The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1917-01-25

ever since that | missed that one. lie
was invariably courteous. He Is q
gentleman"
"Y0u Infer that ! am noti" ex.
claimed Vandervyn. $50 he's courteous
and smooth and slick, Is hef One
might know that you've been raised
In the backwoods."
"You forget ! spent four years at
the capital OF Canada"
"In u convent! No wonder you've
LET him play you"
The girl met the jeer with a tantnliz'
ing smile.
ut has been n most amusing game.
He treats me with as much respect rs
If ! were a young lady OF his wi set"
There's nc n else here for him to
flrt with"
THAT 's m advantage, is II nOti'
The girl dropped into her English man.
ner. II daresay he will forget me as
o o rs he gets back to civilization
unless / decide to accept his proposal"
Vandervyn stared ut her cynlcally.
"You needn't try to rag me, Marie"
She smiled. $50 you do doubt what
| say. Yet It Is true. Captain Hardy
did me the honor of declaring that he
wished to marry me-"
"Hardy asked yOu?-he. a captain
In the regular armyl"
"And | a quarterbreed, the daughter
Of my father. Amazing, is 1t notT
Vandervyn caught himself up as he
saw the proud humility Of her express
sion. 1t was a new look to him. He
had often see her proud. but never
humble. His Jealousy flared: "How
did you answer him? You didn't &C.
cept-you refused the old board
back I"
"Yes and no, that Is, not yet" the
girl leased.
vanderyyn stepped close and
grasped her arm.
"Be so kind as TO release ne, Mr..
ya%ndervyn."
you coquettel You're trying to
play me against him."
$50 that is what you think Of met"
The girl wrenched herself free and
turned from him haughtlly.
lie stepped forward, and again
grasped her arm. His voice shook
with jealous anger: "YOu shall have
nothing to do with him lie shall not
have yOul"
"Indeed! May ! ask what right you
have to dictator"
"You love me, that Is why" he flung
back at her. "You love me, Marie.
You can't deny It," His voice sank to
a deep, ardent, golden note that sent
n tremor through her. "You are mine
-minel You know II. Your arm
qulvers-that look In your eyesl You
cannot hide your love, Marle-sweet-
heart !"
He sought to embrace her. But
again she wrenched herself free from
him. She could no longer felgn hau-
teur. Her face was rosy with bushes;
her bosom heaved; her eyes. behind
their yelling lashes, glowed with ten
der passion. Yet she kept her head
despite the Intoxicating ardor Of his
look. Unlike Olnna, she was not SO
unsophistlcated us he persisted In
thinking her.
"You take a good deal for granted,
Mr.. vandervyn," she attempted n
hooking tone. IL am not yet your
sweetheart. nor am / so sure ! shall
be-"
He came nearer to her. his eyes the
color of ylolets and sparkling with tiny
golden CLEANS. He held out his arms.
His voice was low and enticing:
"Sweetheart-sweetheartl"
She swayed toward him, checked
herself In the act Of yielding, and
eluded his grasp.
mo" she cried. you're n bit too
I've no mother, ~halfbreed or
otherwise, to advise me, my dear Reg
gle. / must be my own chaperon.
You charge Captain Hardy with trying
to play me. Yet when he spoke to me
of his love he also spoke Of marriage"
Vandervyn's eyes narrowed and as
quickly widened In their most child
like stare. 4
"How can you, Marie?" he re-
preached. "You say that rs II you
think have been triflng with you al
these months, when you know as well
as / But Of course, If you do not
trust me, | have no show against him.
He Is free. l am, as you know, tied
down by the uncertainty of my posi-
tion."
'Thai is quite sad, is 1t not?" she
Knocked. II am rather more fortu-
nate. Whether or not there Is any
uncertainty about my position, l am
not bound to anyone, nor am l bound
bind myself to anyone"
"Why are you so hard to mel" he
pleaded. "You know that If my uncle
got even a hint that | am interested in
a girl out here 1t would be all off with
me. He doesn't know what you are
like, and 1t would be impossible In
writing to convince him how charming
you are"
"What q mlsfortunel Only, as II
happens, l have no wish to marry Sem
ator Clemmer. He already has a
'That's just it-a wife and half q
dozen daughters. It's all cut and dried
that l am to marry Ella, the oldest un-
married one"
"Ah-so that Is why" faltered
the rich color ebbing from her
But she was only monaghan
lily overcome. Her spirit rallied al