The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-05-13

The next few days saw Stephen ab- normally restless. She had fairly well made up her mind to test her theory or equality of the sexes by asking Leon ard Everard to marry her; but her dit- hculty was as to the doing it She knew we'll that 1t would not do to de- pend on chance meeting for an op- portunity. After all. the matter was too serious to allow of the possibility of levity. There were times when she th ught she would write to him and make her proffer of affection in this way; but on every occasion when such thought recurred 1t was forthwith in- stantfy abandoned. During the last few days however. she became more reconciled to even this method of pro- cedure The fever of growth was un- abated. At last came an evening which she had all to herself. Miss Laetitia was going over to Norwood to look af- ter matters there. and would remain the night.
 After dinner in her boudoir she set herself to the composition of a letter to Leonard which would convey at least something of her feelings and wishes towards him. In the depth of her heart. which now and again beat fu- riously. she had secret hope that when once the idea was broached Leon ard would do the rest. And as she thought of that rest" languorous dreaminess came upon her. She bought how he would come to her full of love of yearning passion; how she would try to keep towards him. at first an independent front which would pre- serve her secret anxiety until the time sh ould come when she might yield herself to his arms and tell him all. How she would listen with ear down whilst he should whisper the story of his love; listen anxiously lest he should discover, too soon, the tumult of her heart. And then the rapture the si- lent still joy as she could lay her head on his brest and admit that she loved him too. She did not try to imagine his words: she only thought of the sub stance. the effect of them. And as she thought of what words she would use to him she felt herself blush so deeply that she put her hands before her face and instinctively rose up, shaking her self as does one suddenly disturbed in sleep. She was all at once aware that as yet 1t was but a dream. She had not written to Leonard; and Leonard, so far as she knew. was as yet In ab- solute ignorance of his good fortune. His good fortune" was a fairly good rendering of her thought into words; for. as has been said already, Stephen was essentially an egoist. For hours she wrote letter after letter, destroying the as quickly as she wrote. as she found that she had but swayed pendu- 1um fashion between overtness and coldness.
 At last she made up her mind. She would write to Leonard merely asking him to see her. The letter itself was short enough, and was too simply in itself tc justify the painful. almost hu- initiating, beating of her heart as, af- ter reading 1t over carefully. she seal ed It.
 Dear Leonard-Would it be conUen- tent for you to meet me tomorrow. Tuesday. at half-past twelve o'clock on top of Caester Hill? want to speak about a matter that may have some interest to you, and it will be more private there than In the house. Also it will be cooler in the shade on the hilltop. Yours sincerely
 stephen Norman"
 Having posted the letter she went about the usual routine of her life at Normanstand, and no occasion of sus- picion or remark regarding her came to her aunt.
 In her room that night when she had sent away her maid, she sat down to think, and all the misgivlngs of the day came back at first in full force. This was a true sleepless night, when sleep was wanted but would not come. Stephen wished for 1t. hoped for 1t. She wanted to be at her best on the morrow; to be most alert with her brains. to be absolute mistress of her self. to look her best
 But the Drowsy God would not come for wishing, and so she tossed through the long hours till once again she saw the grey light steal round the edges of her blinds. There was this much to the good: she felt that there had been no narrowing subject of thought; nothing to regret!
 Leonard received the letter at break fast-time on the morning. He did not give it any special attention. as he had other letters at the same time. some of which were. if less pleasant. of more immediate importance. He had of late been bombarded with dunning letters from tradesmen; for during his Uni versity life, and ever since, he had run into debt extravagantly. The moder- ate allowance which his father had made to him he had trCEted as. cash for incidental expenses. but everything else had been on credit. Indeed he was beginning to get seriously alarmed l about the future, for his father, who | had paid his debts once. and at a time when they were by comparison with | the present inconsiderable. had said that he would not under any circum- stances pay any others which he might | make It was therefore with concern and anxiety that he opened his letters every morning.
 Stephen rose fresh and In good spir- | It's, despite her sleepless night. When | youth and strength are to the fore. a | nights sleep Is not of much account | for the system once braced up is not | allowed to slacken. Had she enjoyed | her customary long and sound sleep it