Semi-weekly interior journal. [volume] (Stanford, Ky.) 1881-1905, 1892-03-25
aEMI-WEEKLy INTERIOR JOURNAL
NAB.
Story of a Love Thrice Offered
and Twice Rejected.
From the Argosv.1

Again Ned glanced quickly in my di.
rection; &c was silent; my stcp-father
slowly continued:
"And she is inclined 10 entertain
it,
"She accepts mC?'
"She admits that she is very much in
love with you"
i did not sec Ned $ face, my eyes were
fixed upon the brown roses on the car
pet; but heard the joyous little eycla-
nation with which the news was re-
ceived.
"Where is she?" asked Ned, after a
moments pause.
mabel. my love. come here" said my
step-father in his smoothcst tone. He
took my hand between his own and led
me toward Ned. who stood perfectly still
and made no movement 10 meet me. He
took Ned's hand. too; he put our hands
together. locked up--l looked into
Ned's eyes, and he looked back into
mine: with little cry ! drew my hand
away and he quietly released it. l rc-
member still the kind, regretlul look he
gave me.
"Mr. Dale" he said, in his frank,
clear voice, we have made a mistake.
Perhaps the mistake was mine-but
think il was yours. | love Mabel. Nab
and are the best aH1 Ermes, o. friends.
but my love is NaDoiS--l thought you
understood"
"You are speaking OF Mabel Cam
pion?"
ayes. She is your ward; | thought it
right to tell you, her guardian. that
hoped to try 20 win her"
"You should have made your meaning
clear. sir"
al thought had done So"
"You were under a misrepresentation
] certainly should not have given my
consent to your addressing the young
lady OF whom you speak! She has this
morning promised that she will be my
wife
Those wer, the last words | heard as
I stole from the room. J stole out soft
ily, shutting tdc door noisclcSsly behind
me. Then fcd-Gcd iindly-through
the passage, through the orchard, and
out into the country lanes. In the house
! or garden the girls would find me. They
were dear girls hut they would be curl.
Gus and question me. They we're kind,
and they would pity me, and comfort
me,-and | could not bear their comfort
or their pity!
- | threw myself down on a grassy bank
beneath high shady hedge. and buried
my hot face in my hands, and tried ~ get
used and hardened 90 the feeling OF my
shame The shame seemed 20 burn out
all other feelings. forgot my love;
only realized my humiliation.
Two or three scaldiug Tears fell
(. through my fingers; then the tears dried
up My head throbbed and burnt; my
hot hand, pressed against my brow. did
not cool it. There was q sound Of adj
vancing steps. and rose hurriedly to
fee. At the same moment Ned came in
sight round the curve Of the high-eGged
lane. | guessed rather than saw that il
was he; walked on swiftly, away from
him, down the grass-grown path.
Would he be kind and let me 20?
Would he pretend not to see that ] was
before him a. ! was pretending not to
know that he was behind me? Would /
he spare me the humiliation of stanlr !
ing face to face with HIM again? The
questions whirlod through my brain, !
whilst listened with strained attention
~ the firm. quick steps that followed.
The steps FASTENED; he meant to over
take me. When realized his intention
stood still. \ green gate opened from
the lane in1o a meadow; ] stood still be-
side the gate and waited FOR him, half .
facing him as he advanced, my cheeks
in a scarlet flame. my eyes defiant, dsr-
ing him to pity me.
II he showed that he was sorry for me,
i would never forgive him. IL he was
embarrassed and conscious Of my EN-
barrassment, | should hate him always!
always!
Tie came 10 the gate, and stood still =
before me. NAB, he said.
His tone was little grsver than
usual, but frank and simple and direct. .
Somehow, though he had spoken but