Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1890-01-14
va,ped oi,e wifi was Robin BARRYMORE

| valued dlle Wilt was Robin Barrymore
fancied that he hoped that I would NEE
him half way, and had determined not t,
do 50. / vas fond of him-I, yes, love-
him-but all the more for that reason did
desire toskeep up my pride, to hold higl
place in his thoughts, to be hard to win, anc
precious prize IN consequence.
October had come, however, and Robin
had not given me an opportunity to say ye
or no.
The weather was beautiful I never shall
forget how blue the SKY was, and how tht
| gorgeous autumn trees blazed in the sunlight
OF the day that Rose Eliza declared that she
would ''have company" before the leaves
| changed.
81 have friends" she said, "who live toe
| far away to come for day. | shall give 6
house party, as they call it in English novels
and you shall write the invitations"
I wrote them, and the last Cousin Rose
Eliza said, as though it were an afterthought
There are so many ladies and so few men
we'll ask Mr.. Barrymore though he Is at the
hotel near by"
wrote the invitation in Miss Tiffins name,
and while l was writing it knew perfectly
well that the house party was given to bring
my tardy love affair to a climax.
We had very jolly time Mr.. Barrymore
made great impression on the young ladies,
yet offered me his devoted attention. | was
fond of him. l loved him more fondly every
day, and at last one afternoon, when we had
been upon walking expedition to our great
marvel, Diamond cave where the stalactites
/ hung from the roof in myriads, and there
was an echo that frightened people, he con-
trived to linger behind the others, and to
Keep me with him.
Il can hold my peace no longer, Miss Fay"
he said. Il have loved you more than l can
say ever since | knew you. But until l had
some assurance that you cared for me did
not speak. Of late l have fancied that your
feelings were what wished them to be, and
I have hope. Do you love me just a little,
Gracem
Did 1 love him?
1t was the worst thing that he could have
said to me. l could no more answer yes to
that than I could have confessed to crime,
and it gave me such chance to answer
NO and did it.
On the spot l told falsehood. said "Oh,
dear me. no" and ran away. | Joined the
rest of the party. Robin Barrymore did not
follow me- After the cave we went to the
waterfall After that we had lunch.
All the girls were wondering where Mr..
Barrymore was. So was l, but did not say
so. We went home. Cousin Rose Eliza had
not accompanied Us. She had remained at
home to oversee the p. JaratiOn OF supper.
When | entered the dining room she sat at
the head OF the table, but Robin was not
there, nor was any place kept for him.
Oh, how long it seemed before all those
people went to bed and was alone with my
cousin. It was in the library. She had
drawn all the portieres close and put out all
the lights but one Students lamp with dark
green opaque shade Then she sat down in
her armchair and said:
''Come here, Grace, take that little otto
man and tell me everything, just as if 1 was
your mother"
"Rose Eliza" said I, FIRST answer me, have
you seen himf'
Him" said my cousin, ''is Robin Barry
more, o. counsel"
Have you seen hin" repeated.
'Just minute,7 said Rose Eliza ''He
came TO say good-by. He is going to Europe.
He will reside there in future. There is
lovely Preach lady-you know how mar
riages are arranged in France-her father has
made proposals; of course he will marry her.
he looked pale, and | fancied you had said
that no of yours"
Then he is gone.' said I.
Forever" said my cousin.
''Forever?n repeated And might have
kept him. Oh, Rose Eliza, have spoiled my
whole life!'
''What did you do it fore' asked Miss
Tiffin.
IL couldn't help it," said l. "He asked
me if loved him. 1t wasn't the right way.
l said, OF course not. ANY self respecting |
girl would"
'Not if she cared for man." said Rose
Eliza "I'1n an old maid, but I wouldn't |
never cared for any of those who asked me, |
so | said No from my heart, and no doubt |
that is why you said no after all. "
"Oh, no, no, no! Rose Eliza I sobbed. |
''He was all the world to me, and now he is
gone forever!'
And began TO cry piteously.
"Ah!" said my cousin, Robin Barrymore
isnt one to come back after being once re-
fusedn-
Eyes, he is" said a voice behind the por-
tiere. And to go on his knees and to ash
Rer, yes, too. Grace, my darling, forgive me-"
And there was Robin, and he took me in
ais arms
BLESS you, my children" said Rose Eliza,
with giggle. ''You see, Grace, when Robin
,alne back looking as if the world had come
20 an end, and began to pack, l just up and
.old him that knew what was the matter,
md that I'd prove to him that you were fond
If him don't think | ever did better
hing in my hfe. l didn't want any more
Springy Ricketts, in the village, and feed
proud of that French lady ana her father.
For first original fb they were splendid
Guess I'll go and lock up now"
She went.
When she came back l was sitting on the
ola with Robins arm about my waist, and
10 had asked me if loved him twenty times,
md twenty times had said yes--ALary Kyle
DALLAS IN Fireside Companion