Orange County observer. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1880-1918, 1908-08-06

she could not steel herself to the
prospect Of never seeing him again.
But when the doctor had told her
that she had only a year, at the most,
Of life left to her, her attitude to-.
wards everything had seemed to
change in an instant.
She began to play an unscrupulous
game, like gambler who has moth
ing to lose.
The odds were dead against her at
the starting point, for Kaye was gen
timely in love with Muriel. But by
degrees she began to exercise fas-
cination over him. She watched his
growing passion, and nourished it
tirelessly. The approach OF death
seemed to have given her subtler
intelligence and power to bewitch.
Kaye did not yield without a strug-
gle. He wanted to be loyal to Muriel,
even though he had not been able to
help owning to himself that she was
rather stupid; but Margaret was be-
coming more and more of .n absorb
ing enigma to him.
It was nine months after the doc
tors warning when Margaret heard
Kaye knock at the door of her moth
er's house. She smiled quietly to her
self, knowing the mood in which he
had left yesterday. "Muriel can cas-
lily regain what she has lost. I.
She has all her life before her." she
said to herself.
Kaye strobe into the room. He
looked excited. He took both her
hands. II had dream about you, y
he said. Il came to assure myself
that it was only a dream.
dreamt that you were dead .
Margaret! ;. !. have never
known before what your death would
mean to me. Margaret"
She sank into his outstretched arms
and sobbed wildly on his breast. He
kissed her lips, her eyes, her hair
laughing softly. 1t was only
a dream, thank heaven!" he said
"We are young and strong.
/. We love one another, and all
| life is before us. -. Don't cry!
). -. Don't cry, Margaret!
!. Why-?"
! because am so happy" she mur.
INJURED.
+! "Then laugh" he said. "Tears are
| for sorrow I shall kiss
them away and there must
never be any more"
Margaret had her month of happi
ness, and only suffered when Kaye
alluded to the marriage, which sh'
knew could never take place. The1
she began to wonder whether deatl
was inevitable. Why should she b.
cut off in the midst of life
when she had just begun to be happy
One morning she rose, feeling par
ticularly we'll. She looked at he
own reflection. II am not dying!
she said. II won't die! The docto
must have been mistaken. I shall
consult specialist.
| She dressed carefully, for she ex
pected Kaye. At II o'clock visito
arrived, but it was net her lover.
was Muriel Hayden, looking like
shadow of herself. She faced Mar
garet reproachfully. II know you ar
surprised to see me-" she said wit
great bitterness. "But I am no
ashamed to plead my own cause.
|. ask you now, if you have an
heart at all, to give Robert up.
He does not love you.
is only an infatuation. II
is mine by rights.
Margaret laughed almost pityingly
"He does love me-" she said. "He
mine absolutely. Wait an
see him with me and yo
) will not doubt it. !"
: Muriel suddenly burst into tear.
"You are a cruel, wicked woman!
| she sobbed. II wonder how I coul
| ever have thought you good.
, You have spoilt my life yo
| and Robert between YOU"
Margaret's heart was touched. Sh
knew what it was to love Robert
IL. in vain. She went to the gil
/ and placed hand on her shoulder
| "Listen!" she said. II did not mea
. to make you unhappy -.
, only wanted Robert to love me for
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