The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1912-08-06

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"Cared!" she cried, as he paused.
Il don't care two pins for you In that
way. But would have married you,
Just the same, because you are worth
marrying. I'd very much rather have
you for a husband than any man
know, but as for loving you! Pooh!
I'd love you In Just the way mother
loves father, and wouldn't have been
bit more trouble to you than she is
to him"
Cad, you don't mind what you
say!"
Failing to nab you, Brandy, dare
say I'll have to come down to duke
or, who knows? maybe a mere prince
It isn't very enterprising, is It? And
certainly 1t isn't gay prospect. Real
ly, | had hoped you would have me.
| fiatter myself. suppose. but, hon
estly now, we would have made a
rather nice looking couple, wouldn't
WEI"
"You fiatter me" he said.
But" she resumed, calmly exhal-
ing, you very foolishly fell in love
with some one else. and It wasn't
necessary for me to pretend that
was In love with you-which should
have done, believe me, II you had
given me the chance. You fell In love.
first with Hetty Castleton."
"First?" he cried. frowning.
"And now you are heels over head
in love with my beautiful sisterin-law.
Which all goes to prove that | would
have made just the kind of wife you
need. considering your tendency to
fuctuate. But how dreadful 1t would
have been for a sentimental, loving
girl like Hetty!"
He sat bolt upright and stared hard
at her.
"See here, Wv, what the dickens are
you driving at? I'm not in love with
Sara-not in the least-and-" He
checked himself sharply. What an
ass am! You're guying me-"
"ln any event, am right about Het-
ty," she said. leaning forward, her man
ner quite serious
"If it will ease you mind" he said
stifily, 81 plead guilty with all my
heart
She favored him with a slight frown
of annoyance.
"And you deny the Nuctuating
charger"
Most positively. | can afford to be
honest with you, Viv. You are a
corker. love Hetty Castleton with
all my soul"
She leaned back in her chair. "Then
why don't you dignity your soul by be.
ing honest with herr"
what do you mean?"
For a half-minute she was silent.
Are you and | of the same stripe,
after all? Would you marry Sara
without loving her as l would have
done by you? 1t doesn't seem like
you, Brandon"
Good heaven, I'm not going to
marry Sara!" he blurted out. lite
never entered my head"
Perhaps it has entered hers"
"Nonsensel She isn't going to
marry anybody. And she knows how |
feel toward Hetty. If it came to the
point where decided to marry with.
out love. pom my soul, Wv, believe
I'd pick you out as the victim"
Wonderful combination" she said
with a frank laugh. "The quintes.
sence of no love lost But to resume
Do you know that people are saying
you are to be married before the win
ter is over?"
Let EN- say It," he said grufIly.
"Oh, well,' she said dispatching II
all with a gesture, "if that's the way
you feel about 1t, there's no more &c
be said"
lie was ashamed 81 beg your par
don, / shouldn't have said that"
"You see," she went on, reverting tC
the original topic, people who know
Sara are likely to credit her with mo
tives you appear to be totally ignoran
Of She set her heart on my brothe'
Challis, when she was a great dea
younger than she is now, and she go
him. If age and experience count 70
anything, how capable she must b,
by this time"
He was too wise to venture an opln
ion. 81 assure you she has no design
on me-"
Perhaps not But fancy that evel
you could not escape as st. Anthon,
did. She is most alluring"
you don't like her."
obviously. And yet don't dislik
her. She has the virtue OF consist
ency, If one may use the expression
She loved my brother Leslie say
she should have hated him. We hav
tried to like her think have com
nearer TO it than any Of the others, nc
excepting Leslie, who has always bee
her champion. suppose you kno'
that he was your rival at one time.
! He mentioned It," said Booth drill!
81 should have been very much dii
| appointed in her If she had aecepte
| him."
"Indeed?"
81 sometimes wonder II Sara spike
!. Leslle's guns for him"
81 can tell you something you don
know, Vivian" said he. Sara wa
/, rather keen about making a mate
u there"
a Vivian's smile was slow but triun
d plant. THAT is Just what | though
There you are! Doesn't that explai
a Sara?"
in a measure, yes. But, you Sc
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