The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1885-02-20
IAdy-You might haye saved me.

woman could not love him and me- Ii you
intended to marry him without loving him.
why, it was poor lookout for him, but that
did me no good.
Lady (pleadingly)-Tom, was so very
miserable, and he was really very good to
| me and-you had left me, Tom. 'EN
| Knight-Helen, you said you never wanted
| to see my face again Well, spent my
miserable quarter OF an hour, then / braced
up, had charming trip, went everywhere,
saw everything. staid four years, came back
cured. Fathers death has left me 30 rich
as to be an idler for life lam an eligible
petted and made much Of. I've got deal
| Of pleasure out Of life never quite forgot
you, Helen, but didn't Crieve for you any
more than did for poor Jack You remem
Lady (eageriy)-And how you held me on
his back, Tom.
Knight-And how you screamed when he
began to trot
Lady-But hung on; that was the first
time ever saw you
Knight docking at her thoughtfuIly-
You've changed since then; you wore your
hair in pigtail-
Lady-Which you and Jim used to pull.
Knight You were badly freckled then. /
never saw you looking prettier than you do
to-day.
Lady with pleased little laugh,-Absurd.
In spite Of my "how many years." and all
Knight-And all' Now, suppose I should
say that whom heard you had ceased to be
forbidden fruit" all the old feelings came
back That was about eight years ago.
wasn't itl
Lady with visible but futile attempt to
look sad-Yes, last February. What did
you sayi
Knight-You won't be angry again? /
think l probably said "Poor old dufferi
Well, he wasn't a chicken" or words to that
effect
Lady Giisgustedly)-I' that tho way men
talk Of each other.
Knight-That, l regret 10 own, is very
much the way in which men talk OF each
other at clubs.
Lady-Then I wouldn't go SO much to
clubs
Knight shall not in future; I shall only
go where can take you.
Lady ignoring last remark)--Were you
glad when you heardi
Knight-No, not until last winter
Lady-Last winter!
knight-You see, Helen, you were a
widow tn two children. / supposed, of
course you were old end faded.
LnCy dndignantly)-old And fadedl
knight tmost abjectly)-My dearest Ellie,
said supposed, ed; you did not perhaps no
tice the edi Ii had thought it possible you
could still to so deliciously pretty Qady
bushes most charmingly) I'd, why, I'd have
flown to you'll
Lady-And last winteri
Knight saw Jim the other day at the
Philadelphia club, and he happened to say,
II met your old fame Helen, Thanksgiving,
when was over in New York. She's as
pretty as picture and looks about the same
age rs her tall boy and girl" Oddly enough,
while that was fresh in my mind I came
across photograph Of you in some old
traps.
Lady-Sit.ing by a Window
Knight-No, standing with your hands
behind you and your head turned.
Lady-O, yes, in a blue silk dress made
with peplum. had quite forgotten it. /
must look awfully old-fashioned. II was one
Of Sarony's before he was thu rage.
Knight stuck 1t in my glass and you
looked at me SO saucily while shaved that
felt quite young and rather lonesome; there's
not much In q mans life when he's over 40 and
without q home. / thought it all out, and
when Ned told me you were here / made up
my mind to call and II you were
Lady-Not too old and faded.
Knight-Thanks; dared not put 1t 80
plainly.
Lady-And IL you had found me gray.
haired and wrinkled-
Knight-Gray hair Is charming on a
woman; wrinkles do not like.
Lady-H had been unattractive to the
eye no matter how good and sweet and
loving might have been you'd have bowed
l,.x sgo ,r.x,
nished idea Of Lowell
Knight-Helen, lie mercifuL You women
are born missionaries; the poorer, sicker,
forlorner man Is the more you coddle and
love him; but I'm man, and we are SO made
as to enjoy bright, healthy, happy surround
ings IL would be hard to give you up now
II you broke out all over with wrinkles, but
last evening"
Lady pensively)-Why do sit here and
istenl "
Knight-Perhaps because your train isn't
made up. "a slight pause. / shall take you
abroad in August .....a..r..
Lady sitting suddenly erect and gesping
out world lin
knight VERY politely August
Lady (closing and opening her fan nerv-
ously)-Tom, you must be crazy. You are
joking Why, the children, and you for
got NNr~ ...H".. ...M
Knight-Forgst the children, Oh no.
don't; / only wish I could; but suppose thsy
are too real to be forgotten.
Lady-Why, Toni
Knight-Whati
Lady-Won't you love themi
Knight-Themi
Lady Qmpatiently) them. them, the
children, Fred and Nelly. IL should-I
.La - ~. I'll
sense.
Knight-What's all nonsensei
Lady-Well, II we should, wouldn't you
love the childreni 1915.
knight tstolidly)-No.
Lady (horrified)-Noi
Knight-Now, look here, Helen, be reason
able about this I'll agree to love you all
the days Of my life; but when you ask me to
love a couple Of children ] have never seen
children that ought TO have been mine
and are not, children that will constantly re-
mind me Of the very unpleasant fact that
you were for years the wife of another man
Il positively refuse to make any such
foolish promise I'll tolerate them In our
house when they must be out Of that excel
lent place-school I'm not q brute, dear.
Don't look SO grievei IL they are nice
children.
Lady-They are very nice.
Knight-very possibly In time may,
when / forget they are yours, grow fond Of
them. Now, sweet one, do something for
me. Take of your gloves minute
Lady-Here In the stationi
Knight-Here. In the station; quick, dear,
it's time for your train. 49,.
Lady drawing of gloves slowly and bar
Ing two pretty dimpled, white little hands,
the right wearing q solitaire diamond ring;
she looks wonderingly on the Knight)-What
In the world
Knight-Now put that Koh-i-noor in your
pocket for Nellie, and put this i'm its old
place Cakes from his waistcoat pocket a
velvet ring-box, somewhat faded, which he
lays In the lady's lap)
Lady (whosp eyes suddenly Ill With tears,
as she opens the box and takes out pearl
and sapphire)-My little ring; my dear, dear
little ringl after al these yeasl
Knignt-Put Il on.
IAdy-Here, nowi can't Tom. You
must put IL on as-as-you did before.
Knight trising and standing 30 a. TO shield
her from the .est Of the room)-No, Helen,
dear, you ask too much, IL Is too late for
that From my heart love you, and be-
lieve caa make you happy, but I'm .
worldsworn man now, cynical unbelieving
In most things. believe In you, my early,
only love believe you can give me the
missed happiness, ths lost content, but even
you cannot make me young againl As did
theni ! had wooed fresh, innocent
child, with boyish vows and protesta-