The morning call., 1892-06-29
The DIFFERENCE.

"What is it you tell me? That you have
promised 70 marry Ray Allan? And yet
only last night saw you walking and talk
ing with Ned Bruce in a way that would
lead people 10 suppose that be was your
devoted lover. On, Beth Adams! That |
should ever have 20 acknowledge TO myself
that believe yOu are a ftlrt!
Beth laughed little constrained, nervous
laugh. and going over TO the fireplace cuTled
herself up on the heartll-rug at her suntS
feet aud leaned her head against her knee
Vow, Aunt MyTa, that Is too bad. Tor
you see shat yru not only acknowledge IL
to Yourself but to me also. Ard, auntle,
people would be right in supposIug Ned 10
be my lover He, toe, asksd NE last night
10 marry him.
And YOU mean to tell me- E izabeth
Adams" giving thu girls SHOULDER a gentle
push, "that you accepted Ray Ai.al When
Ned Bruce wanted yOuI
WHY suuJig, You wouldn't have me-
marry both Of them, would you? And Ray
asked me long before Ned. Besides, you
see love Ray, aud dun't-s -em-l me an
don't care about Ned 10 that way
''Then all ] eau say IS you must have
depraypd taste or r very low estimate OF
manhood. To most women one look into
Nod Bruce's honest, manly eyes would be
worth more than Ray Allan,s whole body,
cynical face, long legs and all.
Then, seeing a hint Of tears behind Beth's
trembling sshes, she added hastily
There, there, child, you shall decide for
Yourself ~ a thing Ike tnat-Iye h~d my
saw" And she went buTTitdy oUt, leaving
Beth 70 dream on 10 the twilight.
Bow terribly dull it was, she thought,
getting up from the hearth-Tuk with a y8Wn,
and going over to the window and looking
out into the wintTy twilight. Oaly last
night size Is as So supremacy happy, and bow
everything seemed upside down. Even
dear Aunt AyTa, the only mother she had
ever Known, was scoldjng ana calling her
hirt, because she had promised TO marry her
Ray Allan instead Of Ned Bruce-ant just
" hen size was feeling so mlSeTaOly sorry tor
Ned herself Poor patient fellow! How
kind he always was 10 her! How many
times during the last few weeks she had
wished be were not 50 good. Ii made her
feel uncomfortable when he looked at her
with those true, honest eyes Of his
But three months later, after size and Ray
Allan had QUaTTeed and broken of their
engagement. she thanked God that Ned
Bruce was kind TO her
Ray ana 1 have QuaTTeled, he has gone
away forever; l shall never love anybody
else, Ned. but II YOU want NE, knowing all
this, You can have me.
That was what she mad said to him as she
stood angry and white ana proud. one soft
spring evening In tile dim old garden. And
be, believing thai his own great love for Tel
would break down every barrier a last, had
opened his arms aud taken her into their
strong, sale shelter, his bonnie, beautiful
Beth.
When the yiolets came and the sweet
spring winds were blowing white the wild
plum blossoms, they were married, and
Belh went to i've with Ned aud his mother
ia their pretty cottage that nestled al the
% ia N
birds nest; and the sweetest and the sad
dest year OF Ned Bruce's life began
Tourists HCcket % the hills hat summer.
HIlsb0rOugh had never been SO gay. The
big hotel hall & mile away was crowded.
Ned Bruce kept several horses during the
summer season for the purpose of taking
those travellers ~ the hills, where some of
them always wanted TO 60 10 pleasant
weather for sightseeing. on picuicS,
sketrhlng expeditions, or The hundred aud
one pasumes that people Of wealth and
leisure ind 90 wear away the hours.
Picturesque drives wound I'D 10 the tree
crowned SUBMITS, and the view from the
top vas grand.
Ned did not monopOlize the business by
any means; there were half q dozen other
men who kept teams for tile same purpose.
But somehow, after a first acquaintance,
this quiet reserved young fellow, with his
geutlemanlY bearing and attentive kind
,
a good many strangers were in the place
this year, among them Sybil Dare, with her
beautiful face and her millions, and little
Daisy Dare, her sister, who was Just recOv-
eTng from illness. In those long. delight
fUl, almost daily, drives I'D the Mill, Ned
snd Daisy became the best OF friends At
seven children love wLOmsOeVeT they fad
lOvable, and Ned had a charming way with
little fOlk. The fever had lett her very
white and weak, but as she grew stronger
and better acquainted she proved a win
ming little chattetbOx.
Whatever pleased Daisy usually pleased
her sister to-, who idOliZ-d the child, and it
was not long before the naughty Sybil
found herself watching each morning with
Daisy, for the kind gentleman with the
handsome horses TO take them up the hill
side.
Sometimes they used to stay all day ND
there, CLOSE 10 tie sky" AS Daisy said.
SyOil sketchng sweet glimpses" that
caught her fancy, scTaggy little birch,
maybe, WITH tuft OF YiOlets at its base, or
tiny brOoklet tumbling gayly down the
hillside with a CLINT OF blue sky through the
leaning aldeTs. And Daisy explored the
Lodges for ferns Or bits of dainty moss and
wild flowers.
Ned was busy all day fetching and carry
Ing other passengers, who only cared Tor
The dive up and back again. But after
awhile, as tie days grew hot, their ali day
visits usually meant q book in a shady
place f0I SyJIl, while Daisy scurred about
everywhere, until, tired out she too sat
under the tree with her sister, to which
cool retreat she used TO coax Ned to come
when he was not too busy and read to her.
PLEASE come, Mr. Bruce" she would
plead. clinEing 10 his hand. Your voice is
ever Sd much nicer than SybiPs. II makes
the little shlyeTs run down ny back to hear
you read, ike it does when | ride down the
toboggau slide. Did YOU ever 60 down the
tOboggsn, Mr.. Bruce?"
eS. with an amused laugh.
Mice, isn't it2 Then I know you can
underst nd about the shivers."
So he used to be- persuaded sometimes
ana sitting 10 the cool shadows, would read
10 his clear, low voice until the yellow head
nodded drOwsly against his arm, or dropped
fast asleep upon his knee.
Aud all summer long. while he was guide
and entertainer for this yellow haired
spIite, MS heart was down in the valley
with his precious pale = faced Beth. Ii
seemed TO him she grew whittier and ssdder
sYery day rs the summer advanced. And
al, keenest misery he thought Ire knew
The reason. Ray Allan was back In the vii
lage; he had been there month aud more.
Nobody but the good God knew how ne
hated the sight Of his handsome, imperious
face. Poor Ned! his loving heart was torn
with Jealousy, aud every look into Beth's
plteOuS White lace stung him like q lash
Early one sunny August morning Ned
entered the hall with a bunch OF dewy red
roses Just as Beth was crossing it.
here, darling. are some Of Aunt Myra's
NedP" So ''''A'
Eyes, dear, 1 ran over while the horses