poverty hate love
you more than you realize and wish TO
make your life happy one. l cannot
give you all you have been accustomed
to in your rich uncle's house, but IL
matters prosper with me, If the chance
l have built on succeeds-and 1t will
fail or succeed tonight-you will have
those comforts which love will height
en- into luxuries and-and"-
He was becoming incOherent and
this time with his eyes fixed elsewhere
than on my face. Following his gaze
l discovered what had distracted his
attention. The lady with the diamond
was approaching us on her way to the
alcove She was accompanied by two
gentlemen, both strangers to me, and
her head sparkling with brilliants,
was turning from one to the other
with an indolent grace. l was not sur
prised that the man at my side quiv-
cred and made start as if to rise
She was gorgeous image. In compar-
ison with her imposing figure in it's
trailing robe of rich pink velvet my
diminutive frame in its sea green gown
must have looked as faded and color
less as a half obliterated pastel
"A striking woman" l remarked as
saw he was not likely to resume the
conversation which her presence had
interrupted. "And what diamond
The glance he cast me was peculiar.
did you notice 1t particularly" he
asked
Astonished, for there was something
very uneasy in his manner so that
half expected to see him rise and join
the group he was so eagerly watching
without waiting for my lips to frame a
response, 1 quickly replied:
1T would be difficult not to notice
what one would naturally expect to see
only on the breast OF a queen. But
perhaps she is queen. l should judge
so from the homage which follows
her."
His eyes sought mine. There was
inquiry in them, but it was an inquiry
did not understand.
"What can you know about dia-
monds?" he presently demanded.
Nothing but their glitter, and glitter
Is not all. The gem she wears may be
very tawdry one"
| flushed with humiliation. He was
dealer in gems-that was his BUSH
ness-and the check which he had put
upon my enthusiasm certainly made
me conscious Of my own presumption
Yet l was not disposed to take back
my words. I had had better oppor-
tunity than himself for seeing this re-
markable jewel and. with the per-
versity Of somewhat RULED mood,
I burst forth as soon as the color had
subsidized from my cheeks:
mo, no. 1t is glorious, magnificent.
l never saw its like. l doubt If you
ever have, for all your daily acquaint-
ance with jewels. Its value must be
enormous. Who Is she? You seem to
know her"
1t was a direct question. but 1 re-
ceived no reply. Mr.. Durand's eyes
had followed the lady, who had lin
gered somewhat ostentatiously on the
top step, and they did not return TO
me till she had vanished with her COM
panions behind the long plush curtains
which partly yelled the entrance. BY
this time he had forgotten my words,