The morning call., 1892-08-21

Hal hap
My laughter stopped almost in its BIRTH
was looking over her shoulder on to the
paper, when a full round tear fell with a
blob. as we used to say in The nursery,
on to the page in front of her. That blob
went straight TO my heart. l caught her
hand in mine, / may have gone ON my
knees. don't know what did.
Mrs: WintertOni Katel" l cried. wv hat
Is itP What is the matter? Tell me-
CART bear to see you unhappy. How can
serve you? L came here to-day to tell YOU
yes. indeed, to tell you that L love you"
Que tore her hand away from mine. and
was speaking 10 me from the other side of
the room. [ was half-kneeling by her
chair, think, and rose slowly as she spoke.
lyon We me, You! Why. you wrote
mat! she cried, Indignantly, pointing TO the
wTetched review.
looked al her in surprise. Then it began
to dawn upon ire as | gazed az her dear
little figure Quivering with Indignation.
why. you-do you mean-to say"
stammered out. "that-yGu-are-"
y on great BOBBY, IF course I'm Sappho.
what Tool man Is J"
She stamped her little foot impatently,
and was almost laughing through her tears
at my stupOr and amazement. l had never
seen her look prettier.
Butt never knew" l began, feobly.
"l ou never told me-"
'Of course | didn't should have told
you to-day. / only got the first copy on
Tuesday. and Mr. Etheridse came in aud
found me with them. and he likes them.'
Did he tell you SOP" | shouted.
"Oi course lie did. and you can say so
now. you know. Don't get excited. Please
60 on. Say they are lovely, and beautiful,
and soul-siirring, and all the rest OF it.
Praise me up. Do. They are works OF
poetess herself"
NO, Kate" / said; 81 will be quite hon.
est with you; they are rabbsh-great rub
bsh."
She was not prepared for this and did not
know what to say. Something prompted
me TO cross the room toward her. She
allowed me TO take her hand.
Kate, L continued, II love you too well
TO tell you lie, They are rubbish-dread-
fni rubbish. L did not know whose they
were, II you had shown them TO me before
they need never nave been reviewed at all,
would not have told you lie about them
no. not To win yen for myself forever. Do
You believe that, Kate"
She had let the miserable paper fail into
The lender, and her head was turned from
me again. y es, / believe yeu," was all
her answer. gathered the paper up and
thrust 1t into the fire. Turning to her |
took ner hand once more. and we both
$1,000 over the mantelpiece watching the
paper writing ia the fame.
Ethefidge gave me your book" | said
her hand tgbtened lnvOluntarily on mine.
She was about TO say something angry, but
/ checked her.
He, too, loved yon." ] said, "and all is
TAR IN love and war. they say. Never mind
him; what about me? Am | TO be for
gwen Can you forget this miserable
affair? You are the only friend have in
the world. Is this to part us? ?"
She said not wo.d, but gazed into the
fire.
Kate, you heard what | said Just now.
nave told you l love you. May,I come
pack when all this Is past and forgotten
aud say this to you agaIn?"
ISe ashes had whiened in the flames
ana were now burnt into nOthingness, and
she turned her face up toward mine.
you may stay and say il now, my hero. "
she whispered, with smile and the least
suspicion of twinkle in her bright eve.
And 1t was thus made my last proposal
Cornhill Magazine.