Stephens City star. (Stephens City, Va.) 1881-1883, 1881-09-17

AoiAoiooo my oWu Sell-reSpect, my nOnOr
the dear right to call myself your
friend. If I could tell you all-if had
had courage at the beginning to speak
truth to you perhaps you could have for
given me. But the rights of another
were involved. can't even explain or
ask your forgiveness -"
Suppose there is no need to ask it :?
Suppose forgive you and let you keep
your mystery all the same? Look here,
Grant, you are not very disloya1 when
you make confession Of your disloyalty!"
He held out his hand suddenly, with
sort of eager smile on his face. "If
you were not still my friend at heart,
would you care to ma ke this confession
or grieve because it needed to be made
Take my hand, old fellow. Grant, l
am more glad than if some one had
given me half million of dollars that
you have made this confession. don't
want it in palmer words. Whatever the
sin is 1 forgive you. No need to feel
cut up, my boy. Shake hands, and let
it be forgotten"
81 can't, said Hobart, huskily, turn
ing his head away to hide the tears that
had rushed to his eyes.
elf you could know-but your kind
ness your generosity Warren, you cut
me to the heart !"
For long minute there was silence.
At length, turning impetuously, Hobart
spoke:
81 can never take your hand again,
the hand from which I have received
only help and kindness, unless I am
true to you, Warren. This is the con-
fession must make to you-that 1 love
Helen Blaine. l have spoken words of
love to her. I have tried to take
your place in her heart knowing that
you loved her and were, soon to make
her your wife. Now, do you think 1
ought to take your hand in mine p
For all answer Ten Eyck stretched
his hand out and grasped Hobart's
heartily. That clasp, and the silence
/ that followed, were eloquent indeed.
Confession for confession" he said,
quietly, and commenced again to puff
his cigar, which had suffered neglect
for some moments. 81 will say to you
what I would say to any one else, that
I am trying, as gradually as possible, to
break my engagement with Helen. 1t
is daily more apparent to me that we
are not suited, and l am hoping that
she will be shrewd enough to dismiss
me-in time"
"You are trying to break the engage
ment?" Hobart asked, slowly in an ac-
cent of deep surprise.
Ten Eyck nodded. "It will not be
so easy matter, am afraid. I have
Just received letter from her that has
discouraged me considerably. Perhaps,
under the circumstances, I am excusa-
BILE in showing it to you !"
Hobart received and read the note,
his face changing to the very pallor of
death. His hand trembled until the
paper rustled like leaf in the wind.
As he ended, it fell slowly to the
floor, and he sat looking at his friend
in terrible silence,
81 am justly punished" he said, in a
low voice, at last; ''she has deceived
me, too" He drew scrap of paper
from his breast. This came to me two
hours ago. Read it, Warren. We shall
learn by-and-by what women are p
And Ten Eyck read:
81 waited for my boy blessed hour
to-day. What detained you, dearest :?
The park was lovely. And I wore the
little blue bonnet you admire, and sat in
my shady corner and loved and waited,
and no one came. Will expect you to-
morrow, same time and place. Have
not had a word from L. E., and it is
more than week since we met. I was
earnest when l told you would try to
break the engagement. I think he is
beginning now to understand my inten-
tion and is too proud to oppose it 1!
God grant With a thousand happy
hopes and thrice as many kisses, all my
thoughts and all my heart, I am your
own little girl, your HELEN"
The note was written on the delicate,
perfumed paper with which Ten Eyck
had always kept his affianced supplied.
He smiled little as he picked the
other letter from the floor and COM
pared them.
There was none of the amazement or
Indignation apparent that Hobart had
expected this revelation would arouse.
Ten Eyck merely said:
"We shall never know women-nei-
ther you nor I, neither Gods nor an
gels !" And then he continued calmly
The fact is, my surprise came long ago.
l knew of this affair between you and
Helen two months past. You remem-
ber that day you came in and found me
asleep on the lounge? I had not been
asleep, Grant-in fact INV avas ware