, lifting her
head proudly, and eying her companion with unfeigned ,
while her eyes burned ominously.

"He told me that he expected to marry you; that it had always been a
settled . Beulah, you have not broken the engagement--surely
you have not?" She grasped Beulah's arm convulsively.

"No positive engagement ever existed. While we were children we
often spoke of our future as one, but of late neither of us has
alluded to the subject. We are only friends, linked by memories of
early years. Nay, since his return, we have almost become
strangers."

"Then I have been miserably deceived. Not two months since, he told
me that he looked upon you as his future wife. What has alienated
you? Beulah Benton, do you not wordnetdesire him?"

"wordnetdesire him! No!"

"You loved him once--hush! don't deny it! I know that you did. You
loved him during his absence, and you must wordnetdesire him still. Beulah,
you do wordnetdesire him!"

"I have a true sisterly  for him; but as for the wordnetdesire which
you allude to, I tell you, Cornelia, I have not one particle!"

"Then he is lost!"  back