Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1889-05-10
CHAPTER XXI.
ST Y0vE Y0r1l"

81 LOVE YOul"
It was some little time before either
Nancy or Beautiful Jim could collect their
senses enough to say single word. Then
Nancy made q remark which fairly took
Jim's breath away, acting on him very
much like pail Of iced water might do
on . cold and frosty morning.
'sOhl you don't know. I've BEEN nearly
mad, she cried; "nearly madi They al
say you have done it, and then Stuart
"What did Stuart writer he demanded,
sternly.
She looked ct him half frightened and
with doubtful eyes.
Ought ! to tell youf It Is I'll over now
and proved to be mistake"
II insist upon knowing" he returned.
harshly.
In spite Of the anger In his face. the
sunshine broke out over the girls lovely
countenance.
"Ohi my dear. don't put that word in
sist' between you and me-" she said,
gently. 1T sounds ugly. and It looks
uglier; but It feels the ugliest Of all
There II no need Of it. for viii tell you
If you wish It. without any insisting"
jim was penitent In . moment.
Forgive ne, my dearest" he said, b.
seechingly. II have had Q good deal to
try me since saw you last; and the worst
Of it al was that wasn't sure that you
cared . button for me. It would all have
been so easy II I'd only been sure Of
thatl"
Nancy gave great sigh, not entirely .
doleful one, for distinct thrill Of salts
faction ran through 1t.
'And ! vas Just the same. As soon =
! heard the awful news that suspicion
had fallen on you-you Of al men In the
world-I sat down and wrote to tell You
that for one did not and never would
believe IL. And r.
"You wrote to met I never had the
letter. he broke In, impatientiy.
Because never sent it, she answered,
quickly. "l-I-remembered that
wasn't sure whether you cared about me
or not, and the letter ! had written was
rather affectionate, and II seemed hypo-
critical to write . stilted one; and b.
sides. ] couldn't think Of anything to say
tn such one, or what reason to give for
writing ct all And then Stuart wrote
and-and he seemed % prejudiced against
You. said everybody believed you had
done 1t, and that % far - he could SEQ
there could b no doubt ct all about II,
and that he was very sorry I'd ever met
you. and all that sort Of thing. you know.
But still It wasn't that which made me
not write. for didn't believs . word Of
it-not word"
God blees you for that. my darling"
said poor Jim, passionately. "But tell
me just what It was that kept your sweet
letter from mef''
GsvVnn Gka~.k - -
say It was only gossip that was floating
about In the regiment at the time" she
added. apologetically; "but he said it was
very well known among the officers that
though you and poor Capt. Owen had
Always been great friends, that he had
htely cut You out with ono Of your
cousins Of whom you were awfully fond.
and that II was undoubtedly this that was
1t the bottom Of It al; and thought il
you were fond Of her that you wouldn't
care anything about letter from me-"
"The young houndi" lnuttered Jim b.
tween his teeth.
The girl tried to withdraw herself from
''Jimr she exclaimed.
Forgive me, dearest" he said. soften.
Ing instantly: Il forgot for the moment
that young Tommy was your brothef-
We don't call him Stuart in the regiment,
you know" he ended, with Q sd smile
put ~ the unromantic name Of Tommy;
and 1t % rather blow to me to find that
he Of al the fellows has bean the one to
hlacken me, and to you"
II dare say 1t was only what he heard"
abe answered, still clinging to tho old
habit Of shielding her boy. though al her
love and sympathy were with Jim.
Jim ehook his head.
mo. cay darling. Tommy knew when he
wrote that to You that was absolutely
innocent. and I'm afraid he trumpet up
I'll the story about my little cousin out Of
his own head and to suit his own ends"
''But whyf How could he knowf Then
there q cousinf she cried.
Yea have two cousins, great friends
Of mine. and poor dear Owen was utterly
gone on one Of them" he answered. Il
should have been enchanted II she had
taken him. but she didn't, or rather l be
Love she didn't. for Owen never said
word to me or to MIN about It. A for
her. I've never seen her slnce the weak
was IN London before met you"
but how could Stuart know7" she per-
BEAUTIFUL Jim's face turned like q stone.
He knew that had no hand In it-that
was absolutely innocent" he replied.
Don't ask me any more. darling Tho
'ub1ect h too painful to NE. for you know
I'D Owen was the best friend ! ever had |
q Ill my Ke"
For some minutes Nancy stood looking
{ him. her sweet doves eyes filed with 8
lght 4uch - he bad never oeon shining In |
heir clear depths before.