, 1889-08-08
me that first morning fishing" said

calied, 50 let us leave them 10 thei nap
piness.
"Well, that's rather cool of Hoyt to
take Miss Hettie off so, when, according
to all rules of friendship, We ought TO all
spend this afternoon together. But i
you will pardon me- Miss Essie, will
go and look up some of my traps that
must find before night"
As Thornton turned away the light
look left his face, and instead of going to
his room he passed out and toward the
lake, which. when he reached, he threw
himself on the sand with a groan.
"And has it come to this, that
dare not trust myself alone with
her for, fear, shall forget my
manhood, and throw honor to the
winds2 If | knew oh, if only knew
she cared for me And yet what then?
II would only make matters worse. No,
1t Is best as it is. If she should have
any thoughts of me- and never gives
them words, they will the sooner die.
But which is most honorable? How
can you choose between two dishonors?
No, do not know she cares for me. She
Is so happy In her dreams, and if she re-
members inc, 1t will be but as shadow
in one of them. A shadow that would
give, "and he ground his hand into the
pebbles" would give the remaining
years of its life for one kiss from her
sweet lips. oh, that / had left her a
month ago." and he buried his face in
his hands.
Meantime Essie was standing in tho
piotupe.S shiaa9sS m p"rsHr want Ge,or' to- see hit
again before he takes it away.
10 see Just how look to him. Yes, IL
is beautiful. They say, though, pic
lures never look just like persons, I
wonder, though, II l do look like that?
L am glad he will have me before his
,,I lN.V. 1...sN ,Nt fNr,
She was standing with loosely clasped
hands and dreamy eyes, and did not
hear the door as it softly opened until
Thornton's voice, with an undertone as
far from sarcasm as it was from joy,
broke upon her ear: "Ah vanity, art
admiring thyselfP''
The girl turned toward him impetu-
ously. "Tell me, am | like that? Do /
look like that? Am | so beautiful"
The absence of all consciousness in her
tone, the utter childishness of it, struck
him.
"Are you as beautiful as that?"
She stood very near, the
slight form leaning toward
Eim nii sbhio, thS flower upisS tR5ed WTst face
wonder that he forgot himself?
GAS beautiful as that?" he repeated.
and then before he realized what he was
doing he had clasped her closely to his
arms, his kisses falling on her face, her
eyes, her hair. "My beautiful one, my
darling. as though the hand of mortal
man could reproduce your matchless
face"
She lay motionless, scarcely breath.
ing, on his breast. 1t was so sudden it
overcame her, thiswondertul happiness.
He loved herl had loved her, and she
now knew it. Ii seemed as though the
wonderful joy of II made her heart too
great for the slender frame. The white
lids veiled the gold-glinted darkness of
lifted. 1t seemed to Thornton as though
light like that of heaven shown over
her face as her lips moved, she said 81
love you"
AS though the words had been dag.
ger that stabbed him he thrust her from
him and sank into u seat. Without a
word she glided from the room. An
hour later Mac and Hettie returned
happy, and for wonder almost silent,
to see Mrs. Thwait. They went up to
her hand in hand like two children.
Mrs. Thwait-mother-we have
come" but snatching her hand from
his, Hettie was gone.
Mac went on, 81 want to ask you to
give me Hettie. love her and she does
me-" he burst out abruptly.
Mrs. Thwait looked UP in amazement.
"What! Youl Hetty! Marry! That
child, my baby!" and she even dropped
her pencil in astonishment But 1t did
not take Mac long to convince her that
it was no matter for surprise, but the
most natural thing in the world.
"Well, well! but i does seem SC
Hettfe is such a child But | believe,
my dear boy, you will make her happy
if she loves you. But it cannot be foi
some years yet, she is such child.
Well, 1t is surprising" And Mac was
forced to be content
The evening had passed, to Essie Q
happy dream, to Tornton long drawn
agony. Al last it was all over and they
| had parted for the night, the two gen
tlcmen to smoke slcep-inducing cigar
/ Hettie was soon wrapped in happy
dreams, but Essie could not sleep. Ris-
| ing and throwing light wrap about hel
| she knelt by the open window, hel
dimpled chin pillowed on the white
arms. The moon was just rising, throw
\ ing broad belt of silver across the
/ lake. The katydids were calling noisily
/ from amid the rustling trees. IL seemed
| to the girl in her happiness the world
| had never been so fair Suddenly she
caught the red gleam of cigar in the
arbor not far from her window, and q
moment more Mac was saying, "Well
old fellow, amt you going TO congratu-
]
/ can do the same for your
Could that be Thornton's voice that
answered, "Are you joking, Hoyt, oI
can it be possible you do not know?"
know what?" askedHoyt in surprise
"Mac, have been a fool, fool Q
scouudrel. There is no name bad
enough for me. Let me tell you all
and advise me, for heavens sake ad
wise me, if you can, old fellow. Oh
would to God bad gone from here one
month ago, before | ever loved her.
How did l thnh dare stay painting pSd,ih ohe hel
and / must have that to take
away with me. And now, this day,
have forgotten my manhood, my honor
and told her of my love, when P'-tht
words struck her like bullet-"am thu
engaged husband of another"
"My God, Thornton why did you no
tell me before? | would have dragged
you away groaned Mac.
II thought you knew it. l thought
did not show how loved her. l Though
was strong and she did not care TO
me-
"You must break it off," said Mac
firmly, "Who is itP"
"My cousin, Hester Waynor. 1t wa
my parents who made the match tiv,
years ago; but she is something of al
invalid, and it has been put Off. die
not know what love was, and though
the feeling | had for her was nea
enough to let me make her my wife
And She, she loves me, it will kill her.
"No sooner than it would 70 find, a,
she must, that her husbands hear
was given to another"
is that So? Is that the best wayP'
] 1afst Ah