The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1890-06-30

else was concerned. was an imposs Utility
with You. But to-day, while hunting fer 4
ring which | had mislaid, l came across
this old locket. You remem Der it Of
course?"
Is Remember it, my dear boy! Why, il
was one of your poor fathers first gifts
The portrait it contains was painted by a
most intimate friend of his. l was only Is
then!"
q put it in my pocket" continued Rob-
eTt, " with the intention of showing it to
Carrie this afternoon, but forgot all about
it. am ashamed to say, until l sat down in
the summer-hOuse."
Long before he had finished speaking
Carrie was standing beside him, peepin g
over his shoulder and gazing with the deep
est interest at the portrait which had
caused her such mental torture, and as ami
mated as any one in pointing out the re-
semblance to the original, despite the
changes wrought by the passage of so many
years.
"Robertp' said Carrie, very softly and
tenderly, as soon as she found herself
alone with her lover, Il have behaved very
badly to you to-day, and want your par
don. Say you forgive me; though l know
don't deserve it!'
"Who could resist such n pleading voice,
and such a pitiful little face?" asked
Robert, merrily, drawing her londly toward
him.
But you do forgive me?''
"Of course | do; freely and willingly; for
the fact is | am under the necessity of ask
ing forgiveness myself.
From me?"
"Yes!'
For what?"
THAT you shall know presently; but you
must first confess your fault"
.! mistrusted you to-day, Robert was
wildly and foolishly jealouSW
"Really?"
I" / wasl II came into the summer
mouse and saw you asleep there. That
locket was lying at your feet. l opened it.
and-and@"
Jumped to most hasty and incorrect
conclusion; running the risk of making US
your promise, too, that you would always
trust me!'
Please say no more about it,"
Willingly! l will only ask that another
time you will give me. the opportunity of
making an explanation"
l will will"
And now for myself. NY confession
involves disappointment"
" A sappointment-hOw?"
Wen, Carrie, the fact is 1 was-well, not
quite fast asleep when you came into the
summer-house! L kept still because L made
sure you would
"Oh! you base, good for-nUthing, deceit
tul fellow" was her energetic Interrupt
ton.
" Gently, Carrie-gently
" SO you aIe! am quite ashamed of you!
l should never have thought you could be
guilty of such meanness! And it was very
cruel of You besides"
81 How SOP"
Because at least you might, when you
saw the mistake l had fallen into, have told
nue. of my error, and saved me all that-all
that sutferingP'
My dear girl, the whole affair was so
sudden and you popped out so quickly, that
you we've gone before had time to think or
could understand what it all meant"
" But when it did dawn upon you, sir?"
why then thought at once of the un-
sparing way you have of finding fault with
people in novels for causing no end of mis-
cry, when word of explanation would
have put everything right, and yet there
were you at the very first opportunity doing
the very same thing"
And so you thought l was deserving of
some punishmentP'
mo, darling. not that. / only wanted
you to realize the truth of the assertion
that, without perfect trust there can be
neither perfect love nor perfect happiness"
viii never doubt you again, Robert"
" But you must console me for my dsap-
polntment. now, Carrie-yOu know quite
well what mean-or some day | shall be
obliged to relate how you were once Jealous
OF my mothers portrait E.