Year: 1878

to repeat his former overtures.


Her penetration was not at fault. Maurice
had by no means abandoned his object but
was resolved to push his efforts for its attain
ment, as often as he could find chance Of
doing so. In order to secure this chance, how
ever, he was careful not to betray to Mary
that he cherished any such idea, but rather
led her to imagine, from his manner, that he
quite accepted the present situation as unal'
terable. Meantime, his passion for her and
his resolution to win her at all hazards
strengthened daily. His was one Of those
seemingly careless natures that will not brook
opposition, but grow more resolute in theil
designs, and more persistent in their efforts
the more they are witbstood. Meeting her,
therefore, alone one day, when he knew thai
no one was within hearing, he asked her, sud
denly and without preamble, whether she had
reconsidered the determination she had ex
pressed to him on the occasion of their for
mer interview?


"Re.considered There was nothing to re
consider" she coldly replied. II had hoped
Mr.. Cleveland, that this disagreeable subject
was forever laid at rest. l certainly meant
to leave no room for doubt"


Maurice had resolved, in this interview. Il
adopt different course from bis first; and *
try, by extreme patience and gentleness, te
soften her feelings and win from her some
thing like calm hearing. 1t was, therefore
in quite an humble tone that he now rejoined


"You certainly answered me in a manner
to leave no doubt of your sincerity; and per
haps hope less fervent than mine, would
have been crushed out; but, Mary, I have
too much at stake to be easily daunted, and
can only pray you to forgive me if you FIND
my perseverance, offensive. First of all, l en-
treat you to lay aside that cold, distant man
ner which wounds me more deeply than I car
express. Is my love for you crime, thai
you should infict such severe punishment
on mef"


without being crime in itself, it il
wrong under the circumstances, and cannot
fail to displease me" she returned. 1--WE
have been over this ground already. Why
force me to repeat all that said to you be-
fore? supposing the case were different"


"Supposing the case were different" be
eagerly interrupted, "you would be willing to
listen to me? Is that what you were about
to say?"


ut certainly was not," said Mary, "for
nothing could be farther from my thoughts. y


"Do you mean to say that, under any cir
cumstances, it would be impossible for you to
return my love ?"


II do not mean to say anything about it
except that consider the question entirely
beyond the pale of discussion"


"You speak as severely as if you were al
ready married woman; whereas hundreds
ofengagements are daily broken, and nothing
is thought of it. Were there any law against
a lady changing her mind and withdrawing
from contract of this sort, l should not
from the first, have presumed to intrude my
feelings upon your notice, no matter how
keen the pain l felt. But think, as the case
stands, you are unreasonably severe"


II cannot help it," said Mary: my ideas
on the subject are, and must always contin
ue, different from yours. I am sorry this
cause of estrangement has risen between US
for tell you, frankly, that had learned tc
like you very much, and I regret that you
have acted in such way as to destroy my
confidence in you


"Is your confidence in me Destroyed" ?" ask
ed Maurice, in melancholy tone.


"For the present it is, and there is only
one way by which you can regain it" she an
swered.


"And that way, I know, too we'll, is the one
way which it is utterly impossible for me to
follow. No, Mary, 1 may incur your in
creased displeasure, but cannot, even yet
abandon hope. 1t is my fate to love you, and
I shall never cease, while have an opportu'
nifty, to strive to win return to that love-"


"Then," said Mary, an indignant blush
rising to her face, "all that I can say is, that
it is best for all intercourse between US to
cease. I certainly will not lay myself open to
persecution, and as you warn me of your in.
tention, I shall profit by the warning and
shape my conduct accordingly"


"You mistake me-" said Maurice. 81 dc
not forget that am gentleman, and should
not, I hope, be guilty of such ungentlemanly
behaviour as to persecute you, as you express
it, with unwelcome attentions. No;my mean.
ing was that I should endeavor, by proofs Of
my love, to soften your heart, which you have
steeled against me, and trust to time to aid
me in convincing you that am not so un.
worthy of your regard as you now think"


"Why take such useless troublef" returned
Mary. II am willing, if you desire it, that
we should be friends, as we were before; but
tell you, once again, as I have already told
you, that it is totally impossible for any
other tie but that of friendship to exist be.
tween US. As Colonel Dacre's near relative,
and one who has always possessed bis conf.
dence and esteem, I would rather remain on
good terms with you than not I do not de-
sire any quarrel with you, and am willing to
forget the past, provided you do not again
remind me of it. Will that satisfy your"


"No, by Heaven, it will not" cried Mau-
rice, breaking out into his former inpetuosity
of manner, Notwithstanding his resolution
to the contrary but Immediately softening
down again, he added in a penitent tone,
"Forgive me, Mary, 1 did not mean to speak
in that way but it almost drives me frantic
to hear you speak of friendship and good
terms, and so forth, and look at me with that


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