The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-06-06

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 .Then if you didn't love me. why did you ask me to marry you7" II was his nature to be more or less satisfied when portionaliy in the wrong; and now his exultation at having put poser mani Tested itself in his tone. This. how ever. braced up Stephen to cope with Q diff1cult and painful situation. It was with, with q calm, seemingly geniaf frankness, that she answered. smii- ingly:
 puzzling me from that moment 70 tnis: Her words appeared to almost stupefy Leonard. This view of the matter had not occurred to him, and now the pug xle of 1t made him angry
 'sDo you mean to says'F he asked hotly. "that you asked man to marry you when you didn't even love himT Why I did it is, assure you, as much q puzzle to me as 1t is to you. have come to the conclusion that 1t must have been from my vanity. I suppose | wanted to dominate soniebodyj and you were the weakest within ranger
 Thank your He was genuinely an- xry by this time, and. but for q whole some fear of the consequences, would have used stronger language. The more angry he grew. the more really self-possessed became stephen. She felt sale now. He had actually entered on the subject which had caused her such bitter shame, and to her surprise the effect did not justify the apprehen- sion. She had spoken. and in speaking had freed her soul. In this new-found sense of liberty. which was by contrast with the past in itself happiness. she felt strong enough to make Leonard's fall as light as she could.
 Quem deus vuit perdere prius de- nientat. At that moment, in his selfish anger and wounded vanity, Leonard said something which turned her pity to gall:
 T don't see that was the weakest about Somehow this set her on her guard. She wanted to know more, so she asked:
 ''Who else7''
 Harold An Wolf! You had him on q string already"
 The name came like a sword through her heart. but the bitter comment braced her to further caution. Her own voice seemed to her to sound as though far away:
 'Indeedl And may ask you how you came to know that?" Her voice seemed so cold and sneerins to him that he lost his temper still further.
 Simply because he told me so him. 9el1.- IL pleased him 10 do an III turn to Harold. He did not forget that clutch at his throat: and he never would. Stephens senses were all alert. She saw an opportunity of learning something, and went on in the same cold voice:
 "And I suppose 1t was that pleasing confidence which was the cause of your refusal of my offer of marriage; of which circumstafce you have 60 thoughtfuiy and so courteously remind ed me-" This. somehow, seemed of good import to Leonard. If he could show her that his intention to marry her was antecedent to Harold,s conf. dence. she might stfil go back to her old affection for him. He could not believe that 1t did not stiII exist: his experience of other women showed hlm that their love outIived their an- gbr, whether the same had been hot or cold.
 Tt had nothing in the world to do with it.. He never said word about lt till when he threatened to Kill me-. sfe great bFutep' This was learning Bopdthfng indsedis She went on in the sane voice:
 fAnd may I ask you what was the cause of such sanguinary intentior7s
 fBeeause he knew that 1 was going to marry youi" As he spoke he feit