The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1908-02-28
Which Vasthe Coward.
BY HELEN FORREST GRAVES.

Fessesss,e s,sssessx$A
Don't you thing he il handsome,
Marguerita?'
Handsome? yes,' Marguerite Lee
answered, with a curve of her scar
let upper lip, latter an effeminate
fashion. like man who has some
manliness about him!"
And do you mean to say that Sgd
ney Delatour has not?"
Marguerite laughed, and only held
her handsome head little higher
than usual.
AT all events, persisted her cousin
Nina, "he loves you, Marguerite, and
you ought not to treat him with such
icy coldness I am very much mis-
taken if he does not regard you with
truer devotion than that felt by Ger
aid Markham"
'What an enthusiastic little advo-
cate you are, Nina" said Marguerite
But your arguments will scarcely
convince me. Were my two SWANS
knights of old, you would soon see
which would enter the field of COMBAT
most valiantly and do battle most
brayely for the fair, name of his lady
Lowell"
Gerald Markham?"
Marguerite nodded, with kindling
cheek.
And all this" said Nina, reproach.
fully, because Mr.. Delatour is slend-
er and quiet. and rather pale. not
gifted with a braggart tongue lille
Gerald Markham, nor given to lauda-
-fion of his own exploits. Rita, have
NO patience with you"
'1Then let US change the subject"
said Marguerite, with provoking calm
ness. See how gloriously the sun
Is sinking in perfect sea of golden
vapor. And-can it be? Yes, that
3 Uncle Rudolph climbing the path
from the depot. did not expect he
would be home until a later train
than this!"
She sprang up from the rustic seat
In which she had been reclining on
the piazza, and went in to give the
requisite orders to the maids concern.
Ing prompt refreshments, for Rudolph
Lee was strange, eccentric old man,
Who would permit not single domes-
tic In the house, wealthy as he was
known to be, and scarcely tolerated
the presence of his niece's visitors,
Mr. Delatour and Gerald Markham.
"You are earlier than we expected,
uncle" said Nina, running down the
walk to meet him. LET me relieve
yOu Of your parcels
"No, child, no" said the old man,
wearily, as he resisted her efforts to
take from him the little leather bag
Ae carried in his hand; this mustn't
90 out of my possession. It's money,
Nina"
Money, uncle!"
The five thousand dollars l drew
out of the bank to invest tomorrow.
child. Ponce C Redtape wanted to
take charge of it, but I thought it
would be safer in my own hands"
Uncle, were you wiser"
OF course / was said the old man.
pettishly. what do women know
about business? Let me have my
supper directly, and then I'll find
snug place for the money until to-
morrow morning.
And Uncle Ralph did not make his
appearance that night again, prefer
ring the quiet of his own apartment
10 the moonlit veranda where Mr..
Markham and Sydney Delatour were
sitting talking with his two nieces.
I'm glad they're in the house.
though" thought Uncle Ralph. .If
anybody should have tracked me from
the bank-although it is the most i'm
probably thing in the world-it might
be just as well to have somebody
here besides helpless women and
feeble old man, who isn't much bet
ter. OF course, there is no sort of
likelihood of danger. but it makes one
seel safer"
Meanwhile cruel Marguerite was al
ternately torturing and encouraging
The hearts of her two devoted cava-
Hers, and Nina, sitting quietly by, with
her pure. transparent complexion,
looking paler than ever in the moon.
light. marveled to herself over the
wonderful spell which beauty has
power to exercise; while handsome
Gerald Markham, conscious of his
Apollo-like perfection of face and
form, ratified carelessly on, and MT.
Delatour's low, calm voice sounded
row and then.
II don't half like that Markham. I"