HE HAD TO SPEAK.

Waimate Daily Advertiser, Issue 20, 8 October 1898, Page 6

HE HAD TO SPEAK.

" Laura," said George, with an eager, restless yearning in his gaze, " may I ask a favour of you, dear ?" They had sat in the darkened parlour for hours, in the eloquent communion of soul with soul that needs no articulate sound to give it language. .But something impelled Georg« to speak. The longing that surged up from his very heart must find expression in words. Therefore he had spoken. " What is it, George ?" she whispered. " It may involve some sacrifice, darling. But believe me, Laura, it is for the best 1" "What is it, George ?" she repeated, in a voice that trembled as with vague foreboding of coming disaster. "You will believe me, dearest," ho said, with an agitation, becoming every moment more uncontrollable, " when I say that I am driven to ask it by circumstances over which • I have no control, that I have pondered long over it, and am not acting from hasty impulse ?" " Yes, yes I" the beauitful young girl exclaimed, with quivering lips. " What is it you ask, George ? What is it ?" "Darling," he said, and the wild, imploring look in his face thrilled her to the inmost depths of her being, " I wish you would sit on a chair for a while ; my knee is getting horribly, tired 1"

" Did you tell the hired girl that you couldn't put up with her work ?" l asked Mr Simmins, at the dinner table. " Yes. JI J "What "did she r say?" "She said that there was nothing keeping 'me 'hefe l if didn't like the place."