Part 15 (1/2)
”And you'll be the person?” suggested Margaret with a smile of raillery
”If I show I' soberly It was the first time she had ever heard him admit a doubt about hith of character and the courage? What do you think?”
”I don't know anything about it,” said Margaret with polite indifference ”There comes my car I'll not trouble you to accompany me” She put out her hand ”Goodby” She did not realize it, or intend it, but she had appealed to one of his powerful instincts, a powerful instinct in all predatory natures--the instinct to pursue whatever see
He shook his head at thethe car to a halt; the car went on He stood in front of her Her color was high, but she could not resist the steady compulsion of his eyes ”I told you I wanted to talk with you,” said he ”Do you knohy I was standing before that statue?”
”I do not,” Margaret answered coldly
”I was trying to get the courage to ask you to be h ”Well, you seeht,”
said she He had, as usual, taken her wholly unawares
”Not so fast,” replied Craig ”I haven't asked you yet”
Margaret did not knohether she er ”I' about it, one way or the other,” said she
”Why say those insincere things--to ME?” he urged She had begun to walk, and he was keeping pace with her ”Jackson,” he proceeded, ”was a e He took the woman he wanted--defied public opinion to do it--and it only thenIf I married you I'd weaken irl, soreat popular stroke”
”Well--do it, then,” said Margaret ”By all”What'd I do about you?”
”That's true,” said Margaret ly ”But what am I to stand between a”But it's no use” His eyes thrilled her, his voice seemed to melt her dislike, her resolve, as he said: ”There you are, and there you stay, Margaret And you're not at all fit to be ht to marry some man like Grant He's just the man for you Why did you ever fall in love with me?”
She stopped short, stared at him in sheer amazement ”I!” exclaimed she
”I--in love with YOU!”
He halted before her ”Margaret,” he said tenderly, ”can you deny it?”
She flushed; hung her head The indignant denial died upon her lips
He sighed ”You see, it is fate,” said he ”But I'll e it somehow
I'll win out in spite of any, of every handicap”
She eyed hie of ahing at him; but she felt she had penetrated beneath the surface that excited their mirth--had seen qualities that would carry hirando
”And,” pursued he, ”I'h and coarse for you--you, the quintessence of aristocracy”
She flushed with double delight--delight at this flattery and the deeper delight a woman feels when a man shows her the weakness in himself by which she can reach and rule hi your delicacy,” he went fatuously on
”You're the only person I ever felt that way about Absolutely the only one But you've got to expect that sort of thing in a h-toned and aristocratic, too fussy aboutcome realyou wish--to you Not to the others That would defeat our object; for I'h”