The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1911-03-28

come here to seek you, to ask you to be his wife,"
 Cara stood perfectly still; the ex- pression of her. face did not change. She looked from one man to the oth- CT, and waited.
 Raven stood with his head on one side, regarding her with a malevolent smile.
 "You are startled, dear little one,' he said; you have lived so long out of the world that you have not thought of lover-a husband. An yes but I have been thinking fol you; and beholdn he motioned te Reece-"this is my choice. lie is ar Englishman; you are fond of the English. That is we'll, for they are good and wise. This is one of the best of them. MT. Dexter Reece i a man, of wealth. You will travel he will take you to England; he vii make you very happy. But'-hs spread out his hands, including then both in the gesture-"he shall speak for himself.''
 She turned her eyes on Dexter Reece, and waited, as if she were compelled by force to play par which could have but one ending.
 Dexter Reece moistened his lips and approached her; but something in the sorrow-stricken eyes kept hin from coming near to her. q am afraid you are startled shocked, by the suddenness, ths abruptness-' he began,with some. thing of his usual ingratiating suav- ity. 'HTou have almost forgotten me, fear, Miss Cara"
 She spoke at last.
 s'No, I have not forgotten you." shs said, quite calmly and gravely, with 2 contempt which cut him like a whip 'I remember you very we'll. Will yol tell me what this means? Is it a jest, It cannot be true, this that my fath CT says, that you want to marry me Why have you come to insult me? have only seen you two or three times. You treated me then as if were a servant-girl. You know noth ing of me; and yet you say you wisf to marry me! What is it you expec me to say?"
 ''I beg you will listen to me-" h. said. "I know how strange it mus sound to you, this-this proposal Q. mine; you will think that I am insin cere, that I have some purpose te
 She broke in upon him at this. Tn, scorn now flashed from her eyes as they swept from one man to the oth CT.
 What else could I think? Yol know that I am prisoner here-ye: prisoner; you come to insult me knowing that I am helpless to protec myself. You ask me to marry you you expect an answer-is it really that you expect an answer? Ther will give it to you-No!''
 Dexter Reece moistened his lips again, and drew his hand across his brow; he felt like whipped cur.
 TT cannot but accept he stammered.
 But Raven, who had been regard ing them with a sinister smile, step- ped forward and held up his hand.
 '"rut, tut!'' he said "Too much words!-too much. words! Cara mia you are very foolish; you speak in haste. You have not considered: you require time, dear child; it is on ly natural; it is only proper. Retire dear one, to the rest we have dis turbed, and think. Tomorrow the ceremony will take place. Alas! it is necessary that we hasten the matter; MT. Reece is leaving Italy,
 He opened the door for her with a mocking bow. She stood for an in stant, regarding Reece with mix ture of contempt and curiosity; then turned and left them.
 Dexter Reece dropped into his chair and drew a long breath.
 "I told you!'' he said thiclly ''For heavens sake, let the thing drop!'
 Raven smote him on the shoulder.
 "Tut, tut!'' he said. "You are a craven kind of lover, MT. Reece But dispel your fears. AS I have said, we are not in England; we manage our daughters differently"
 You will never manage her," said Dexter Reece, with impatient con- tempt of the mans self-confdence.
 we shall see," retorted Raven. T have managed her hitherto, my