Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1873-08-21

it for me-" she pleads, while her face is in
itself very supplication. II turn cold
from head to foot every time | think of
of doing it myself / would rather fire an
actual bombshell at the man, in good ear
nest''
Mrs Ramsay rises from her chair, look
ing panied and stern. "l see why-I see
why" she whispers, and sighingly. "1ou
know what know-what any one must
know who bad watched him when near
you"
"Pshaw!" the girl falters, with little
laugh that is ri ght hollow and mirthless.
II don't know ANYTHING of the sort you
mean-how should II" Then she seems
to look clean past Mrs. Ramsay, with
troubled eyes and hardening face. "But
/ admit you are right" she progresses,
her words low and slow s.perhaps / may
make great, brave resolve before | see
him again. We are engaged to take a
walk somewhere at four O'Clock, | be-
leve."
Mrs Ramsay consults her watch. "You
have a good hour for the making of that
resolve, Gladys. 1t is now just three"
Eric Palmer is downstairs in nook
like corner Of the piazza, endeavoring to
read a novel, whose pages are by 70 means
hard of comprehension. But the result
is most futile endeavor, for his thoughts
make very persistent nomads of themselves
in the way of wool gathering.
At last Mrs. Ramsay suddenly dawns
upon his solitude through side window,
with an abrupt criticism upon the after
moons lOveliness, and adds:
"Have you and Miss Garthe written
yourselves out?"
ooh, no We are to have walk togeth-
er, think" he tries to say indifferently,
"at about four o'clock"
"You find her society very pleasant, do
you not?"
Eric starts noticeably and says:
''I'm not fool enough, Aunt Edith, to
suppose that you care much whether | an
sWer your question or not. | feel sure
that you have formed certain opinions
provided, of course, you have observed me
at ALL
Eyes, Eric Do you know, the whole
thing strikes me as-as sadly unfortu-
nate?"
Eric almost leaps from his chair, start
ling her by the quick heat Of his answer.
"Why unfortunate, pray? She is superb
ly superior to all the other women whom
| have met. Do you remember how, be
fore having seen her, | called her infrmity
charm, in that stupid letter Of mine? ?
Well, | repeat my words now. | esteem it
a charm that completes all the others in
her possession. A week ago | was men,
tally groaning over the fact of so bright a
jewel being so terribly fawed. Now | see
clearer. / find that | have misnamed and
misiudged what is really a crOwning
grace"
Mrs. Ramsay has grown quite pale.
"You don't mean to tell me, Eric, that, if
If she could, by any strange circum-
stance, regain her speech
He breaks in rapidly, right here: II
want no change in her To me she is per-
feet as she is. / love her for Just uhat she
is. At one time my pity and regret nearly
maddened me. All her loveliness seemed
unreachable. Now l laugh at myself for
desiring more-for desiring anything a
whit different"
Mrs Ramsay is no longer pale; she is
deadwhite from brow to throat, and rises
nervously while Eric's fervid eyes search
her face. Excuse me-" she falters, 81
have forgotten my handkerchief. l will
return in moment
AS she enters the hall she meets Gladys,
face to face. "Did you hear?" she whis-
pers, tremulous-voiced.
Gladys mods yes Then she catches
both of Mrs. Ramsay's hands in both her
own, and the two women stand staring at
each other for little space.
| am going to end it right away"
she bursts forth, with rough huskiness
of tone, glittering eyes, and a pallor that
we'll matches Mrs. Ramsay's. "No mat
ter what the result is, it must be done at
once"
Two tears glitter now on Mrs. Ramsay's
cheeks. But think of What he has Just
said to me, Gladys" the poor creature
does nothing except halfco oherently CUR
gle. He laughs at himself for having
desired any thing whit different from
your present dumbness. What aoiU he do
when he learns the real truth?"
Hate me, suppose speeds the girls
hard, harsh retort.
"Hate you, Gladys ?n is the plaintive
iteration. "Oh, my darling, hope not
for you simply adore him. I'm not such
fool, dear, that I haven't made this easy
discovery
Gladys has grown peony-color to her
temples. "Oh, hush, Mrs. Ramsay, in
the name of all decency!" She has drawn
both hands away, and hervoice is touched
with proud ire. :" | had best go right out
and speak to him. She hurries along
with softening tones. He should learn
as soon as possible that he is in love with
a woman who has never existed"
After that, she turns with abrupt sud
denness and walks firmly out upon the
piazza, never pausing till she is within a
yard of Eric's side. He rises the instant
he sees her, his face glowing with wei
come.
But presently the welcoming look dies
away, for he discovers that she is greatly
agitated and that she tries without avail
to master powerful tremOr of the frame
Wonderingly he points toward near
chair. She refuses, with lifted hand and
a little negative shaking Of the head
Then she fires, so to speak, the cannon
falls even and full, with only faint un-
steadiness at the ending of the last word.
have deceived you. | am very sorry.
But it cannot be helped now, and | can
only beg you to pardon me-"
Eric stands, for slight while, like a
man who has just seen some blood-freez-
ing specter. But in few minutes his
face wears a much calmer look, though it
is still touched with great bewiIder-
ment, almost resembling terror.
Then Gladys speaks again, seemingly
with strong effort:
Il have been quite prepared for your
anger on learning the truth-your very
righteous anger, / admit. Indeed, it
must have been the thought of this anger
that has deferred me so long from telling
you If had-had not chanced to see