The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1878-11-04

told himself that what he had foretold
had come true. Roy loved her and he
was going to lose the woman he loved.
II must be fool to think of such a
thing as linking her life and mine to-
gether,' he said, bitterly, one day, as he
stood at the window, watching them
rowing slowly up and down the river.
a am almost an old man. May and De-
cember were not meant to mate together.
And yet, women have loved men as much
older than they were, as am older than
Stacia. If she could love me how COM
plete life would seem! Without her,
shall always be lonely man."
One day Roy and Stacia were in the
garden together. They were tying up
| carnations.
81 don't know of anything in the World
sweeter than carnations except your
cheeks" Roy said, all at once.
"That's a very pretty compliment
said stacia. 81 suppose ought to give
you something in return. Here is car
nation. That's fair-you give me COM
pliments and I'll pay in carnations"
'Td rather you'd pay in KISSES"
laughed Roy. "Do you know am jeal-
GUS over that kiss you gave uncle John
this morning. You never kiss me in that
way"
because l keep my kisses for the one
who loves me best" she answered,
softly.
II love you," Roy said, suddenly.
"You must have seen that, Stacia! l
have loved you since the first time saw
you
81 never thought you cared for me
not in that way, at least" said Stacia, pull
ing away the hand Roy had taken pos
session of. 81 hope l haven't done or
said anything to make you think that"
and then she stopped at a loss how to
explain hermeaning.
"You haven't tried to make me love
you, OF exerted any wiles to catch me, if
that is what you mean," he answered.
But thought you did care for me,
Stacia."
80 l do, as very dear brother" she
answered 81 love you very much, Roy,
but not in the way you meant just
now."
Roy's face was full of keen disap-
pointment. He had hoped to woo and
win this girl. But it could not be.
81 am sorry, very sorry for you, Roy"
she said, tenderly, touched by the sight
of his disappointment. "Let me be your
sister Stacia, and forget that you ever
thought of me as anything else. You
shall be brother Roy from this time forth.
Is that agreed on, Roy?"
Eyes, since you will have it So" he an
swered.
He understood that it would be useless
for him to urge his suit. Stacia always
meant what she said.
"Let me seal the compact with kiss,
then," she said, and kissed him.
Looking up, after the caress, she saw
john Ashley's face at his window. He
had seen her kiss Roy, and his heart was
full of keenest pain at the sight. He
thought it was such kiss as woman
gives to the man she loves, and sighed to
think his life must be barren of such
kisses.
That night he was in the parlor alone.
thinking of her, when she came in.
81 have been hunting for you," she
said, "T'm lonesome; want some one to
talk to-
She drew little stool up to his feet,
and sat down, leaning her head upon his
knee.
Lonesome, are you?' he said, strok-
ing her yellow hair gently. "Where is
Roy% He ought to keep you from
getting lonesome"
81 don't want to talk to Roy" she an
| o"OatAs L Nuhp yout colu. Ou oOu u
act as you used to before Roy came.
don't have you all to myself for quiet
talk as used to-"
"You don't miss my company, do you ?'
he said, threading his fingers through
her tresses in an absent way. He was
thinking how much he should miss her
when Roy took her away.
"You know miss you," she answered.
81 Like to talk to you better than any one
else."
"Better than to Roy?" he questioned.
Eyes, better than to Roy" she an
swered.
81 suppose it is all settled between you
and Roy" he said, by and by, breaking
the silence that had fallen about them.
His voice had sharp touch of pain in
it. 1t hurt him to talk about losing
her.
"Yes, it is all settled" she answered