Passion and Principle, Part II [pp. 270-282]

Passion and PrincipZe.
every resistance."
" Bois de Gilbeit's was but a selfish
love," answered Sandy.
t"You would not want to be loved in
that way?"
': The man who loves me must be will
which she had worn all day fell from her
bosom. Sandy jerked them up and threw
them out upon the water.
"My flowers!" cried Cornelia.'Hlow
dare you'hrow my flowers away?"
"Bless mne!" cried Sandy, with a look of
mi mic alarm,': What have I done. Only
a; few withered flowbrs,-what makes you
prize themn so?"
"Nothing," she answered, "only they
were violets, and I loved tlhem," and she
turned from him and gazed after the flowwers-sailing upon the waters to the ocaen.,
"Shall I swim for themn?" asked Sandy
trying to look into her face.
"No, oh no, they are of no value, slie
answered.
Sandy was again going froiom home, and
this evening supper was earlier than usual,
to allow him time to reach the boat. Cornelia was sitting on the porch steps after
tea, and Sandy was lingering by her sidle.
Mr. Gleaves walked up a'nd down the hall;
at last he came out to them and said:
"You must be going, Sandy, if youi expect to reach the boat this evening."
Sandy started off at once, but when he
got half way down the yard, he came back
to Cornelia, with sonme violets, and said:
" You must accept these, to convince me
that you have pardoned my throwing away
those you wore this morning."
She raised her hand. then glanced at
Philip's face; it was dark and gloomy. She
hesitated a moment, then said:
-'I cannot wear them; the scent of violets make m-e sick."
Sandy threw them down at her feet, and
w alk led away. Mr. Gleaves stood looking
after him until he was out of sight, then he
seated himiself beside her. He sat there a
long time, whistling something soft aetd
musical. At last he said:
"Why have you always got that boy followin, after you? By Jove,he never allows any one a chance to talk to you.
Don't you ever get tired of him?"
"I like him very much," she answered.
"Like him!" he cried, but don't you
Iknow he loves you, and you ought not to
encourage him so, unless-" he paulsedl.
":My lit~ has been so barren of lovne,'"
shle answered sadlley " that I cannot find it
ing to give up everything but honor, for my
sale.;
" And how much would you be willing
to sacrifice for him?"
The question startled them both; it was
from iNr. Gleaves. They did not know he
was listening to them, but he had let his
paper fall and was bending towards them
with,a bright, eager glance.
" I would not ask more than I could give.
Honor, liberty and life, I would be willing
to give," she answerei d, laughing.
" Y ou would give up all this for one you
love?" he asked softly, while a look of
d eep fondness replaced the cold, stern expression of his eye.
~ Cornelia was startled by an expression
so new, she answered quick and nervously, " fye s everything, I would giv e up everytlIing bu t c onscience."
" Conscience!" he cried, starting from his
chair, aswhile a sudden pallor overspreadhis
face. "Conscience! who would ask you
to give up conscience?" he asked fiercely.
Without waiting for a reply, he hurried
from the roorm.
"Whiy what does he mean?" asked Cornelia, turning to Sandy.
He, wv;,th face almost as pale as Philip's,
was striding up and down the floor.
I know but too well what he means,"
he answered.
For a long time he continued to walk tip
and( dcowvn the floor. Thehi he came back
to his chair by Cornelia, and said in a low,
Yo are righst eady voice
"-You ar -igt; niever, never give. up
Next morning when she threw open her
window, she saw I Mr. Gleaves standing beneath, in the flower garden. He looked
up and smiled, then stooping he gathered
a bunch of violets, and threw them up to
her. She caught them and pinned them
on her breast. At evening she was walkinag with Sandy, by the river. As they talkedl they gathered pebbles, and pitched them
2-i 4
I,,'VfAY
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yo-Lir conscience.