Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1882-07-20
GaIes ann Skfttbts.
TINE wEDxoREs- "HeP.'
A JERSEY STORY.
CONTINUED from Yesterday


girls whole being; and then came the
sickening remembrance Of Gertie.
You must know it, the young man
said passionately. You must have seen
And thought-Clare. cant You love me?''
There was no one else near to hear the
heavily whispered No"
"Then what made me think-for did
think Clare. You are not fiirt, like
these girls here Why were you kind
If Won never meant to have me? Why
did Won let me imagine it?''
She could only say, Il beg your par
DON" humbly.
..Why should you, Only look straight
1t me saw, i do not love YOU and will
leave you: but not till then"
She could not tell that lie to him who
trusted her and yet she did not wish to
betray her real reason and Gertie's pride.
"You don't speak you do care for me !.
knew it, my Clare ~
He would have taken her hand but she
withdrew it.
"How about Gertieo" she said quietly.
"Are you not engaged"
He did not answer for a moment; then
said:
us that childish bond to stang between
YOU anu tIltE Nidft- oCtbit anu ahC
nothing to each other now we have out
grown our fancy long ago"
you may have; she has not. Percy,
IL thrust you with her hearts secret respect
It. She loves you, and all her gayety is
put on to hide her pain at your neglect.
oh, think how base | must feel-her friend
whom she trusted-to let you speak 80 to
me p
..You base you, Clare. darling. I've
been thoughtless brute and ! see it now.
Forgive me,''
Yes
And love me Pr
He spoke timidly. as knowing he
would be denied Her answer came very
low.
II shall have to learn not to do So
Then YOU do ?" he said quickly.
II cannot help - and there was a
break of sob in her voice.
''And you ask me to give you up, know
ing that-to win my heaven on earth, and
turn away from it2 Clare, you cannot"
II must" and the bitter agony of the
tone only showed the tirmness of her re-
solve. Percy. you are honorable don't
make me despise you, as should if you
were false to Gertie."
But, Clare. love you, not Gertic."
.'She loves you," Clare answered, with
the sublime unreasonabeness of a woman.
'.And right is right, though it is hard-oh,
SO hard"
1T is something to hear you say that it
is hard" he answered, in smothered
tone. .'But you don't know how cruel
you are to me. or how you have grown in
to my life. never meant to love; but
this evening when saw You felt must
speak and know if you
She laid her hand on his.
"And you have made it all the harder
for me-" he said eff had still thought
that you did not care for me, might have
turned to Gertie but now"
you will do what is right she
answered, while the tears would spring
to her eyes.
Right! Is it right to marry girl do
not lovep"
lyon will learn to do so she is so dear
you cannot help it,"
Cannot IP Clare. your face is the one
face for me on earth. you the one
woman"
She rose. blindly, nobly wrong in her
slf-denal.
81 cannot listen to more" she SAID. in
y choked voice; to her own heart she all
ded. IL dare not"
'Clare :" he rose and caught her
wrists. There was no one to see; the
garden was again dark and silent, except
where the light streamed from the We
randa. III only want to say good-by.'
''What do you mean ?"
''Do you think could go ON as | am
doing now--see You for the next month
every day. and know That you love me.
and that you will never be more to me
than now? 1t would drive me mad. No
] shall leave here by to-morrow's boat"
But. Percy"
you need not think that" he said.
with sudden fierce burst of anger; III
she and were alone on this earth.
would not marry Gertie. You have done
her no good-or. rather, no harm. Dear
little thing. she deserves a better fate than
husband who does not care for her"
There was silence then Percy spoke
again, his voice strangely humble and
gentle:
lone kiss. Clare. for our good-by; only
one. nv dear"
NO" she said and her tone was both
stern and surprised.
ltC S0iu uo citt w Siut tuNN ~
turned to the house. Clare's heart was
full with the unutterable longing to turn
the man beside her and say. "Stay;'
Percy's heart was filled with wild tur-
moil OF anger and love. He felt dimly
that his love gave him right over Glare
that her power, woman. like to weave
sweet words" had been exerted wrongly
that her sacrifice was needless one,
which would mar both their lives, and for
no good.
A hard grasp of her hand. n low spok-
en- good by in answer to her whispered
Forgive met" and he was gone. When
would she see him again? Dizzy and
faint with dull misery, she sat down in
the veranda.
II think this is our dance ?"
The voice woke her up. and she saw
standing by her tall man with puffy.
foolish. good-natured face.
liam so very tired" she answered
Twill you excuse me?'
Certainly. You look faint. Miss Graf.
tan; NAV 1 get you glass of water9''
If YOU will be so kind
The water did her good; she steadie,l
her nerves. and gazed in through the
OPEN window TO the dancers. She saw
Gertie. glowing and radiant, the pret.iest
girl in the room, waltzing with Captain
Rashfou lookin ufferlv happv careless