Year: 1878




have done to merit your disapproval? l
have tried to win your favor, but you will not
grant me kind word or look. Do you dis
like me%


NO." she said, turning away her face; II
like you we'll enough. will try to like you
better. if you will"


"Is that allf Then I am too exacting."


"What do you want'" asked Cora, not
knowing exactly what she had uttered. The
answer was spoken very low


II would rather you loved me, Cora"


It might have been only cousins speech /;
but Cora felt that the words carried deeper
significance. What did he mean?


Her heart rose up with sudden bound,
then seemed to stand still, and then beat
wildly. She kept her face resolutely turned
to the sea she was conscious as if in dream,
that the soft wind was tanning her and fut-
tering her hair. She was not conscious that
her flowers and sea.weed had fallen at her
feet.


Bar came up to her and licked her clenched
hands, and she let her fingers wander over
bis rough, honest head. What was it that
was slipping away from her2 What new
knowledge was filing her being with strange
joy, with strange fear?


"Cora," said Proctor, standing up, and
throwing off his assumed careless languor Of
tone and manner, and speaking with passion.
ate tenderness, as man speaks who lays his
life at woman's feet; 81 know what it is
that has risen up between you and me-l
know that you have been cruelty wronged.
You we're told, when came here-1 can d.
vine that, though I have not heard it in
words-tbat came to win bride; that l
was rich, that you we're portionless your
face would confirm my words if your manner
to me had not told me the truth that you
were to strive to please, not to repel me. You
thought that / came here as conqueror
comes to the city that has no defences, secure
of easy victory, and you rebelled against the
double insult to your womanhood and to your
conscious innocence of the base motives to
carry out such scheme for your future
peace You dreaded to show me even ordi-
nary courtesies, which might have seemed to
me like participation in the plan your aunt
had formed for you. But, ah Cora, did it
never occur to you that this was the surest
way to win me2 If you had been what they
wanted you to be, I should have quilted this
place in two days, and for ever. I stayed
from day to day, trying to win the heart that
you we're steeling against me. Cora, hear
me As you have true woman'a heart, |
entreat you to cast aside the ranking thought
of this miserable plot! Let me plead my
cause unfettered. Before came here my
father spoke to me of you be had loved your
father like a brother. He showed me your
picture, and when l saw your face, Cora, l
looked for the first time on face that could
love. told my father that I would come
here to please him, and in my heart was the
hope, almost the prayer, that you might be
all that by your face you seemed to be. You
are all this to me, and much more, Cora.
And now implore you once more to remove
from your mind every thought that can fet-
ter its freedom. All that man can live
for in the circle of heart and home l am lay
ing in your hands. You are young-you are
uiimoss chiid5 lid you muy tthiuk-but you are
all the world to me! For your own hearts
sake, do not trife with mer'


Cora had drawn back few steps when her
cousin began to speak, clasping her hands
over her breast, and turning towards him q
face strangely pale at first, but over which
rich crimson gradually crept, till cheeks
and brow were suffused, while the quiveriDg
of the parted lips and the rapid breathing
told tbsir own tale, and in the large eyes was
somewhat of fear-the fear of fawn startled
in fancied security, of child awakened to the
knowledge that to one man in the world she
is child no longer.


Wondering, bewildered, her heart in tu-
multi of joy and grief, with keen sense Of
the injustice that had been done to him, her
tongue might have failed her but for his con-
GLIDING words. Trife with him Play with
a mans true love! No, no, she had not done
that-he could not think it-she clasped her
hands suddenly before her eyes and dropped
on one knee, bursting into bitter weeping, into
passionate words.


"Not that-not that! You know have
never triAed with you. l have done wrong
very wrong-please forgive me-try to for
give me-but ), you will not believe that could
be 80 wicked p


"Cora, my darlingp He bent down and
raised her, and clasped her to his breast:
ut is you who have been wronged, not 1.
have nothing to forgive, nothing to ask for,
except your love-if you can give it fully,
freely !"


Had she not given it' She knew it now,
as, half shrinking from his embrace, half
clinging to him, she hid her face and tried
to give him the answer he sought.


But he seemed to understand her, though
still little anxious, fearful lest, child almost
as she was, she should have been startled
into an acknowledgment of love for him than
convinced by her own heart. He drew her
to his side, and, still holding her close to him,
lifted to his own the face she would fain have
kept hidden.


Cora" he said, wistfully, II want to reach
the truth. I have been hasty. l should not
have asked for an answer nov. Give it to me
in few days-a week-when you choose.
You are go young. You have been 80 isola-
ted. 1t would break my heart if you should
discover too late that you have made fatal
mistake. Let me leave you for while"


mo, no p she interrupted. II know it all
now. I"-her voice fell to whisper, and she
Stunned his wistful look-"1 do love you, AL
Ian. want no time. Do you believe me ?"


The kiss he pressed on her lips was enough,
and Cora was all but perfectly happy, not
quite. The girls sensitive spirit still chafed
under the knowledge that she had been unjust.


"Allan," she said presently, it makes me
unhappy to think of the manner in which l
have behaved to you. would have drawn
back after a time, but / could not. Even
when you carried me over the brook, it
seemed so ungrateful to 60 on as before; but
to alter my conduct was more difficult than
ever. 1 seemed afraid of you; and then /
thought feared"


"You feared should believe you were
l,,,,;,o 70 Iova mo ~ ouDpliod har cousin