Northwest enterprise. [volume] (Anacortes, Wash. Ter.) 1882-1887, 1885-06-27
bars of the waltz sounded.

could not help en- joying the swift motion,
and the certainty that under his guidance
she was safe from the merciless knocking
and humping against Other couples to which
many men subject their unfortunate part
ners.
The last slow chords sounded, and they
stopped.
''Ah," said Percy, drawing long breath,
it's warm"
"It is" assen'ed Clare.
" But the = .rden is coo" ;" said Percy.
$50 pc ople seem 10 think, she ansW cred.
laughing
For every one hnd poured cut Of the
ballroom to the cool night air. and the
whte dresses E mmered dlniy among the
5rses on tie sal avn.
They have placed the refreshment-
table out there" sad tho young man.
" Don't You want some claret cupY"
The want WAS supplied, and they SGT
down ON a rustic seat near the table. The
lawn seemed nearly as fuil lis The dancing
room had been few minutes before; ant
Cllre Watched Cert g. as she was evidently
engaged in fuIio1s Irritation with O man
whom she knew Percy cisIlked
g. She must do it to vex him." Clare
thought, quite ignorant that Gertie had
not once thought Of dir. Moray tile even
ing.
From the veranda sounded the warning
bars of gslop and the lawn begau to be
deserted Clare would have risen, but
Percy stopped her.
Don't 60 yet," he said at least, II
you are rot engaged for tlis."
but am" t.'
"Then let your partner find you"
"Eo, really NUT go | want to-"
"Oh, know what you want-to avoid
me-"
Mr. Moray !" .......... ........
=" beg your pardon if am rude but
how haye l offended you?"
q" You have not" o.. ..I
"Then why do you always try to escape.
speaking to mey What have done?"
"Nothing. /" ...
"Why DO you stop? On, Glare, Glare
don't you know that 1 love you?
There was silence. For one moment
great pulse If 10Y throbbed through the girl's
whole being; ti.en came the sickening re-
membrance % Gertie
"You don't speak; you do care foi
me knew it, my Care
He would have taken her hand, but she
withdrew it.
How about Gertie ." she said, quietly.
" Are you not engaged -
lie did not answer for q moment; then
said
is that childish bond to stand between
you and me? Clare, Gcrtie and | are
nothing TO each other now; we have out
grown our fancy long ago"
You may have she has not. Percy, il
trust you with her heart secret, respect it.
She loves you, and all her gayety is put on
IN biHa har main Mt nanlpot oh
think how base ] must feel-her friend
whom she trusted-to let you speak so
to me
" You base you, Clare darling! I've
been thoughtless brute AMI see it now.
Forgive me d" @'
eyes" 4's - ~
sand love me ?" ~ j..
He spoke timidly, as knowing he would
be denied. Her answer came very low.
IS shall have to learn not TO do So"
"Then you do 2" he said quickly.
cannot help it " and there was .
break of sob in her voice.
And you ask me to give you up, know
ing that-to win my hea, en- on earth, and
turn away from it Clare you cannot"
- must and the bitter agony of the
tone only showed the frmness of her re-
solve. -e,..
"Percy, you are honorable don't make
me despise you. as | should if you were
false to Gertie."
"But, Glare, love you, not Gertie."
She loves you." Clare answered, with
the sublime unreasonabeness of woman
g And right is right, though it is hard-oh.
so hard !! =" s.s
"It is something to hear you say that Il
is hard. he swered. in a smothered tone.
" But you don't know how cruel you Al
TO me, or how you have grown into 10.
life. never meant to love; but this even
ing, when saw you l felt must speai
and know if you ="
She laid her band on his
g. And you have made it all the harder
for me, he said If had still thought
that you did not care for me, might have
turned to Gertie but how"
You will do what ia right" she an
swered, while the tears would spring to heJ
eyes
9 Right Is it right to marry a girl
do not lovey 2"
"You will learn to do SO; she is SO dear
you cannot help it,
''Cannot l p? Glare, your face is the one
face for me on earth you the one woman.
She rose, blndly, nobly wrong in he'
sell; denial.
II cannot listen to MORE" she said in s
choEei voice to her own heart she added,
s. da e not.''
"Ciare." he rose and caught he,
wrists. ] here was no one to see the gar
dtn was agaiu dark and silent, except
where the light streamed from the veranda
g only want to say good by"
"N hat do you mean 2"
"Do you think l could GO on as 7 AIN
doing now see you for the next montf
every day, and know that you love me
and that you wil never be more TO me thar
now 1t would drive me mad. No, !
shall leave hele by to-morrow's boat"
But, Percy"
Z" You need not think that" he said, with
a sudden fierce burst of anger; q" ii ste
and were alone on this earth, ] would no,
marry Gertie You have done her no gooc
or, rather, no harm. Dear little thing.
she deserves better fate than y husband
on
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