Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1886-12-10
Then he turned to her with a sudden

Then he turned To her with a sudden
change from tn laugh ne tone:
"Have yon hurt your arm? l am
afraid | startled YOU" and he came for
ward hastily.
But Stella drew away as he APP
preached.
"Nothing-it is nothing; pray don't
trouble me-" she said, almost GROSSLY.
And rs stream of gayly dressed
people emerge,. from the conservatory
and began to spread themselves over
the terrace and approach the lawn
Stella turned and fled into the shrub
berry.
She had reached the foun tain by the
statue of the dancing faun before she
was overtaken.
pardon me-" said her pursucr. in a
tone that was certainly not Dick's-it
was too commanding. II do not want
to contradict you, but l can't believe il
is nothing.
And in another moment the little
bruised wrist. from which he had
stripped the glove, was in Sir Richard 5
firm. light grasp, and Stella meekly
/ surrendered
]
/ she found herself placed on the messy
step of the old fountain, while with
/ quick. deft fingers Sir Richard dipped
| his handkerchief in the cool. clear
water, and bound it round the slender
wrist.
Could it be DickP Was it not all a
hooking dream? Stella could only
hope with all her might that the
awakening might be long delayed.
The splash of water in the old stone
basin and the mysterious whisper of
the pines overhead were the only
sounds that broke the summer stiffness.
The tennis was too far off for them
to hear the merry players; they were
quite alone.
Did Dick remember the last time
they had been alone together? He
came and sat down OH the broken step
by her side.
Stella 10 You shrink from me stllp
After all the years have been working
and toiling TO be worthier of you. am
no nearer the goal than when we last
parted? Must | ask in vain, rs | did
then, for the least little word?' he said
slowly and gravely.
Not a movement. not sound from
the shrinking figure at his side. His
face grew grayer still, and he bit his
lip.
Am | To 90 away again, them" he
asked. after Il pause.
Still no answer.
With su dden impulse. Sir Richard
stopped and peered under the broac
hat which hid her face from him.
"What! crying. Stella" He wa.
on his knees hes dc her on the moss
Have made you cry?' My darling
my own!'
He was irving to take her in his
arms, but she struggled to free her
self
''Ah, Dick, l told you once that om
lives We're poles apart; it was falls,
then. but it has come true" he muir
INJURED. brokenly.
If it had. which | deny. the rela-
tive positions would be the same. You
are. as YOU havt always been. IA worlc
above me IN all things. But love can
br dye any gulf. Stella Won YOU LEI
me try? 1t j. my trade. YOU know.
And then She struggled no longer.
dick" she whispered, by and by
when convcr,at on had had time to be
come a trille less absorbing. lido yol
remember what you sad that night a
Churlstone? You told me no mar
would ever love me as You had done
| didn't belive It then, but l know nov
that YOU were right
ID a | say that?' he asked. laugh
ing. well, YES. was right. | dar,
say-only | put it in the wrong tense
What | should have said was not rs
have done. but as do. and as shall
keep on doing as long rs the worl'
shall last. And Plat would have beer
truer ST II, my guiding star; so let i
stand like that N the future.
And that point was settled withou
opposition once and for always -L nj
Oego NeSCS