Morgan County republican. (Versailles, Mo.) 1906-1914, 1907-09-05

parents did not know that | am utter.
~ penniless. John lost all my money
in some unfortunate speculation, and
his only ideas Of atonement are TO
assist me in securing a rich husband
and you were his first Offering
'Lost-all-your fortune" STAN.
mcred Dennis. why the colonel
suspected this. He has repeat.
eddy explained to me what a solid
foundation your money would be to
u tottering credit. Do You know
that we are on the eve of bank.
ruptcy?"
Then they laughed, these two, as II
this we're the best Joke OF the sea
son,
Miss Murray was the first to speak
1T is too delicious she gasped.
sweeping a bit Of flmy cobweb
across her eyes. Suppose they had
really succeeded in their plans
wouldn't the awakening have been
TERRIBLE Whatever else fate has in
store for us. we are fortunate in
missing that. But ] must tell you
why a oNAfAAtu Aut lhNAAdkltu utlt
simply for a change! Life was un.
bearable at Brother Johns, and !
told myself that | would conceive
you my confidence IL you were worthy
of It (which the first glance assured
me that you were). secure a few
weeks rest, and so have time to col.
lect my scattered thoughts and de.
eide Upon ONE plan Of action for the
future. Was not my decision a wise
! one?"
Ask yourself that question at the
end of a week" answered Dennis,
with an awkward laugh. Il am afraid
you have escaped Charybdis only to
be wrecked at last upon Scylla, Ours
is not what would be termed a happy
family. The colonel and his wife were
never known 10 agree on any subject,
and they are always-conversing."
DO they-quarrel?" asked Miss
Murray, In an awed undertone.
"Fearfully, answered Dennis.
grimly. rather enjoying his compan.
ions perturbed face.
Before peoples"
Before people
Well she said, rehectively. zen.
tering upon such a life will no be as
difficult ss If one had not served an
apprenticeship beforehand. and l am
already fortified, so you will have no
I occasion 10 feel annoyed about me
! hear you have a lovely place. !
will enjoy that. while whatever others
think, you will know that | have no
designs upon you. But ! shall ex
pect you to be my friend and make
my visit as pleasant as possible; will
you?"
i shall do everything in M pow.
err he answered fervently. actually
smiling upon her in a manner that,
had they s@en II, would have enraged
the feminine admirers who had vain.
~ tried TO make some impression
upon his obdurate heart.
Thus was their friendship estab.
lished.
In the weeks that followed Denni.
CORTLAND fulfilled his promise.
Gray clouds swept over the sky, and
a little chill entered Miss Murray's
heart as she made ready for her de.
parture and said she was glad she
was going. She said II repeatedly
though no one had ~contradicted her
AID added that gloomy weather al.
ways had made her miserable, al.
ways
And with this apology for an aching
heart, Miss Murray made a most be
coming toilette and went down to
spend her last evening with the Court,
lands.
She was all alone and was singing
when Dennis entered, sweet, old.fash.
Toned ballads that our rrandmothers
knew and loved.
A dun red fre, a warm room scent
cd with chrysanthemums. a young
girl ~singing-the face or the voice
which was the sweetest? He could
not tell. But that the song, the mel
ody of which would echo down all the
years of his after life. had been made
for him and was now sung for him by
this lost oma OF his youth yet IN
possessed,
He reused himself at last to realize
that she was going. He gazed long.
ingly into her face. He held her
hands with a mighty strength. then
pressed them gently to his lips,
Why, Dennis, you don't
But | do" he answered, with a
! laugh that was han a sob. Il love you.
Genise' ! would die for you"
But Miss Murray remained silent,
her hands resting passively in his, her
eyes fixed wonderingly on the hand.
some, soldierly figure. the pale face
and the glossy, cropped head.
That Dennis loved her-her! was
something almost beyond the young
lady's comprehension, and that the
knowledge Of this fact should thrill
her with such wild, strange joy, was
something almost equally incompre,
hensible.
The man was waiting for an an.
swer. She must speak.
4 want-you," she cried. desper
ately, all OF her tact and graceful
aplomb deserving her at this crisis.
You are willing to trust me?" he
questioned.
Yes"
For life?"
For life whispered Miss Murray
in delicious confusion, but utter con
tent.
And this answer she has never re
GREETED,