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Cromwell Argus, Volume XXVII, Issue 1372, 13 August 1895, Page 7

she had too much spirit to allow herself to be disposed of contrary to her inclination. " It was, therefore, with a beating heart that he found himself once more in her presence. Elsie received him very calmly. " Elsie," he said, anxiously, " I am here to know my fate. Will you be my wife ? The happiness of my life depends upon your answer. Be merciful to me." There was no affectation now in Sam's manner; he looked, as he felt, thoroughly in earnest. " You have done very wrong to mislead my father," replied Elsie, co'dly. "I suppose you know that you have placed me in an unfair position ?" "I acknowledge it. I know it was wrong," responded Sam, humbly; but he did not offer to undo the wrong. "If you wish, Elsie, I will go away for a week, or even a month. I have no desire to hurry you unreasonably." " There is no need for you to go away," returned Elsie, quietly. " I have quite made up my mind." " You have decided—you have made up your mind!" cried Sam, excitedly. " Speak, Elsie! Will you be my wife?" Elsie looked at him gravely, almost solemnly. " Yes," she said, slowly, " I will be your wife." " You consent! You give yourself to me ! Oh, my beautiful darling ! " cried Sam, springing forward and clasping her in his arms. Alas! poor Sam ! There's many a slip 'twixt enp and lip. Before he had realised that she was rebelling agiinsfc his embrace, she was already several feet from him, and had even planted herself behind a chair, the back of which she grasped nervously. How had she escaped him ? For a moment he stood gazing at her in bewildered silence. He might well be amazed at the change which had come over her Instead of the calm, quiet, passive girl, there stood apanting. quivering, terrified-looking creature, glaring at him with angry, startled eyes. It seemed as if his touch had galvanised her—roused Iter soul from death to life. It was true. Not until that moment did Elsie realise what her consent involved. " Never do that again!" she panted. " Never! I cannot bear it! I will not!" Her voice restored Sam's self-pos-session. He recovei-ed his presence of mind with an effort, and tried to smile t asily as he replied: " A strange thing to say, Elsie, when you have promised to be my wife. Perhaps you will explain what you mean." "I said I would be your wife, and I mean it," gasped Elsie, "but I never thought you would require—that I should have to submit to—oh! I cannot explain myself; surely you can understand." " Not quite, not quite," replied Sam, very quietly, with a threateninggHtter in his eyes. " I suppose you mean that, although you will do me the'honour of marrying me at some future time, I am meanwhile to be kept at arm's length— I am not to kiss you, for instance ? " " No, oh no!" cried Elsie, with a shrinking gesture. "I could not bear it. I should go mad." " Truly," remarked Sam, with a shrug of his shoulders, and a hard, insolent little laugh, " that is a pleasant prospect—very. It is, perhaps, not unreasonable to ask, as this is your feeling toward me,i why you have accepted me ? " "It is not at all unreasonable," said Elsie, sinking into a chair, but keeping one hand upon her barricade; "in fact, it would be wrong if I did not tell you the exact truth. You shall never say that I deceived you." She glanced at Sam. His eyes were fixed upon her face. Keen, hungry, eagerly attentive, but he spoke no word. " When you spoke to me first, I told you the truth," continued Elsie, faintly; "I do not love you, and—and I cannot pretend to love you. If you marry me, I will try. to be a good wife, but " " But you will keep me at a distance," sneered Sam. " That is your idea of being a good wife—eh ? " Elsie shook her head. "It is all I can do," she said, sadly. "You have not told me yet why you propose to be my very good wife. Are you afraid of hurting my feelings by a refusal? " Elsie looked startled, almost fright, ened, at the bitter mockery of his tone. "It is for Bertie's sake," she said, timidly, " and father's, I—l find it will be a great relief to father—and it seems my duty." A storm of conflicting emotions filled Sam's heart while Elsie was painfully stammering out her explanation. " Was overman so shamefully ill-treated ? " —that was his first thought. But this sense of injury was not the only feeling which overpowered him, and for a time held him silent. It must be remembered that, cold and hard as Sam was to the world at large, he passionately loved this girl who set so little store by his love, who looked upon him as a necessary evil to be put up with on account of bis money—this girl who was distinctly making him understand that he was to make himself as small as he could; he must keep in the background while the Vere family fattened upon his gold! Did ever a man listen to such a cool, audacious proposal ? Sam had a very hjgh opinion of his own value, aiyi was the last man in the world to submit to the role of " second fiddle." He was not parsimonious, and would probably have been as good as his word with regard to Bertie; but, as Betty shrewdly remarked, he gave nothing for nothing, and would certainly require great devotion and submission from Elsie as a quid pro quo; whereas, in the programme she had sketched, he was to give everything and receive nothing. It was a hard case, but even in the first flush of anger and mortification he could not accuse her of any desire to make a meiv cenary marriage for her own sake, She was willing to sell herself, it js true, but the price was not ambition or luxury, but the welfare of those she loved. Let it be recorded in Sam's favour that, for once, he was capable of appreciating motives so diametrically opposed to his own. Nay, so true is it that Love exalts the soul in which she dwells, for a moment he was moved by an impulse of true generosity. Why should he not act the part of benefactor to Bertie, without requiring his sister's hand in return ? Was it not possible that such conduct might bring its own reward in the future ? To gain time, or, perhaps, to hide his tell-tale face from E'sie's anxious eyes, Sam walked to the window, and gazed abstractedly into the garden, where Nettie was playing. Ever since she repulsed him, Sam had cordially detested her ; but to-day s|ie was far enough from his thoughts, and he neyer even saw her. until, suddenly, she rushed down the walk to the gate, and sprang into the arms oi Frank Armitage. Instantly Sam's face darkened, and his eyes flashed. Jealous rage filled his heart, and banished all kindly impulses. Elsie's , chance of escape was gone. , What! Should he draw back now, and leave his prize to be won by that insolent fellow? Sam clenched his hands fiercely, and ground his teeth as he re- ,j called the mannerin which she had evaded \ his embrace. How would she have be- t feared Hi Frank, been berjaJtw iagjead J r