The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1908-05-21

islnes Fee llAe . little gu hen
geg leok 1T ass and isii me not 90 be
uaagAty. - Elisha Sounds eli right
bul simply aae not call sou Arthur
susf Imagine what a sensation q,
would create ia the saleai should
feei crccgY all over And hadn't we
better h."
-Elsle. said be- with a tender note
~ bis voice which thrilled Der IKE a
chord u exquisite music. 4 want 10
tell yea something The knowledge is
forced 90 me that there Is another man
on this ship who wishes 10 make you
his wife, bui I, too, love you. aud see
20 reason why | should stand aside for
any man on Gods earth until you tell
me with your own lips that yon prefer
him 10 me"
oh gaspei Elsie and "ohg' again,
bot not another word could she utter,
she who had been SO voinbie moment
ago. The blttersweet pain OF hearing
this sudden arowal was almost over
towering Her ideals OF honor and
/ truth were shocked. but she was wo.
man as well as an idealist. and she was
stirred TO the depths OF her soul by the
knowledge that she had won the man
whose love she crayed.
n want you 10 listen TO me. Elsie,
be said, with a passionate Intensity
that stilled the rising storm in bcr bos
ON, "Dr. Chr1stobal may have plead
cd his own cause already. II is not
for me TO cavil at him for doing that,
but cannot lose you without word.
Whether you marry him or me or nel.
Their OF us. | shall love you forever !
want you 10 know that II is no new
discovery 10 me think my hear,
went out TO you when ! carried you in
my arms through the gale. aud since
that hour you and ! have had expert
ences denied 10 most men and women |
ere they reach the conclusion that they |
are 1T mates for the voyage OF life DO
you feel that, sweetheart? Have we
known each other ten days or ten
years.
His face was very near TO hers now,
His arm was around her neck. II was
quite dark where they stood in the
shadow OF the bridge. He could not
see the tears In her eyes, but he heard
her broken answer:
Are -quite-falr-in using such
words TO meT
Fair, Elsie! Fair TO whom
Because how can ! tell you?
Are you free toto speak TO me In this
wayP
Elsie, | am pledged to no other wo
man. II that is what you mean. Who
has been telling you otherwiser'
mo one Indeed-lndeed, alone am
TO blame You will be angry with me,
but could not help IT,"
She could say no more. II she had
uttered another syllable Just then she
would have broken down completely.
Courtenay placed his hand under her
chin and lifted her unresistlng lips to
his. He kissed her twice and laughed
softly, with glad confidence that sent
a wave Of delight courslng through Ell
sizes veins.
Sweetheart" he whispered, Il am
sure you would not have allowed Inc to
speak so plainly II you were going to
send me away. Now, don't want you
to bind yourself irrevocably tonight
That would certainly not be fair. !
don't know why I am to be angry or
what 1t was you couldn't help, and
don't care q red cent. All want TO
know Is this-if the Kansas brings us
both back to the outer world once
more, have I as good chance Of win
ming your love as any other man?"
But ! must tell you. could not
look you in the face II you did not hear
L. When I was left alone In your
cabin the second time and the sea
came In, a packet Of letters fell out OF
some clothes which picked up from
The floor. There was one from your
sister. I hardly knew what | was do
ing. but saw her name, 'Madge,' and
read a few words on the half page
above her signature"
His left arm was now 30 well estaD
ished that his hand touched her cheek,
ind be found 1t wet with tears.
what wild concelt has crept into
your pretty little head?" he cried In
maze, unconsciously raising his voice
somewhat. "A letter from my sister
,he Is the most STRAIGHTFORWARD wo-
nan breathing. / assure you. Never
Inc has she written to me which could
,ear any construction such as seems
o trouble you. Why, on the contrary,
dadge has often chaffed me for being
o like herself In giving no thought to
natrimony."
ut is horrid OF me to persist, but
we It to you to tell you what l saw.
he alluded to your 'afianced wife ,
nd said that under no other circum-
tances,' whatever they were. would !,
he receive her"
Then Courtenay laughed again, and =
Isle found It was absolutely essential Y
Joey were not to be crushed that
er head should bend little forward =
nth the obvious result that ii rested %
q Courtenays shoulder :,
II must show you the whole Of that y
.tter," be cried, "and the others which ~
re tied up In the same bundle. You -
I'LL see me blush, / admit, but 1t will ;.
OF be from a sense Of per6dy. But :
here Ia one thing you have forgotten, =
Isle" And his voice dropped to q u
.nse whisper again. I'm telling me :,
our secret, which Is no secret, you -
ave given me my answer. Your heart u
iust have crept out little way to
'eet mine, dear. or my sisters words ~
'ould not have perplexed you. SO 81
lat Is why you have avoided me dur ~
e the past few days. But there y
ow. indeed, am not acting quite :. :.
lirly. II Ii unfair to ask you TO con :
'ss when want you to wait until we p'
In clear Of our present difficulties be- p
ire you decide whether or not you can =
nd 1t to your liking to make a poor ~
'ilor man happy" &c
Joey was q highly accommodating