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8. ~~ WILD MARGARET.
- of alargesum of money. Rather inconsistent, isn’t it?” |
- hatred, and all uncharitableness at the frank, handsome
- but all the same——”
_ though Iam not arich man, I don’t mind betting you fifty
you had taken my advice.”
me—you haven’t only yourself to think about, you know.
There is your wife—the fair Margaret ” a
‘* Heaven bless her, my darling!’ murmured Blair. —
‘* Just so,’ retorted Ambrose, with a cynical smile.
‘* But when you say Heaven bless her, you mean that you.
wish Providence to pour out the good things of this life
upon her with a liberal hand, but at the same moment you
declare your intention of depriving her and her children
Blair stood and looked down at him. | /. .
‘“What a head you have, Austin!’ he said. ‘‘ You.
ought to have beena lawyer. All this never struck me.
-I—I—never look forward to the future.”
Austin Ambrose shrugged his shoulders.
‘If we don’t look forward to the future, the future has
an awkward knack of looking back upon us!” he said in-
dolently. ‘‘ Depend upon it, my friend, that if youletthe
-earl’s money slip, you'll live to be sorry for it, not for your .
own sake, I dare say; you don’t care about money, but for
your wife and children’s!’ . oo
‘‘We shouldn’t be paupers exactly!’ said Blair, with . 4
a laugh. , SO .
‘*No!” assented Ambrose; and he shot a glance of envy,
face. ‘‘No, you will be one of the richest men in England,
‘* And—and I hate anything like concealment and de-
ceit,’’ Blair broke in impatiently ; ‘t especially in connection i
with her.” - {
Austin Ambrose nodded. 7 a
__** Well, you asked for my opinion, and you are quite at
liberty to reject it as per usual,’’ he said carelessly. ‘‘ But |
to one—in farthings—that if you declare your purpose of
marrying this young lady tothe earl, that before many
years are over you will come to me and wish to Heaven-
emg ge TOE eta
Blair bit at his cigar and> fidgeted in the chair he had
thrown himself into.
‘‘T hate the idea of secrecy, Austin,” he said at last;
“and yet—but there! ten to one Margaret would refuse a
clandestine marriage.”
_Austin Ambrose did not sneer, but he lowered his lids
till they covered the cold gray eyes. oe
“Yes? I think not. Not if you told her all that you |
would lose by an open declaration. Women—forgive me, -
‘my dear fellow, but I know a. little about them, though
you think I don’t—women have a better idea of the value
Of money than we men have. I think Miss Hale will con-