Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1891-09-17


whole?"
"Oh, decidedly better, it would seem"
turning to him bright, mirthful face.
How pretty and girlish she looked IN
that easy attitude, her face flushed
with the warm freight. her hands
clasped around her knees in careless
abandonl And it was remarkably pleas
ant chatting there in that coy old
time fashion. Donald wanted to keep
the ball of conversation rolling not car
ing much what was said.
'sWho is it who says that marriage ID
like a city besieged-all those who are
out want TO get in, while those who are
in all want to get out?" smiling comfort,
ably across at her. All the brightness
was gone from her face on the instant
"A volume of truth in the observa
ton, is there not?" she returned icily
taking up paper. A personal item
caught her eye the next moment, "Dr.
and Mrs. Rogers are spending Il few days
in Denver" All, yes; that explained
Donald's presence at home on this par
ticular afternoon. Mrs. Rogers always
Kept open mousse on sundays.
~ hope you don't think that meant
any reflection: I'm sure You could not
make any personal application Of that
stupid quotation" poor Donald blum
dered awkwardly.
''Why, certainly not; how could Ir
with sarcastic little laugh, the ugly
red he had learned to know so well fam
ing in her cheeks. 'Of course we could
not possibly want to get out We are SC
happy together, you and |.
81 most certainly don't want to get
out" said Donald sturdily, poking the
fire "And, by the way, that reminds
me. not explaining the connection: u
beg pardon, but really forgot to give
you this letter. 1t came this morning
"From Grayr she exclaimed sur
prised. as she took it from his hand
She had heard but rarely from Gray in
the months since he had gone at her bid
ding. He had proceeded down into Mex
leo, looking up the old hacienda where
she had lived as child, and several let
tiers he had written at first counting
confidently on her interest in the famil
lar scenes, but Anita never answered
She sat for a long time now absently
twisting the unopened letter in heI
hands, thinking of all that had happened
since Gray had said, ''He will teach you
to know the worth of love like mine
Well. she had learned the lesson, as he
said she would. Strange if she had moi
through all those days of smiling cold
ness, when Donald and she had striveu
each TO Guido the other in the cool cour-
tesy of utter indifference; in the scenes
that had come later, when irrepressible
anger had worked its way to the surface
in cruel shafts of sarcasm that had many
a time sent Donald from the house pale
with rage. while her heart had bled with
stormy tears.
There had been plenty of time to
measure the worth of lasting love like
Gray's in the long evenings she had
spent alone, feeling but too sure into
whose eyes Donald was smiling; in the
weary hours when she had tossed on her
pillow. awake in horrid loneliness that
was a torture of terror when any I'M
canny noise broke the night stiffness.
Selfish and lawless as she knew Gray's
nature to be, in the glamour thrown by
time and distanceit seemed that had she
been his wife he must have been I'M
swervingly true to her; and, in her
heart hunger there had grown up the
miserable regret that her love had not
been given to him; but it was only the
small, futile regret for what she knew
had never been really possible And
there could be no thought of mending
the blunder of fate at this late day-all
the passion of her heart seemed cold and
dead. With fretful sigh she reused
herself to open her letter now, resentful
ly conscious that Donald was watching
her curiously.
"And how is your cousin?' he asked al
length, when she was twisting the paper
in her hands again, absently staring into
the fire. He asked the question in all
kindness, in his resolution TO let the
dead past rest; but in spite of himself
his voice sounded forced, and to Anita
his words seemed pregnant with hateful
sarcasm.
Read it," she said with sharp brevity.
holding the letter out to him. He shrank
back with gesture of extreme distaste.
mo, indeed. Could you imagine that
was limiting at such thing: have
not the slightest wish to pry into your
correspondence"
But | insist upon your reading it,
offering it imperiously. Donald reluc-
family accepted the letter.
ANITA MIA-Incredible as 1t may seem. the
doctor has just told me that / must prepare to
take my little trip over the range. for have to
60 soon, and ! have believed him. because l
have fallen into a habit Of swallowing what
ever he gives melt seems to save the iudR-
ment such lot Of wear and tear, you know.
Don't feel badly about Il, sweet; what's the
user It's case Of spilled milk. you see. What
breaks me up Is thar | can't 90 to you and say
all the things thar are making my head feel
top heavy. ! always made poor shuttle al a
letter. you know. and IL comes harder than
ever now. When left you meant 10 come
back. as Of course you kneY. saw how things
were going. and hoped 70 lind happiness wait
ing for me when came again. But now-~l
ny a que les morris qui ne revicnnent pass
over which have no control
prevent. you understand. But Mohammed
could 60 TO the mountain just the same, and