THE WE8T 8H0RE.
her head became dizzy and dropped forward until it
rested on her chest
Frank did not notice the change which came over
her, and continued: "Miss Harrington, it is useless
for me to longer hide from you the intense burning
of my very soul my deep love for you," He took
her band, which hung limp and lifeless by her side,
ucable now to make any resistance to his caresses,
and continued, pleadingly: "Amy, can you, will you,
be my wife? " Mistaking her silence for consent, ho
said, passionately: "I knew, my darling, you would
not refuse my love. You will be mine; yes, mine for
ever." Recovering from the stupor in which the recur,
rence of her dream had thrown her, Amy took her
hand from his and drew back, not in anger at what ho
Lad done, but to show him how utterly useless his
landings were. She looked him in the face and said,
kindly, but most earnestly
" Mr. Von Brean, I regret exceedingly that you
thould have allowed yourself to entertain such feel
iDgs for me. While I shall look upon you as a dear
friend, I can never be ycur wife. It gives me pain to
say it, but I can give you no other answer."
' " Do not decide hastily, Miss Harrington. Take
time. Remember the wealth I shall lay at your feet,
and the position in which I can place you. Take a
week, or two weeks if one is not long enough, to think
the matter over, or even longer; only do not decide
now. Do not tell me you can never love me; but if
you do not love me now, that you will try to do so in
the future. Won't you, darling?"
" No, Mr. Von Brean, do not allow yourself to in
dulgo in false hopes, as the answer I give you now
must bo finaL Let us be friends, but nothing more,"
Thus ended the second chapter in Amy's life-one
which her father would have ended so differently.
Amy knew this, but she could, or did, not try to havo
it otherwise, She spoke truly when she told Frank
that it gave her pain to reject his love, for she had
learned to think more favorably of him as they were
thrown more closely in each other's society, and she
would have been glad had he never spoken to her of
his hopeless passion.
" Let us remain the friends we were yesterday,"
said she, at parting.
The next morning, Frank informed Mr. Harring
ton that he would leave that day for New York.
" Why, Mr. Von Brean, you astonish me. What
takes you away so suddenly? "
" It is necessary for me to be in New York. Be
sides, my father aocms to think I have prolonged my
stay in Wapakoneta quite long enough."
" We shall bo very sorry indeed to loso you, as wo
have come to look upon you aa a part of the family.
Does Amy know of your intended departure? "
" I think not I havo not seen her yet this morn
ing, and I only decided late last night that I would
go to-day."
" She will regret your going ," said Mrs, Harring
ton, not dreaming that her daughter was tho Immedi
ate cause of his precipitate flight
" Frank went out to tho stablo to giro John somo
directions about the transportation of his baggage,
and on his way ho met Amy.
" Goal morning, Mr. Von Brean."
Bowing very low, Frank replied: "flood morning,
Miss Harrington."
" You are out early. I hojxi you aro not afraid I
was going to steal a march on you aa I did yester
day morning," said Amy, not betraying tho leant sign
of what had occurred tho day before.
" No, Miss Harrington, I return to New York by
to-day's train, and as it will take mo some tirao to
pack my baggage, I aroso early for that purxW
" If wo may judgo by your baato in leaving us,
you must havo received sudden news urging you to
return home. Does my mother know of your intend
ed departure?"
" Yes, I informed her a few moments sga"
" Believo me, Mr. Von Brean, when I say I shall
bo sorry to havo you go."
" On the contrary, I had suppoaM tho knowUlgo
of my going would bo a matter of congratulation to
you."
" By no means. Mamma and J had hojd you
would remain with us through tho winter. Unid,
you forget you havo not reniguod your position in tho
Young Ladies' Sewing and Aid Society."
u True, I had forgotten that When do s your
society meet?"
" Not for a week yet"
"Then," said Frank, "with my thanks to tho
president and members of your society, I mut place
my resignation in your band."
M What if I declino to accept it? "
In (hat cam, I shall, with all mx to you, bo
forced to still learo it in your band, to U prewnt!
to tho society for such action as they, in their Mno,
may deem best"
Breakfast being announced, they wett into tho
houao together.
Mamma," said Amy, wLen they wero itM at
tho table, " Mr. Von Brean leaves ui to-day, so ho in
form me, and I am sure you will Join mo io urgfeg
him to remain. I hare already f xhatutnl my lowers
of pmuwion, without t&Vct, tLmfurt I 1