Charlevoix county herald., 1915-04-03
CONTINUED CHAPTER w.

surrey you aPpiSSioNS "S"
about it,"
"Do you mean that you don't care
for me ?" she asked.
"You know better than that" he
answered feelingly. 81 am not man
of emotion Perhaps | have been a
cold lover for it is not my nature to
be demonstrative-bu you know that,
and think you know, too, that l care
for YOU more than any other woman
in the world. 1t is because l do care
that am not willing to marry you,
or even to be engaged to you until l
can clear myself of this terrible sus-
picion."
Don't talk like that-please!" she
pleaded. Father believes in you
everyone believes in you-and even
if they all did not, do. If you are in
trouble, if you are to be subjected to
an ordeal, it is the time that you most
need those who love you. | will not
release you, and l want to be by your
side through it all. If it were possible
l would marry you tomorrow, just to
show the world my confidence in you"
"You splendid little girl" he ex-
claimed. Il might have known you
would take it this way, but | can't let
you do it. You must not insist on
being dragged through all that is
bound to come in the next three
weeks"
"You are going through it," she
said. "And you cannot prevent my
doing SO. ] will never consent to the
breaking of our engagement, and |
know you will not do it against my
wishes Why, Jack, I've got every
thing packed to go to Harcourt Manor
tomorrow, and I've been counting so
much upon the weekend there. Don't
you see how it would injure you if |
were TO release you now? No, Jack,
we simply must 60 on as before as
am sure that everything will turn out
as we wish it."
For long time he sat silently, then
with a smile he turned TO her. at
shall be as you wish them" he said.
"And if it were possible, this would
make me love you more than ever"
you're certainly not very ardent
loverw she teased. do YOU realize
that you haven't kissed me once since
you came in ?"
81 know I'm not very romantic, he
admitted, toying with his monocle. Il
often wonder how | ever managed to
win you. Now, Dicky Darlington al
ways makes a tremendous hit with
women. He recites poetry to them
and tells them they have eyes like
stars and all that sort of nonsense. |
couldn't recite poetry to save my life
and Pm sure I'd hate a woman with
eyes like a star-'
"But ! don't want you to recite
poetry TO me-" she protested.
81 thought every woman liked that
sort Of thing he said.
"There are things she likes better,
said Grace with smile, and she
moved closer to him among the cush-
ions. He took her hand in his and his
arm slipped about her waist. Then,
with a quick, eager movement, he
held her close to him and kissed her
tendeIly.
For n moment they sat silent, then,
with a returning realization Of his po-
sition, Harcourt drew away from her.
"Now, don't talk any more about
this horrible murder" she pleaded. Il
want you to myself for a little while
at least. You've never been like this,
Jack, and sometimes I've wondered if
YOU really loved me, whether you are
not marrying me simply because
you've asked me and because you be-
lieve there ought to be Lady Har-
court"
"Please don't talk that way he
protested in confusion. Surely, you
know that | want you, but you must
forgive me, for I'd never have had the
courage to ask you if you hadn't
helped met
you're perfectly horrid!" she cried
indignantly, hut little smile came
into her eyes in spite of it, for she
knew quite we'll that he had spoken
the truth. Harcoult would never have
had the courage to propose 70 any
woman unless the way had been made
easy for him.
He misread her mood, however, and
took her words seriously. Then why
marry me ?" he asked. Really, !
think it is better that you shouldn't"
"Now, let's not go into that again, !"
said Grace decidedly. MY mind is
made up. am your fancee, and |
shall remain so. Jack, ! would not