The Emmett index. [volume] (Emmett, Idaho) 1893-1925, 1907-05-23

OI1aI LEX N.-(COntlnueQ.)
Stafford" she said, laying her hand
upon his shoulder, were my fortune free,
l would share it with you only too gladly,
for it would be my greatest happiness to
enrich the man love. But you know the
conditions by which l am bound. My
mothers ruling passion was family pride.
Herself of an ancient family she never
ceased to regret that my father, who had
sprung from the most humble origin, and
gained his riches entirely by his own
energy and good fortune, was not her
equal in birth. As shA grew older, this
pride increased to a morbid extent. A
little before her death, something hap
pened''-here her voice faltered-"which
estranged her from me, and decided her
so to alter her will that | should forfeit
the whole of my fathers fortune, except
ing an annuity of fifty pounds year, to
keep me from actual want, as she worded
it, if l contracted a marriage with any
but a man of ancient family, or failed
to be united to such an one before my
one-and-twenteth birthday"
"And the cause of this estrangement,
that you say brought about this singular
will".
Upon that subject my lips are sealed
for the present" she said, in low, sad
voice.
And to whom would the fortune de-
scend in the event of your forfeiture? To
your uncle, l SUPPOSED"
'Oh no Were such the case, l should
have nothing to fear; as were he to in
herit it to-day he would give it back to
me tomorrow. 1t would pass into the
hands Of Loft from
whose forbearapce l could hope nothing"
well, let them take it all p cried Stat
ford. My income is sufficient to keep
you in comfort, although not in luxury.
Every year adds to my professional fame
and prosperity; and with you by my side,
with the blessing of your love for my in
SEPARATION, what might | not achieyeT
1T is impossible, for the present" she
answered; then, observing the cloud upon
his face, she added, in softer tone Do
not think that it is because l cling to the
luxuries of wealth that / could not forego
them all for your sake-that | could not
be happy in the home that you could offer
me. The motives of my refusal are far,
very far removed from such causes. But
be assured of one thing my objections
to being your wife hold equally to being
the wife of any man, were he duke.
These objections may never be cleared |
away; therefore it is that l entreat you,
for your own sake, not to waste your life
In hopes that may never be realized. Ask
me for no explanation, as | cannot give
1t. And now l must go. 1t is nearly
sunset, and they will be growing uneasy
about me at the Grange. | am afraid the
poor drawing will not be completed this
evening"
"Oh, yes; l shall have plenty of time;
and, had l not, l should be able to draw
it from memory. There is not a spot in
the whole scene that will ever be forgotten
by me-" He watched her cross the bridge.
She turned round once, waved her hand,
and then gradually disappeared down the
sloping path, and was lost to his eager
eyes. With a sigh, he went back to his
painting.
His thoughts, wandering into a hun
bred different channels, came suddenly
upon that story of Circe, that he had told
to Arthur Penrhyddyn, and by a fantas-
tic association of ideas, he began to COM
pare the features he had described with
those of Constance. The more he com
pared, the more wonderful did the SINH |
larity appear-the same figure, the same |
face and hair, but not the same manner. |
Strange 1t had never struck him before
that the story had slumbered in his mind |
forgotten until it had been aroused by the
at Richmond. Such an as
ISOLATION Of ideas was so monstrously |
absurd, that he grew angry with himself
for even allowing 1t to rise up in his |
mind but there it was, and, spite of all |
his self-indignation, he could not thrust |
1t away.
what did she mean by saying that she
was fettered by circumstances of which / |
had no conception" he muttered, ponder
ing over the conversation that had passed |
between them.
A strange humor had fallen upon him
since sunset-a humor of doubts and |
fears, and strange, unacknowledged sus-
picions, not confessed even to himself.