The Washington herald., 1907-12-22


rang in her ear above Vic's measured
periods. What could the man be talking
about?
'Yes-yes." she answered him a little
fretfully, go on, please-or I must go I'D
10 my fathern'
She could see from the window that no
answering signal had been hoisted in front
OF the Portogarten managers nouse-now
In process Of construction. And that
meant II il meant anything. that she
hllght expect the incursion Of a rejoicing
Phll' radiant Phil, a Phil who would
De perfectly unrecognizable to his for-
Iuer superior sitting there and letting the
words fall measuredly from his lips.
Please don't interrupt me-" she heard
MIN say; Il have a difficult task to per
form But | mean 70 go through with IT,
IL may cause pain TO both of us-yes-
great pain But at any rate you shall
nave no reason to complain Of me-if l
can help it,"
(Bless the man-she had never dreamed
OF doing such a thing Who did he think
ne vase
still, he had saved her life. so she must
iiSten as patiently as might be- Il was his
due Only she did wish that those
"retched flags We're down. or that Phil
would not make some idotic answer
interrupt you. Mr.. Morris" she said
squirting Up at the fagstan on the
HeCgh. certainly notr'
All the same she did not know what she
was promising
you that
Bless mer' she thought. the man is
going to propose after al He has come
from Spain 70 do it, They all begin that
way. They should be told not to-"
But Vic Morris went on remorselessly.
without divining one of her thoughts, as
Phi would have done dear PhHD or in
deed without caring very much what these
might be. even Il they had been printed
OUT plainly from a ticker for his edih-
cation.
Il have 10 reveal to YOU my reasons
for seeking this interview" said Vic.
looking straight into the girTs face. Il
nave but little reason 20 be proud of
them But at least 1 viii make a clean
breast OF IT, And then you can DO what
you like in the matter"
C'Ihis man is completely out OF his
mind.' decided VidaD
Yes" went on Vie 20 himself there
was q time when 1 believed that loved
YOU"
Now for IT." thought Vida. and had a
consoling glimpse at the fag-stan-.
stiI blank
Indeed. 1 may say I did love YOU. I
even allowed you 10 see IL. went every
Where IN order to be with you. I went
70 church"
Lawks-a-n3ussy. now, Think O. that
murmured Vida. after the manner OF her
charwoman, one Dame Betty Broadfoot.
VINO came 10 do the mornings house
work. and much diverted the young mis-
tress OF the house with her exclamations
But Vida did not let the young man with
the broad shoulders and the granite face
near her She knew better. So he pro-
ceeded unchecked and confident
Yes, 1 came night after night 10
Your cottage-Dick Finnan's cottage m
the Glebe End, that is. / am aware that
/ excited comment by doing so. But
then 1 thought that all time was before
me- did not hasten 20 speak"
The dear man. murmured Vida ad
miringly' Just ike them slI-thinks he
IS the only one in The w0rIdr
And she stole another glance up AZ
the top of the HeUgh. But stiH no band
OF huttering color was blowing out for
ner 10 docipher. Either Phil had not got
ner messlge, or leaving the Portogarteu
Mine 10 look after itself. at that moment
he was tearing down the slopes toward
the cottage She wanted 20 tell Vic Nor
ris To get onto give him a push-he
was so SLOW. For Phil was as likely 7s
not 10 hurl himself bodily into the omen
window and put his arms about her. neck
without saying BY your leave" She
knew Phil
She blushed again. She also moved a
little farther from the window. but did
not close 1t.
Poor roOr Touafr-- mae .,-,f- -
spoken thought of Vic Morris. accom-
panied by a heavy sigh.
yes he continued. bravely. 7 ought
to have spoken-to have asked YOU 20
marry me, Yes, 1 had no right to run
away like that; I acknowledge IT, Ny
duty was clear, and have come back
10 perform it
And he threw his head back with a
kind Of noble air, which annoyed the
girl exceedingly.
ing.
Hear me oUt-hear me out"' Vic Nor
ris put up an authoritative hand: you
promised! OF course. you do right TO be
angry. But hear me ont. went away. /
however-heeing from what ought 10 have
been my pride and my pleasure. And
/ can hardly bring myself to tell YOU
the rest-what followed?"
Bless me- thought Vida. has he killed |
somebody. toO?'
During the time that was in Spain"
Vic Morris went on, "a correspondence !
grew up between myself and a young |
lady OF this neighborhood. Followed. /
fear, at least on my side. by a change |
in my affectons-Of my feelings with re-
gard 20 YOU"
Vida was too astonished TO utter word |
1,f-s. d
over the ground. lest he should be inter- |
rupted.
But duty-duty, Miss Vida. is before /
all other things with me. Accordingly. /
as soon as l had heard Of your fathers |
I started 10 do what 1 ought /
10 have done before-offer you a good 1
home and a faithful husband l love
another, it is true. That is my misfor- /
tune, not my fault. But you need have 4
no fear. She shall never know It. and I /
Will gladly subordinate my happiness. in /
order that you and yours may know n /
happy home. Love I would gladly give
If l could. Once 1 thought that the feel /
ings were under the control of the will /
of a determined man. 1 have found out
my mistake. But l am man of duty,
Miss Romer. True, I love another 1t is
best TO be frank. But. all the same, il is
my duty 70 make this offer to you-and.
do make it in all honesty of resolve
and purpose
There was not the least reason to doubt
IT,
But just at this moment the little
French window was driven in two halves.
and Phil Calmort leaped into the parlor.
Coming straight and breathless out Of the
sunshine. he did not for the moment see
Vic. The last accents Of the dutiful and
noble speech of the engineer had died
away among the dull mahogany furniture.
so that there was eilencn