Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-06-30

|
of girl who had Tilted him, and who, be
thought. had broken his heart forever. ]
sat up straight in bed and vowed that of all
things love was the unkindest, most unsat-
isfactory, cruelest, worst in the world. We
talked long time, and he seemed to think
as did. In the end we shook hands and
he said: 1--WE will be friends, Miss Katie,
forever"
'sYes," said I, shaking his hand with
both of mine, "and I'm awfully grateful to
you. Friendship is so nice, and I do want
it." Of q sudden / determined to secure
matters, and looked at him as solemnly as
knew how and said: "Promise me sacred
ly that you will never talk to me any way
but this way, never look at me except as
you are looking now, and never, never kiss
me-" He shook hands again, and went
on: "We will be just friends always"
Gas long as you like" said he.
"Ohl shall like it always" answered.
81 never 60 back on friend. Friendship
is the best thing in the world-the only safe,
happy, comfortable thing-isn't it? And
we should be very grateful for the happy
friendship between u.s."
He said, Eyes," and so it was settled.
AS got well was perfectly happy. The
doctor was always good to me. He was
never too busy to let me come into his Office
He even let me pound pills and wash out
bottles, and dust his instruments Some
times, when Mrs. Katesby was tired, used
to see to his breakfast, and even when he
discovered that made the toast was not
forbidden. 1t seemed to me me that no one
had ever been SO kind to me-
At last was well enough to go to New
York for my May engagement. The even
| ing before / was to start sat up for the doc
tor. Mrs. Katesby had kissed me and told
me to. I went wondering about, touching
things that belonged to him. had queer
feeling in my heart. had been SO happy,
and now to go away, and perhaps never-I
heard his key and ran to open the door.
"What, little girl; up?" he said.
eyes," answered. "Your mother told
me to serve your midnight tea. I don't
think you should have midnight tea, but I
suppose doctor knows"
81 suppose SO, said he, as helped him
shake off his coat.
was SO quiet at the table that he asked:
Anything the matter?"
"Only = Pm going tomorrow = You
know" returned, "and you wouldn't be-
lieve how strange it makes me feel here
and rubbed my hand over the pain in my
side.
"Your hearth" he asked.
"Yes-down right miserable" I an
swered.
He laughed only softly, but 1 felt hurt,
and ali of sudden 1 could not see. He
must have observed that was pouring tea
into the sugar bowl, for he called me to him.
I thought it troubled him to look up. So
knelt down.
"When you go away" he asked, "will
you remember we are friends?"
"Yes," said 1.
Forever"
eyes" said I again, in dull voice.
"Tell me, Katie" he continued, laying
hand on each of nv shoulders, shave 1
trested you as you wished-as promised?"
1 nodded, and the tears came up. He
looked at me moment, then said softly:
Friendship is the best thing in the world,
the only safe, happy, comfortable thing,
isn't it, dear? And we should be very
grateful for the happy friendship between
u.s." nodded so hard that the tears spat-
tered my hands. He stood up quickly: ST
am of early tomorrow" he said in differ
ent tone, "and will say good-by now. Be
good in New York: shall come about the
18th to see you"
He held out mis- hand. 1t was lust what
friend would do, of course. i put first one
hand and then the other into it. Then, as
he closed his over both, I bent and kissed it
and said: "Goo6-by. You have been very
good to me. Please, please don't forget
me-"
When got up stairs I lay down on the
floor, and wept until my head was in a
puddle.
Mrs. Katesby wrote to me sometimes after
1 came away. She was so lonely that she |
sent for a niece. The doctor liked his cousin |
very much. I thought about the cousin all |
day and all night. AT last the 14th of the |
month came. That night played SO well |
the manager offered a. rise for the next sea-
son. The 18th was Sunday. He came 1 |
talked like a magpie, and spoke of every |
thing but the cousin. When was talked |
out he began. He questioned me closely
about the theater.
"Oh, yes," said I, .'there is a man, of |
course. He told me last night he was going
to shoot himself I said no he wouldn't-to |
Just take a brandy and soda
The doctor looked dark. 'I will not have
you associate with such people" he said, |
grinding his teeth.
whats to be done?" returned, lightly,
adding: HE doesn't bother me much-oniy |
when he takes me to lunch and leans over
the table to say In husky stage whisper
that he loves me. How men will do such |
things at lunches? It's SO annoying when
one is hungry. You can't 60 on brutally
eating partridge while man tells you he
has despair in his heart and a loaded pistol
in his pocket-can you?"
The doctor was not amused. "Do YOU
care for any OF these fellows?" he asked
suddenly.
For my life I could not tell the truth: "I
don't know" answered sulkily. Then all
at once I cried: "Do you care for your
cousin?"
Every much" he answered absently.
Then he asked in strained way if
thought we could still be friends if either of
ms married and in the same breath in |
formed me that he was going to Europe.
My heart had been filling up tighter and
tighter. Now it burst. I gave gasp.
Are you going to leave me?" said.
'Katie." he said, feeling his way
through the words, there is nothing else
for me to do"
Don't you care for me at all that you
break my heart SOP" cried, pushing my
hands hard together, ''am I the side Of the
house that you look at me as if you did not
see me? What have I done that you
should treat me as if you hated me? will
not have it; III go out and drown myself"
"Katie," said he steadily, remember the
promise you compelled me to make.
A great light flashed before my eyes.
stood up and reached out my hands. "Oh,"
I said, 81 see how cruel have been to peo-
pie, for now my own heart breaks. You
may hurt me as much as you like. I am no
coward. Still will tell you. I know I
made you promise to be my friend and never
to love mel know it-and you have kept
your word. You are going to marry your
cousin and 60 to Europe; but before you go
will tell you that love you. It is right
[ should have to say it so-and for nothing
for have always been cruel and be-
ieved no one-but now know it can be
true. Though my heart breaks am not
afraid, and I say it again-I, love you-I