The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1910-07-26

to take No from you," he continued. 'I never loved any other woman; never shall; and I shall never give up hope of winning you"
 Really, I am very sorry for this, MT. Broarfiield."
 Don't say that, Miss Castlemaine. I suppose it is bad policy to expose my hand in this way; nevertheless what I tell you is true. Although you first refused me three years ago, I shall never give up hoping that I shall win you, and never give up trying"
 Had we not better change the sub iect?" she said rather coldly, al- though there was no look of anger or resentment in her eyes.
 T only wanted to tell you this It is more than a year since I spoke to you last, and I wished you to know that I have not altered-never shall alter. I love you, and I shall not give up hope of winning you. I know I am not of your way of think ing. To be perfectly frank, inter pret the duties and responsibilities of a landholder differently from you. But I admire you all the same. No doubt you have given a great deal of pleasure by keeping an open house: no doubt, too, your home of rest for jaded multitude is very fine, but then I have old-fashioned ideas"
 Olive laughed gaily. She had al- most enjoyed the criticisms which, during the past five years. had been passed upon her work.
 At any rate the house was never used in such a way before," she said.
 Never" said Herbert Briarfield. 'The late owner-well, he did not be- lieve in using his home as a sort of hydro. or convalescent establish ment.''
 'No," said Olive. T suppose he did not, but then one has ones duties"
 "Yes, but duty is word which is interpreted differently by different people. For my own part, I do not see why one should open one's4 house to everybody.s4of course, it is not my business. but don't you think you full filled your duty when you built your home of rest?''
 'No," said Olive. "The Home of Rest, as you call it, is for strangers. but those I invite here are people I have known They come here as my personal friends"
 You must have a lot of personal friends
 "I have, and really these last few years have been a revelation to me- never realized the number of over worked gentlefolk there were, neither did I ever dream of the amount of gratitude there is in the world
 And do you mean to continue do- ing this-this-kind of thing, Miss Castlemaine
 "Yes, I think so''
 What. when you get married?"
 'I shall never marry"
 Herbert Briarfeld looked at her. steadily. For the last three years he had been a suitor for Olive Castle maine's hand, and although she had given him no encouragement, he had never given up hope that he would one day win her. Moreover, so cer- tain was he that: he, would one day succeed. that he had almost uncon- sciously assumed kind of proprie- tary right over her.
 ''Of course you will marry he said, and then you will think differently Your first duties then will be to your Eusband-and toto your position"
 Olive Cast1emaine did not reply He had so often expressed this kind of sentiment, that she did not think it worth while.
 Miss Castlemaine," continued Her. bert Briarfield, you will not be of- fended if I speak plainly, will you?"
 II am not likely to be offended with my friends, MT. Briarfeld," she said, "but there is one subject that should be debarred. You know very well that have made up my mind"
 Let no subject be debarred, Miss Castlemaine. It is not right that 1t should be. If there were some one else, of course I should have to re- gard your refusal as inevitable. But ther is no one else-is there?"
 Olive Castlemaine did not speak, but there was a look in her eyes which, had Herbert BriarheId seen, he would have thought it wise to be silent.
 We are neither of us children" he went on: T am thirty-six, and there fore not ignorant of the world I know that you have had many offers of marriage, and TT know that the man to whom you were once engaged is dead"
 He felt he was acting like a fool while he was speaking, but the words escaped him, in spite of himself.
 "But you are not going to allow that to wreck your life," he went OF. You are young-and-and you know how beautiful you are. Besides, love you; love you like my own life You are the only woman in the world to me. do not know the-the story of that business, but-but surely-