The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1908-07-09

when l saw you therein that dark room
with that fellow?''
NO." says she in low tone. She
draws back involuntarily, as if frightened
by his manner. why do you speak OF
him like that? Why should not be with
him! l like him; he is always very kind
to me-
II despise him." begins he sharply
fiercely, then checks himself. After ALL
what is he to say? How explain to her
that Everard's reputation is not all il
ought to be? "Come down." says he
hoarsely, pointing to the gardens beneath,
Il can't talk to you here. Let us stop
here says he, when they have come to a
clump of evergreens that hides them effec-
tually from any passer-by. His heart
is still hot within him, and his voice
sounds to her stern and harsh. Such a
tone from Brian Deane would have been
met by cold anger on her part, but from
Hilary, II must speak to you"
"Oh, but not in that voice. She lays
her hand gently on his arm. "You have
been so good to me always that-that you
will have to go on being good"
Suddenly in his grief and despair all
things are cast aside and she is in his
arms, her cheek pressed against his own,
his heart beating madly against hers
My darling my own Amber Oh
it is folly to tell you love you. You
know-you must know"
Yes, yes. But you must not love me. -
This is dreadful: but be takes courage
from the fact that as she gives sound
to this awful sentence her arms tighten
round him. He passes it over very light
ly indeed.
I'm not worth thinking about" says
he. But do you love me, my sweet
hearth
mo-" says she, in a tone that she
fondly hopes is heroic, but is only tear
full.
'Oh, Amber. and here" He tightens
his arms round her. ITO say that here"
at was a lie,' cries poor Amber, Civ
ing in miserably. But how can love
you. or let you love me, with this stain
on my fathers name?"
Nonsense II that is ALL" jubilantly.
at is ALL" solemnly. But No.
let me stand away from you; butt
means everything. | shall not let you
love me until my fathers memory is
cleared"
why, think. darling" cries he. still
holding her hands. as he cannot hold
herself. who believes in that absurd
story of the missing jewels, except our
mad old uncle Sir Lucien?"
ard Brian Deane!"
II don't believe he knows anything. |
don't really. He has only been working
on Sir Lucien's nerves. first. perhaps.
with view to making money out of him.
and latterly to get him to forward his
marriage with you"
Still, Hilary, cannot marry you.
Don't think me cold. or heartless, because
/ do love you, do. do"
MY own darling girl"
"Oniy-to marry you'll With such a
cloud as this shame hanging over me. Oh,
no, Couldn't
Let us talk of ourselves You are
mine now, you are mine. Amber, Say
that. Here stands my affianced bride %
You won't tell anyone about il. will
you" she ent-eats; and then, seeing re-
that, you must. You will promise faith
fully to tell no one"
Il don't think l can. At least
smiling at her perturbed face-''not faith
fully. want to tell Sir Lucien for one."
oh! not Sir Lucien."
He first (. / could not stand the idea
of hiding our engagement from him of
all people, There is so much loyalty to-
wards her in this eager desire to tell the
man who has been SO unjust to her all
along, of his own admiration and love
for her. that Amber's eyes grow full of
tears, half sad. half happy Oh. il only
things had been Different
HE will disinherit you"
Let him. I've a thousand year Of
my own, left me by my paor mother. We
can pull along very well on that. Can
go out to India and live happy there ever
after"
You would give up all Sir Lucien's
immense Wealth. She turns upon him
with flashing eyes. '.And for me- No.
no. Do you think for one moment /
would hear of such thing? No, l take
back every word 1 have said. | won't be
engaged to you, Hilary. No. not in any
way. You may think / don't mean it.
but do"
"Will you take back L love you'?'
Yes, certainly. l never meant it. 1t"
with a little stamp of her foot-"was
a mere folly. OF course don't love you
So firm, SO determined is her whole
air, so fierce is the stamp of her foot,
that in spite of his effort to control him
self, Hilary bursts into a roar of laugh
ter. He is Mortified at himself but can
not control his amusement, and indeed 1t
stands him in good stead. If he had
talked to her sensibly for half day, not
one of his wise arguments would so have
her of his determination to have
and TO hold her as does this irrepressible
burst of laughter
Forgive me" says he at last.
"Oh! you can laugh if you like: but
mean it," Her tone, however. is a little
feeble.
Not you," says he comfortably. "And
even IL you did''-drawing her tenderly to
him, and pressing her sweet and lovely
head against his shoulder-"it would be
of no use. l have given myself to you.
and you have given yourself to me: and
=" He pauses. well. that's ALL" says
he. And 80 it seems it Is.