New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-05-21
NETWORK TRIBUNE SUNDAY, 1ssa-TwELvE

thing TO her: he believed indeed still that there
could be nothing serious between them, but he had
Thought often that he should like TO move her TO mt
least sparklOt feeling. to awake something differ
ent from thus hooking and challenging spirit in her.
And the young man. Who was rapidly growing more
III earnest than he yet well knew, was beginning to
md that her mucking words had acquired keen
power to sting and wound him.
In addition 10 these palms. too. that she m ade him
suffer there was another matter that troubled him
not little. He afraid of Godfrey. Ii was true
that his brother ALWAYS spoke of Prudence in
sighting way. which she on her side rrturned. and
that their intercourse "a far rs appeared. was
very easy and Indifferent one; but Keith had deep
experience IN his own case that appeaiances where
Miss Hart was concerned, were by no means 10 be
received with Implicit trust, and once or twice NJ
least II not oftener. 10 sermed TO his eyes Which
We're perhaps however. too JEALOUS to see straight
that there more between them than either OF
them was disposed to confess.
Once he thought this strongly. that he even
charged her with trying to ma Ike bis brother care
for her; bold thug 10 do. and a very unwlse one
as well, Tor. as may he supposed, she rose to the
occasion. and routed bin with humiliation:
trouble myself about your brother! she eX-
elaine l. drawing herself no to her utmost height
lshr not a tall woman, but many a day she
made him feel for all his six feet, az II she lowered
far above him. Do you think / should be likely
to try TO get hoy like that to care ter me, when
wonld not move hand or foot to entce any man
alive
And her scorn was 40 superb that. carried away
10y II entirely for the moment he almost humbled
himself the dust he ore her TO entreat her par
don. 80. growing always more and more tender
over her. and more enthra led by her. keith came
and went during these spring and summer months
not very happy man. Tor neither Prudence nor MS
conscience gave him an easy tlne of IT, but yet loving
the chains lac had bound himself With too ell even
to Wl-h to break them.
IT, was not until August had com that. IN plain
words ne disclosed the state OF hi, feelings to Miss
Hart. Long before that time she had, OF course,
been perfectly aware OF now matters STOOD Win
tm. for both her natural gifts aud her large eX-
perIences made any want of comprehension on such
a subject quito impossible to her; but 1t was only
on this August day that the words. which score
OF times had been very near the young mans IDS
finally crossed them and got spoken.
II was a sunday, and they had met early IN the
morning IN the garden-as, 10 tell the truth, by
sort of tact arrangement. they had done more than
once or twice beiore-he coming ont an hour or so
before breakfast Intentionally To lind her. and she
demurely permitting herself TO lie found On TINS
special day he came IN search OF her WhIle the
heads of most of the rest OF the household were
still at peace upon their pillows, AMI discovered
her soon in distant part of the garden. pacing up
aud down one of the gravel paths, IN apparently
very thoughtful mood.
= hope you have not been here long he said
cheeriully. when he lighted on her.
have been here some time. she answered
'OH. bv Jove am I late then 2 exclaimed the
young man in greved tone and he looked at MS
watch but as he read lt his lace FRIGHTENED AGAIN
No; IL Is not half past yet. 1t is you who are
THO eatly for whatr she inquired; and then she
looked at him with look that mace nm ready 70
sink into his boots. and If you think only come
out here 70 enjoy the pleasure OF your company MI
Keith. you are under a cur Gus deluson' she
naughtily said
I-pon which he felt so confounded that he held his
peace TOT as be lad taken It hitherto he had not
had a doubt that IL was tor that reason that Miss
Hart. on these Sunday mornings, had been IN the
habit OF shortening her repose.
However, when she rebuked his presumptuous
assumption with such severity, submitted 10 tue
rehuke for few moments IN silence ana then
merely answered,
way' .,,,
L suppose it I-' he assented, little ruefully.
But | say he demonstrated. after another little
pause, think you re awfuIiy bard upon letioW.
Ii you don consider that you may slNe one iItl9
eucoura cement ter all this timely JOve - anu
then his elOquencc failed MN.
don't why need give you any encourage
rrept she said deliberately. | don see why any
man needs announcement. lOu aie all ailke. every
one OF you. You think woman ought to be CRATE
f.l ana to make cuItsey to Won Tor cry civil
word you speak to her bat think differently.
From me | beg to tell yOn, Mr.. Keith, you Will get
neither curtseys nor gratitude. , ,
Well. | sure don't expect theH, Teplieu
Keith rather ind iguantly and then he walked on
with his heart pretty not within hun.
She had a light summer mantle over her
shoulders and she folded her arms and wrapped II
rOund her a. If II had been a martial cloak. The
movement almost seemed rs u II were mane 10 snow
her lover how sell-contalned and independent OF
him she was And 80 he interpreted H. as ne
watched her aslauce, with MS heart full OF honest
love for her and yet toIn with good many con-
Ind -he not care at all for him the poor lad was
asking himself She was far more than match i0r
hIm-Lc knew that; but yet h. remembered words
and lOs. that she had given 20 HIM. ne remembered
.tnpC we're rarely enough. indeed. ont OF MS
huughisI two or three tender passages thai had
passed between them, and he could not believe tha'
her ind ference not assumed. lie let q minute
p;i-, ID silence aud then lac spoke 10 her again.
/ don't know ms you come down upon me so
This ruorninr he SAID. What have done am
l,i,D 'rV o, mont 10 be friends with me- II you
knew how | felt 10 yOu you would see quickly
enough how little l. AZ any rate deserved 10 nave
|."AnI wby YOU less than anybody else ? You are
ike other people SUPP ose, she answered indlier-
emily.
But all people are not alike he demonstrated;
'Wnv 10 Is absurd 10 talk kc that DO you lhlnk al
women are Ike yourself
III they had my spirit they would be like me in
ono respect she SAID.
nos, p me suggested after a moments silence.
In holding their proper place, ana not letting
Won or any OF your sex trample upon theh she
retOrted.
Upon which Keith said nothing. The implied
suplrstion that he was tramphn- upon her struck
nm AS something 80 wildly wide Of the truth that
no ejaculation appeared adequate to express Als
They walked again in silence for another minute
or so after thus. She puzzled hun very much she
troubled him and gave him many pangs. but vel
he felt unutterably tender TO her. aud he longed
intensely to give some expression to his tenderness
More than once before now he had been very near
declaring his love for her, but some lingering sense
of prudence some lingering sense of DOUBT had
kent him silent. But nov the moment had come
when il seemed to him that he could not bear to be
silent any more
wall | ought almost to be afraid. | suppose, to
say ANYTHING more 70 YOU he abruptly began, with
ms heart beating fast after the pause had lasted
for a little while; and should be- fancy II my
rcnscieuce were not as clear toward you as 1t Is.
Bnr Won know pretty well how things are with me,
Pru ience-l never wanted you or any other woman
TO knock under 70 me. but yOu know love yOn
with all nv heart and If You can only like me
enough 10 wait for me till | have got home TO
offer you IL think | shall be the happeSt fellow
living sand the poor boy, with rather break IN his
voice at the Lass words.
IL was an honest declaration and no woman need
have been ashamed 10 be touched hv it but Miss
Prudence Hart mad proved her right 10 the name
she bore on a good many occasions already IN her
nfn and fhnnph ktilh was trembling rs be IN