The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1909-03-11
CHAPTER xxxiv-continued.

why"
"He is quite well again." she inter
rupted, with q blush and a smile. HE
has a curacy there. I'm afraid he
isn't very well paid"
III only the living OF st. Chloe
would come vacant" said her broth.
er, absently.
"Why, Glen, what difference would
that maker she asked. with a little
catch in her voice.
"Oh, a lot OF difference" he said,
with a smile. do you think | am
stone blind"
stone blind! What do you mean.
Glenn"
why, that Grayton has been in
love with you for years. No, don't
protest, Esther. You must know 1t
is true. And | fancy"
"Well?"
That Grayton unwittingly spiked
Mr.. Jackson's guns. Am | not right"
Il could not marry Mr.. Jackson,
Glenn, and be true to myself"
Il know you couldn't, Esther, and
| honor and admire you for your
courage. 1t must have been a sore
temptation to you, especially as so
much seemed to be at stake"
The secret was ont now, and she
made no further attempt to hide any
thing. 1t was a relief to her to talk
freely, especially to one who could
appreciate her point of view and rev.
erence her ideals.
They sat up talking until long past
Clements usual bedtime. Esther had
so much to tell him about America,
about Marion, about herself, about
Grayton.
Clement was profoundly interested.
He saw Marion through Esther's eyes
as well as through his own. His
heart thrilled with a curious ecstacy
while she ~descanted on Marion's
goodness and generosity. There is
only n thing about her." she went
on, that really puzzles me-"
And what is that?"
Her dislike of being called an
American; for, after all, she is very
western in many ways. Fer manner
of speech has quite an American fla.
vor; while the spirit of independ-
ence, so rampant on the other side,
Is strong in her still. Yet she is more
English than the English themselves
more anti-American than any one
| have met"
"She will outgrow that" he said,
with a smile. 1T was her misfor-
tune to see the worst side of West
ern life. And herein the main-she
has seen It's best.
Il wonder II race prejudice fingers
In the blood; for, do you know, my
trip has made me more English than
ever"
And yet you are puzzled at Ma
rion?"
"She was born there; has imbibed
Western ideas; has something of
the resistless energy that is every
where manifest on the other side. 1
am English born"
and a little bit old fashioned, eh?"
he interrupted.
I'm some things-yes; but better
be old fashioned than lose all ones
ideals. and reduce life to a mere mat
ter of marking time and counting dol.
lars"
And when Is your engagement to
be announced?" he questioned, as she
rose to her feet.
There is no engagement" she
said, a hot blush sweeping over her
face.
mo engagement"
mo formal engagement. Why
should there be? We owe each 9th.
er. Is not that %enough?"
1T would not be enough for most
girls. I fancy. They like such mat.
ters made public: like to receive the
congratulations of their friends and
neighbors."
Eyes. | know. Everything is vul.
CARRIED today. Even the most sacred
things are exposed to the shameless
eyes of the gaping crowd"
But doesn't such an understand.
ing as you call 1t. place you in rath.
er a false positions"
why should It? No one knows:
no one has a right to know. We have
told each other Of our love-I have
told you. for you are my brother
but the outside world has no right "a
be consideredn
But he may change his mind"
why not say that I may change
miner"
well with nothing to bind you
he said. lanely. you may both
change"
She laughed quite unsteady
Should either of us be in any wors,
position In that event? On. Glenn
you seem less logical than usual"
I'VE are not ruled by logic, Esther
and there are certain conventions 4
seems to me we r bound to oh
serve"
Mr.. Grayton is free, she answered
with a sweet but dignihed smile. w,
may never marry. We may mo- eve
meet again. But we love each other
II that love be true and OF God
VIII not change Neither time no