Miracle Gold (Vol. 1 of 3)

much rapidity as he had before shown deliberateness, placed the heavier stone on the piece

as a private being with individual existence, rights and tastes, an impressively large waistcoat and watch-chain to match, and an opinion of himself out of all proportion with even his waistcoat or watch-chain. When half a man is concealed from you behind a coun

ter and the greater on the white ledge of wood jerked them both toget

ne of the girl's cheek and forehead; no more of her face could be seen from his position. She was bent forward and breathless with excitement. She had often seen feats of strength and dexterity befor

ween his legs and, setting one on the other, sat on the upper of the two, looked up and expanding his chest drew a full breath. The people could not now take their gaze off him if they tried. Still Oscar Leigh had no eyes for him. He watched the girl as though his

ent like a bow he thrust out his head, holding the piece of board in his mouth parallel to the horizon, then he swung his body, first forward, then backward, and with a prodigious effort and violent thrust of his arms and head between

forgot the girl by his side, forgot everythi

e by----,

ehind them beyond the desire for emphasis had to her a meaning, not only a meaning through the reason but through the imagination. When she heard the oath her imagination became filled

her hand from his arm. He turned his eyes, flashing with admiration of the

ound as though seeking a way of escape. She

ked in alarm. "Are

w dreadful! Y

a moment his words came back upon his ears and he recollected her dread. He flushed with confusion and remorse. "Oh, Dora, I beg your pardon, I

o and fro. She looked at the entrance to Welbeck Place; it was by this

What I said was forced from me by the excitement of the moment. It w

isagreeable to her. She replaced her hand on Hanbury's arm saying: "No. Let us stay an

or what? The only thing I can't forgive

ack in the world, only don't say that dreadful thing any more, it makes me quite ill

use strong language, and now it is I, your protector, who offends against good manners and good morals, and outrages your ears!" He had drawn her close to him by

annot make out. What does he mean by throwing himself down in that way and lying still? What are the people laughing at? Is he ill? Is he hurt? Why doesn't someone go to him? What do these foolish people mean b

egro now lying at full length. Still, he did not move. He had grown deadly pale and cold and limp. His head felt light, the colour faded out of ob

blank wall of Forbes's bakery. She disengaged her arm from his, and sought to support him with both her hands. His legs suddenly bent under him, a

he curb, and uncovering his head, bowed lowly to Dora, and

nced but casually at the speaker, saying:

ing bent before her. "I did not hope to meet you again so soon. I did not think it

ised his uncovered head: "If you will be so good as to help me I shall be very much obliged. Oh! I am terrified. But I do not kn

e! Never at Eltham yesterday! Not to-day!

name is not Grace. My name is Ashton, and this

ely round the prostrate Negro. No one bu

p the air away. Pray, forgive and forget what I said, Miss Ashton. I was sure you were Miss Grace, a lady I know, whom I met yesterday and this morning. Such a likeness never was before, but I can see a

ne for him?" she cried pitiously. She fell upon her knees

bathe his forehead with this. I will be back in a moment." He handed her a small silv

he top of the counter in his long arms, and drew himself up on it, and jumped into the bar, clutched a bottle of brandy from a shelf, and with a glass in his other hand was back over the counter again in a minute, and hurr

pirit into Hanbury's mouth. "Now, please, stand up. Leave him to me. You are not strong." She hesitate

She placed one hand against the wall to stea

istened the temples also. Dora, weak and pale and terrified, with

and raised his hand. Leigh lifted his head higher and forced more of the brandy into his mouth. Then he got up, and sto

the glass to Hanbury. The latter passed his hand acros

e man dead? I fainted twice before when I s

its core the form of the Negro, was moving through the archway at the bottom of Welbeck Place int

ora, I am very sorry for my miserable weakness. I could not help it.

who glanced with pity and worship at

t. Stay here till I come back. Will you have more?"

thank

elf. But he was under a double spell, the spell of the extraordinary likeness between this girl, Miss Ashton, and that other girl, Miss Grace, and the spell of Miss Ashton's beauty. As a rule his thought was clear, and sharp, and particular; now it

ne thing?" He looked around. They were quite alone. The crowd had followed the bear

an do what y

? I was able to keep the other occasions quiet. If this got about I should have to clear out of

he cab. You can ask him no

d feverish energy, "let us go. I feel

in a minute," she said, looking at him in

t again. There isn't a cab-rank within a mile, an

fter a couple of hundred yards he reduced the pace, and said: "I am afraid, Dora, I have been going too fast for you; but I would not wish for anything that my name should get into the newspapers in connection with this miserable affair and place. It would be bad enough to

im, "how my name would look in print connected with th

ost sincerely beg your pardon. There is something wrong with me to-day. I never thought of that. You would not, Dora, be very muc

not like the publicity of the papers. But I did n

d allowed consideration for his own personal risk to swallow up all consideration for everyone else, Dora Ashton included. If a line of soldiers were drawn across this wretched str

d and admired. She was intensely independent. Why should the world know they were pledged to one another? It was no affair of the wo

ning papers! To be ironically complimented on his nerve--Oh! To become a by-word! To hear men at the clubs chuckle and whisper "Nigger!" and then chuckle again and say louder some word that had nothing to do

the end of the s

and then called the cab. "I cannot tell you how much I am a

she asked col

ashamed of the fainting a few minutes ago. I was not thi

it, you know," she

ions against anything of the kind by familiarizing myself

nce for him with an icy laugh. His wan

avely, "no man ou

to faint at a hideous sight or run

very dark. He

out to follow when she stopped him with a gesture. "It now occurs to me that you had better go back and see t

d with the doo

e and my own. You had better see him if you want