St. Paul daily globe., 1885-06-14


81 must go back to my work soon," she
says, trying to make her words sound quiet
and commonplace II have had long
and pleasant rest and begin to tire of do
ing nothing. L"
Then Miss Grayle comes back and she
gets up suddenly, leaving her sentence un-
finished, and goes to the piano and begins
playing dashing little fantasia that hasn't
particle of soul in it.
He does not stay long. He excuses him
self by saying that he has work to do and
he feels in the mood for doing it. He says
good evening to Miss Grayle and then stops
by the piano.
Il have something want to say to you
some time, he says, and then pauses as if
at a loss.
supposeyou want to tell me how thought
less you think me, and that it is my duty to
come into the church, and all that sort of
thing" she says, looking up with laugh
that has a defiant ring i'll it that CRATES
harShly on even her own ears. ''Thank
you. We will consider it has been said, if
you please. 1 never like to be talked to in
that way"
She gets up from the piano and walks
away as if to put an end to the converse
ton. The light words have cost her great
effort. But, if she would accomplish her
purpose, she must keep him at dis
tance.
He looks after her with the puzzled, per-
picked look in his eyes again, and then
turns and goes out without another word.
Kingsley tells me that DR.. Garfield
thinks it would be a good thing for him to
take charge of a church somewhere" Miss
Grayle says by and by. ''He could go on
with his studies you know, and the disci-
pline would be good for him. l shall hate to
have him go away, but it may be for the
best"
Every likely" answers Miss Crawford
careleSSly, as if the matter holds but slight
interest for her.
That night telegram comes to Miss
Grayle from her sister in Trenton. She is
sick. Will Mary come to her for few
days?
In the morning Miss Grayle goes away.
That afternoon Kingsley Dunham calls.
Miss Crawford knows that she cannot help
seeing him, for the servants would suspect
her of untruthfulneSS if she sent down an
excuse pleading headache or any other ill
ness. So she puts on her armOr of self
defense and takes her shield of pride and
goes down to meet him.
always been MARY and kingsley" be
tween them Il am sorry. [ am obliged
to go away this afternoon, and shall not
come back until after she has gone to
Europe. 1 wanted to ask her question.
But it seems that 1 am too late. shall
have to write it and leave it for you to give
to her. 1t is about something that will
affect my whole life"
He says this, looking at Miss Crawford
with a strange excitement in his face. She
fancies that she knows what his excitement
is about. His glance makes her tremble
with its power. She goes to the window
and drops the curtain to shut out the sun
shine that floods the room. Her face is left
in shadow and she feels safer.
eff | only understood you BETTER" he
says, coming to her side. ''But-I hardly
feel as if / understand you at all. Iwonder
if all women can be as perpleXing to man
as you are to me?"
Perhaps if they try to be-" she answers.
''We are said to be riddles, you know"
with little laugh that sounds forced and
empty of merriment.
IF 1 only knew" he says, and then
pauSeS with his eyes upon her face. What
does he mean? She feels a strange mes
merism steal over her beneath his glance
Is he playing with her heart? He Kings
ley Dunham, who is to stand before men
as one of Gods teachers??"
''You can write your letter to my cousin
and leave it on the table. will give it to
her," she says turning to the door. 81
must beg to be excused, there is so much to
do" Then she bows and leaves him. The
truth is, she does not dare to trust herself
with him longer. II she does her secret is
not safe.
She finds the letter there when she goes
down.
II know what the question is that he has
asked her," she says, as she takes up the
missive. ''He has asked her to be his
wife. Her answer to the question is what
will affect his who life," and then she
laughs diScordantly. She feels more like
dropping her head on the table and crying,
for the pain in her heart is sharp and Bit
ter. She feels kind of fierce, hard anger
against Kingsley Dunham, against her
cousin Mary, against all the world.
She takes up the letter again, and looks
at it with eyes and face full of rebelIi on at
destiny
II am to be to her the bearer of mes
sage of love from him." she cries. 81, who
love him as she never will. Fate is full
of bitter irony when it makes me such a
messenger. II will not do itr' with sud
den fierce determination. She crumpleS
the letter in her hand and looks about her.
She sees the old clock in the hall. She goes
to it, opens it, and drops the letter into its
mysterious depths.
''Stay there forever" she says, and turns
with guilty start to the postman at the
door; he has brought her letter from her
mother.
1.-THE schools will open two weeks earlier
than usual,' she reads. ''Y'ou must come
home at once or you will lose your place as
teacher"
Two days later she goes back to the New
England village i'll which her work is wait
ing for her. And that day Kingsley Dun
ham goes to a little church in the West to
begin his work.
so our paths run apart" she says as
the train whirlS her away from the city
where she has passed a summer full of sad
and sweet experiences; for love, even if ii
gives all and receives nothing, is always
sweet; land perhaps it is better so."
*xM
Three years have gone. Alice Crawford
is again visitor at her cousins home.
Mary is married, but not to Kingsley
Dunham. Why she did not marry him
Alice never asks. The remembrance OF
what she has done and of what the old clock
knows fills her with guilty shame. She
never goes through the hall without feeling
hot flush come into her face as she hear:
the clock ticking out the hours. 1t seems
to be accusing her. She is afraid of it.
She is glad to know that Mary was not
robbed of happiness by her act. That she
is sure of, for if ever woman was happy
in husbands love that woman is Mary. II
she had found her cousin grieving for what
| her life had lost she could never forgive her
self for what she has done. She begins to
| think she cannot, as it is. She hates her
self for having given way to temptation.
! She has lost Splf-raSnanf More than