Marion Arleigh's Penance / Everyday Life Library No. 5

forget everything in speaking to you. You

thought time is flying, and I have not said

oughs of a large apple tree-the pink and white blossoms made the loveliest

ster; "and as though you were my judge.

ells me that you are thinking of going abroad. She is very miserable over it. She fan

his eyes flashed-

ong man's life. If you bade me stay, I would remain though death were the pen

replied, hesitatingly. "It is a seriou

o the sun-you know my presumption. I have dared to kneel at your feet, and tell you that you are the star of my ido

," she repl

ot know life held such happiness as that

pple blossoms, and they fell

ur beauty, as men do with rare wines. Ah, lady! in the years to come and in the great world people m

e it," sh

ngry with me? You hold my life in

dsome face was glowing, h

ange, too sweet to be true. There must be some intoxicatio

een very unki

ume upon your kindness. Your face is to me what sun

at the lesso

I may say what in others would be simple impertinence. You look so beautiful, Miss Arleigh, with the sunlight falling on you through the

lling,"

finished, and once or twice before the lovely sum

aid, "I will

you sent me until I die," he said, "a

talking to her, looking in her lovely face, but prudence told him that he had said enough. He looked across at the tre

will not show well by the side of yours. Marion, we must go. Hav

plied, suddenly remembering with surprise

I know it. I knew that one look from you would do all that my prayers fai

I shall fancy all this but a dream. Will you give me someth

give you?" a

e blossoms in your hand all the e

and held i

ow that you have touched

s talk like yo

plied, and then Adelaide reminded them again

tions. He felt as sure of winning the beautiful young heiress as though he had placed already a wedding ring upon her finger. He lau

trouble myself about anything but spending money. If I succeed, Adelaide shall have her reward."

worked hard for me, and sh

nonsense. He would bind her to himself with the most solemn of promises, and the very day she was of age they would be married. As he walked toward his humble lodgings he amused himself by thinking what he should do when he be

ion?" asked Adelaide Lyst

e and very clever,"

er was yet," said Miss Lyster, laughingly. "Marion, he

avowed that

of going to sleep like a sensible man, he will wal

?" asked Marion, with

id his sister, with a little touch

picture was going on-the fourth, that she might see it completed-the fifth, because she found the flattery of his love so irresistible she could no longe

en you think you have made sufficient advances in her favor to ask her to marry you, do not rest

rther, my wisest of

, without rhyme or reason. But if you have her own word pledged to you, her promise of ma

should refu

oice. "If she fulfils it, all well and good. The very fact of having written it keeps a girl true whe

he began, but she int

us in her case, holding her letters as a means of getting money from her. A prou

to the plot laid by those she