St. Paul daily globe., 1891-01-12
thought she never before had seen a

thought she never peIoTe hao seeh
man so pale.
He rose to his feet.
miss Vernon" he said. quietly
enough, though his voice shook, you
are quite right have misunderstood
you!" And, with slight inclination
of the head, he walked away.
The dancing ceased. Sibyl finished
her playing with a series of brilliant
runs and chords. For the present Clar
issa's foe was triumphant, and she
knew it.
Two years passed away. Robert had
gone abroad on business for his fathers
firm. and had but lately come back.
Clarissa had kept up her friendship
with Agnes, who lived near her old
home. One evening she had come to
stay with her, as she often did, and was
surprised and secretly distressed to find
her old lover there.
''See, Clarssa." said Agnes, taking up
a silken ball from which she had been
knitting, this is what is left of the very
skein of silk we were winding the day
| lost my thimble. How odd that it
should never come to light! 1t must
have disappeared in the ash barrel, for
Pm sure Jake was honest. See. Pm
making pair of stockings for the baby
U
She let the ball fall to the floor as she
spoke, and it rolled away.
Clarissa looked furtively at Robert,
but not the slightest change of express
sion showed that he had noticed the
reference to the gold thlmble, though
he had been listening, for he smiled at
Agnes last remark.
She changed her needles and pulled
her thread. What was that sharp click
ing sound against the frame of an otto
man? Agnes gave delighted cry, and
darted down upon the floor.
ssOh, Look. 1t rs Wy Gold Thimble!
sit has been in the ball all this time!
You remember, Clara, dear, | had it on
nv finger, and never missed it from it.
How funny"
And she held up the little shining
thing 10 her two hearers, so darkly tate
full
Robert put it Oh the top of his little
finger.
"A tiny thing to cause so much trou
ble,' he said.
You may have it now. dear Clarissa!
1t has come too late for me. My finger
has grown much too plumpl" And she
ran up stairs to tell the story of its dis
cOVery to her aunt.
Clarissa and Robert were alone for
the first time since her scOrnful words
had parted them. She rose hastily to
leave the room.
Stay, Miss Vernon; do not be dis
turbed. If you wish it, / will leave the
room"
She stood still a moment, neither
moving nor speaking. Then she yielded
to a sudden impulse.
"Mr. Hayford. this tiny thing has
caused more trouble than you are aware
Of" she said
Indeed? What more is it responsible
for?"
"Oh, know now l was all wrong.
Sibyl DagOn told me yon had said-had
insinuated that had taken this
thimble when 1t was loSt!'
He looked at her like one stupefied.
Il do not understand you," he said.
"Oh, do not try" she SAID, coming to-
wards him with clasped, imploring
you forgive me. l must have been be-
witched-daZed.'
''Do you mean that believed-that
you believed had ever said"
He looked at her with growing hOr-
rOr in his still beWildered face.
ut was the cause of all my horrible
and insane treatment of yOu," she said.
burying her face in her hands.
lie was silent for a time. Then he
came to her side, and gently drew the
hands from the tear-wet. remorsed face.
Then you do love me, after ALL" he
whispered.
"Ah, SO dearly love you-have al
ways loved you," she said, between her
sobs. But oh, Robert, if you really
love me as you say you do, never make
me speak of this dreadful mistake
again. Oh, dear love, am so sorry, so
ashamed. Tell me you forgive mew
Il do, darling; and you shall only
speak of what you please, and only
when you choose" And he folded her
in his arms and laughed kindly into the
troubled face.
She raised her lips to his in mute
gratitude, and what lover coulu have
wished for more eloquent substitute
for speech?