The Dickinson press. (Dickinson, Stark County, D.T. [i.e. N.D.]) 1883-1927, 1889-10-12
to Katherine.

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"Onc petal is missing"
Il? Oh, no! Why should l? 1t is
really nothing to me. have no right to
an objection. Besides, there isn't one,
Frank Ponsonby"-hcre she compels the
girls eyes to meet hers by the very in
tensity of her own rcsartl-"is of too
generous nature to see any indcicacy
in this act of hers"
"Indclicacy!" repeats Alys, growing
very pale. "lf speak to him on this
subject can bo accused of that?" turn
ins piteously to her cousin.
being a man" saysMr. Wildins slow
ly 81 can tell you all tho moro surely
w!at his answer would be to that ques-
tion 1t would be No."
"rherc, dear; Mr. Wilding knows"
says Miss Nugcnt. with faint smile.
but, oh, if he should be wrongm says
the girl, in an agony of doubt. "Pcrhaps
if 'ionc one clso wcro to tell him it would
be better; but who?"
"Shall II" says Katherine softly.
Wilding, still with his eyes OH Kathc-
rine, makes no movement.
Katherine, STOPPING forward, lays her
hand on the girls arm.
There is q long pause, and then the
girl, lifting Miss Nuscnt's hand, holds it
for an instant i'm mid-air, and then gen
tly drops it. Some divine instinct at the
same moment makes her fall back, as
though to ward the other off. "No, no.
will tell him myself" she says, with
nervous haste and a profound sigh She
walks away from them, and, reaching
the door, is soon beyond recall.
"a very impulsivo girl" says Miss
Nugcnt, turning to Wilding.
"a very good girl, when under no
evil influence, returns he coolly.
''Sir Georges, you mean?'
mo"
"Frank's?"
"Certainly not"
"Whose, them" asks Miss Nugcnt
with the softest smile.
"'ro be discourtcous is to lose point"
says Wilding, unmovcd. "But"-con-
tidentially-"if wero you, l should
chuck it up"
"Slans has always been buried Ian
guage to me. says Miss Nugent politely.
"You mean!"-
$50 very little already unknown to
you that it is hardly worth whilo my
explaining it," says Wilding genially.
"Still l would repeat my former words,
because"- He pauscs. Miss Nugcnt
looking at him for continuation of the
sentence, he says mildly, Because you
haven't the ghost of a chance"
Finding herself once more in the silent
hall, Miss Disney stops short and signs
again. Then great longing for fresh
air overcomcs her, and, passing quickly
through the now deserted dining room,
she steps on to the balcony outside and
presently finds herself in the garden.
A silvery light hangs over it. The
moon, that "goddcss cxccllcntly bright"
is hanging amid trembling fleccy clouds,
like great lamp lent by the heavens to
shed glow upon the dcspondent earth.
Again its rays pierce the gloom of the
eastern corner of the gardens and shed
mellow lustcr upon the forced modesty
of Apollo-ivy clad-and upon the daz-
zling bunch of marguerites, holding and
dropping in their sleep.
Only week ago she had stood just
here with her true love-happy, yet hard
ly aware of the depth of her happiness;
and now with what different gaze she
looks upon the world! knowledge has
come to her too late. Only with the loss
of it has come the fullappreciation of the
thing she has lost.
Something in the scene before her
brings prominently forward doubt that
ever since her last interview with Ponson-
by has been weighing heavily upon her.
Now, as it asserts itself fully, it sends
little chill to her heart.
In spite of all her cousin has said, may
not her late reckless encouragement of
Sir George have killed the love onsc
felt for her by Ponsonby? This terrible
thought grows stronger the more she
dwells upon it, and at length grows into
such tremendous proportions that her
heart dies within her.
Ii she now seeks a second explanation
witll-with Mr.. Ponsonby, will he not be
justified in thinking she is seeking to
throw herself upon his mercy, and that
she is dcsirous of renewing old associa-
tions with him at any cost:
She grows crimson as this thought
comes to her, and tears of modification
rise to her eyes. No. she can never
speak to him on this subject-nevcr. She
will not! She puts up her hands to her
face, as though to hide her shamed eyes
even from the tender moonlight, and in
SO doing hastily decides that she now
forever abandons all idea of seeking an
interview with Ponsonby.
She will not speak to him; she will
not SEQ him again, if possible! Deriving
some mysterious comfort from this rcso-
luton, and feeling therefore somewhat
better, she takes down her hands from
her eyes. and in SO doing finds herself
face to face with Ponsonby.
She turus as white as death; but with
the necessity for speaking comes rush
of womanly dignity that reduces her to
instant c,In, owl a,l,lc tanS.lJ tn hay