The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1909-08-05

was lost in the painful wave of crimson.
The whole thing would be exploded in a
week." she finished decisively.
For a moment Mr.. Stewart looked as
though he might, on his side. wax
wrathful; then, controlling himself, he
spoke persuasively, Il never could have
entertained so far-fetched an idea for q
moment, if 1 had not seen how resolute
and self-relant you were-if l had not
known how without family ties and hope
full prospects you are.
IF there are difficulties in playing
such a part at Orkwell, are there no diff
ficulties ahead of you in the Paris life:
And surely, you over-rate these dithcul-
ties. You say you cannot play the part
of a habitant. You forget that they are
totally ignorant OF how such a part
should be played. You are half French,
so yor soiI me. Well, that fact supplies
the lieces "a " exotic element in her eyes.
She won't expect you TO be what you
can guess that poor soul to have been.
1t is not as though it were for long. Ii
is only to give her time to feel that the
game is up, and that she had letter
clear out; and for me to get the will
made, and then the difficulties are over.
And then what becomes of me?" she
asked with a hard contempt, TO which he
responded gravely:
Then, you are the honored wife of the
heir; mistress of my fathers house. 1t
is something to consider" There was q
pause, then he went on in a gentler
voice. las for being tied to me, / can
only say that / should endeavor TO repay
my indebtedness to you by loyal con-
sideration; that l make no claim Of any
kind upon you save of a d Iensive and
offensive alliance. For the rest, you
must know that il had not admired and
respected you should hardly have been
willing to place my future so entirely In
your hands.
Don't you think that, considering al
this, you might promise to think il
over?"
II don't know, don't know" Miss
Thorne murmured feebly. All al once
there seemed something very forlorn ant
girlsh about her. The lips that hat
been so firmly set were tremulous, anC
the grey eyes bright with tears.
A sudden kindly smile heightened tn,
intensity of Mr.. Stewards face
Don't be so frightened of me-" h
urged gently. ION my honor, you car
trust me. Surely there are many wors,
motives in marriage than loyal comrade
ship on both SIDES.
But l have tired you out now JUS
promise me that we may talk it over
again, and l will go away and leave you
in peace"
Miss Thorne was by way of being rath
er strong minded. at least she tried t.
think so herself, often feeling the mos
feminine weakness when she had best per
suaded others of her stony-heartedness.
But now every pretence at stoicisu
suddenly abandoned her, and left her I,
gasp out helplessly, "Oh, yes, promise
Only, please go away now"
As Mr.. Stewart walked off to the othel
end of the deck, she sat with claspe
hands, staring at the endless changin.
curve of the dark waves, and thinkin:
how very simple it would be to wall
over the railing, wait until that sid,
dipped low to meet the rising curve, ant
slip over. In a moment she would be il
the white, churning wake of the steam
er, and then. But no, that were ranl
cowardice, and there was that in he
blood which made cowaroice an impossi
bility. While youth and strength last
ed, she would fight on-when that went
then let all the rest 60 too.