379 1111

contimued, ‘“ perhaps—--7 and there he checked himself

Persis looked up at him hastily, after all, what?” she asked, with mterest.

The young man drew an almost maudible sigh. “ Yet, after all --nothing,” he answered, cvasively.

“That might do for an Enghshwoman,” Persis put i, with American frankness, “ but it won't do for me. You must tell me what vou mean by 1it.7 llor she reflected sagely that the happiness of two lives might depend upon those two minutes ; and how foolish to

(Y \v("t, cvident

throw away the chance a man you really like (with a my-lady shl]) to boot), all for the sake of o pure convention !

Sir Justin leaned against the woodwork of She was a

that retiring porch. heautiful

girl. He had hot

Irish Dlood. Welly ves; just for once —— he would

say the plain truth to her.

“ Miss Rema- net,” he began, leaning forward,

and bringing his face close to hers, “Miss Remancet

Persts shall T tell vou the reason why ? Because |

like vou so much. I ahmost think 1 love vou !

Persis felt the blood quiver 1 her tingling

cheeks, How handsome he was —and a baronet !

“Andyetyou're not :th()getllc* '

STRANLD

M AGASINT,

Tustin hesitated a sccond ;- then with a perfectly natural and instinctive movenent (though ()nly al gcntlcnmu would have ven- tured to make 1t) he lifted his hand and just touched with the tips of his fingers the 1uh\’ pendants on her necklet, 1s why,” Jic answered and with manly “Persis, youre so rich! I never dare ask you. :

“Perhaps vou don't know what my answer would be,” Persis murmured very low, just to preserve her own dignity.

“Oh, yes; ITthink I do,” the young man replied, J/mur deeply into her dark CYCS. “J(isnt tl at ; il it were only that, T wouldn't so much mind it But I think you'd take me.” There was moisture in her eye. He went on more boldly @ “T know you'd take me, Persis, and that’s why T don’t ask vou.

You're a great deal too rich, cmd 1hese

make 1t impos- stble.”

“Sir Justin, Persis answered, removing his hand gently, but with the moisture growing thicker,

for she really liked him, “it's most unkind of you to say so ; cither you

oughtn't to havc told me at all, or

clse—if you did ---—--" Shestopped

short. Womanly shame overcanic her.

The man leaned forward and spoke earnestly. “ Oh, don’t say that! he cried, from his

sorry,” she said, heart. T couldn’t reproac hlull), bear to offend “that T'm going : vou. But 1 to Paris!” “SIK JUSTIN HESITATED A SECOND.” couldn’t Dbear,

“No, not alto- cither, to let you gether sorry,” he answered, sticking to it goaway well - without having ever told you.

“and 111 tcll you why, too, Miss l\unamt I like you very much, and T think you like me. IFor a week or two, T've been saving to mysclf;, L really behieve T s ask her to nuury me The tcn]]')t'lti(m’s been so strong I (ould hardly resist it “And do you want to Persis asked, all tremulous.

resist 1t ?”

In that case you might have thought T didn’t care at all for you, Jn(l was only flntm(f with

you. but, Persis, I've cared a great (k U for you a great, glcat deal ——and had hard work

many times to prevent myself from asking you. And I'll tell you the plain reason w hy I haven't aolzcd},ou. I'm a man about town, not much good, I'm afraid, for anybody or