Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1880-06-24

Because you were torturing little
Maggie, and will not have her worried
about few letters. They were hers,
not yours"
:" l think they were mine"
THAT shows q mans honesty in love
matters. The letters were sent to you
under supposition that you were TO
fill a certain relationship to Maggie.
You were found incompetent for that
position, and the favors relating to it
ought to have been returned. A dis
missed ambassador might just as well
keep the insigia of his office"
sit down, Kate, and don't put your
elf in passion. Have / ever done an
unkind thing TO either Maggie or you
since we were children togetherp"
mo, Archie, you have not"
Do you really think IwouldP"
" You said you would tell Sir John
things about Maggie, and that would
be unkind, Maggie loves Sir John
very much"
~ would meyer hurt Maggie. As
your pastor, ana as your cousin, let me
say think you have behaved in very
improper manner"
"Archiem
Very improper indeed. You ought
to have come to me. / would have
given you the poor dear little letters;
and as for telling Sir John anything
open his eyes, like him far too well.
The only way to be happy in love is to
be blind"
You think that is very satirical, l
dare say"
mo, 1 do not. am waiting for
your apology, Kate. You know you
ought to make me one"
| Kata with htrr,spp ohoalr, to--
ping the floor with her foot, and Archie
stood calmly watching her. At last
she said, You are right, Archie.
Then, putting her hand in her
pocket: Here are the letters. Dc
what you likewith them. thrust you"
He took them tenderly, and throwing
them into the fire, mournfully watched
them turn to gray ashes. Kate's eyes
were full of painful tears.
Archie" she said, forgive me.
acted very impulsively and very i'm
prudently. | am ashamed of myself.
There is something else / must tell you
about this miserable affair. saw "A
gentleman in your parlor, and l gave
myself n false name TO him."
"Oh, Kate, see how one fault leads 10
another. II you had been doing right,
you would not have been ashamed TO
confess that you were Kate Leslie. Do
you know the lady whose name you
! borrowed?"
mo, know nothing about such
person."
Then I will go with you, and you
I" Lust do this7"
You must. 1t is the least you can
do"
Every well, Archie, I will do it."
But this part of her punishment was
long delayed. The next morning Kate
was very i'll, and a severe attack of
rheumatic fever confined her for weeks
TO her room. Then the fatigue and
excitement consequent on Maggie's
marriage threw her back into the inertia
of invalidism, and the adventure was
almost forgotten in its painful results.
AS che warm weather came on she
improved, and began to 90 into society
again. One day there was to be lawn
party 1T the bishops, and she promised
to meet Archie there. She was sitting
resting under n great oak, when she
saw him coming toward her. A gentle
man was with him, whom she recog-
nized ut glance; she had introduced
herself once to him as Miss Crowther.
What was Archie going TO do TO herp
|
bravery up as they advanced, and in
her white muslin dress, with roses at
her waist and throat, she made n very
lovely picture.
Good afternoon, Cousin Kate"
Cousin Archie, good-afternoon."
Kate, this is my friend, Mr.. Henry
Crowther."
She blushed violently, but she did not
lose her self-possession. 81 have met
Mr.. Crowther before, once, when | was
on a little private masquerade, and as
sumed the character OF his sister. /
hope l am forgiven"
If l had sister, she would have been
honored by the assumption. Since tue
momentary favor have never ceased to
regret my want"
They sat long under the pleasant
shade, and in the evening rode slowly
home together under the July moon
Before they parted both had acknowl-
edged to their hearts an interest that
might be dearer tie than even that of
brother and sister.
For few weeks Harry Crowther was
constantly coming with Archie TO call
on the Leslies, either for one pretext or
another. Than he began to come by
himself, and to come without any pre-
text at all. IL had been long evident to
Archie that Harry and Kate loved each
other very dearly, and at last even the
dim eyes of her grandfather began to
perceive how matters stood.
Kitty" he said, one night, after
waiting patiently through a good
night that lasted an hour and a half
|" Kitty, why does Harry Crowther come
here SO oftenp"
Because we do not believe In writ
ing, grandfather. Love-letters once
nearly cost me my lifc;" and leaning
fondly on her grandfather's neck, Kitty
told him the fault of which she had
been guilty, and the pain and shame 1t
had caused her.
"Never pays, Kitty, 10 do evil that
good may come; the price Is too high"
You forgive me, grandfatherP"
YES. Kitty, with all my heart"
Harry has forgiven me too. You
see, after taking his name in iest, IL is
right make the amend honorable by
1 AAV~ ss.a. l.. ia