The National tribune., 1892-12-29

|
| " kLICN II and i danced ant
| WI firted together in deal
| old England. :,
Edith. "Flirted'
NJ That s hardly The
q, word, is it, Hugh?"
" Hugh. mo. you art
right-it was too serious for that and l suppose
we both meant it-anyhow, you look prettiel
and nicer than ever (taking her hands). ane
you were always tho prettiest and incest CIR
in the country"
Edith (pleased). "That is good to hear
Hugh. Women, even the least vain, like tt
be told now and then that they are moi
| frights"
Hugh. "Of course they do; you are the
vain sex, suppose. We men have the ad
vantage of you there. We simply don't care
a pin what we look like Take me, for in.
| stance. l know / am not what l WAS in the
old days--I fancy l was rather good od-lookine
| three years ago--a man may say that without
conceit when il is all gone by, when he hal
been through India and fever and q cam
paign in the hills and lost all his good -
Edith with sudden enthusiasm). " Lost all
| your good looks! Why, Hugh dear, what non.
sense you are talking! Three years ago you
were little more than very nice-Iooking boy
a very delightful one, admit-and now you
! have come back man--yOur face is bronzed
your moustache is longer, your eyes -
Hugh tsmiling). Well, dear. my eyes -
| Edith. "Oh, am talking nonsense. / only
| on danger and OH death and have not turned
away. No boys eyes can tell one that"
Hugh. "To quote you. Edith, that is good
| to hear" D.
| Edith (shyly). II think am saying toe
much-but, after all, it is three years since -
| Hugh. ut is not . bit too much to say
not bit-and we were always such friends y
Edith. We were indeed!"
Hugh. But, Edith, you know | wrote from
India to say had something to tell you."
| Edith (aughing shyly). An announce.
| ment to make?"f
Hugh tseriously). "A very important one
for me. You know, dear, after my fever was
sent to Simla to get we'll. told you that. did
not 2"
Edith tsmiling,. Eyes. Hugh. but your let
| ters got very scanty just then. OF course.
guessed that.
Hugh tput out for the moment). "Well-no.
was only-busy." =
Edith. "Busy ?-at Similar"
Hugh. Taken up, perhaps, should have
said"
Edith. az don't quite see"
Hugh. "NoP You not 80 sharp as
usual, Edith. The fact is, the General in COM
mand-0ld Somers, you know-was very kind
to me and hospitabie. 1t WAS altogether his
doing my getting the v. e. Tor that affair in
the hills for really did nothing more than
the other fellows. Well, l was good deal
with them, you know"
Edith. ''With '' them2 With whom?"
Hugh. "Why, with his people-and-and
Il am engaged to Winifred Somers-I know
you will congratulate me-" He takes her
hand
[Edth says nothing for moment, but grows
very white.l
Edith lin low voice and trembling little.)
] congratulate you. Hugh"
Hugh. But not more cordially than that?
How cold your hand has become, and you are
quite pale"
Edith. :" 1t was-rather sudden. [Smiing.
You told me so suddenly. 1t was little
shock l suppose
Hugh. " But. dear, you must be glad with
me- Winifred is the sweetest, dearest girl in
the whole world. | cannot tell you how
love her. You will be so fond of her, Edith.
You shall be the first OF my relations she shall
know-and, then, from n worldly point of
view--but don't think Of that would marry
beggar if loved her as l do Winifred-from
a worldly point of view it is such q splendid
match for me-"
Edith. Hugh, dear, forgive me! lam not
very well. / do congratulate aud wish you
happiness with her-with her"
Hugh docking at her very earnestly.
\
what it is that has upset You. / told you all
this too suddenly. You have a secret of your
own, grief. that in my stupid selfshness /
have reminded you of. Telling you of my
great happiness has, l fear, reminded you of
some great unhappness OF your owns that
not so, Edith? Forgive me If / Seem to pry
into the secret of your life, dear, but know /
guess rightly. You love oue2"
Edith. No, no, no." She suddenly bursts
into tears
Hugh. "Oh / am so sorry. was sure it
was that. In this time of my happiness you
are too generous to wish to let me share your
trouble. / know you so WELL Edith, and your
unselfsh sympathy for me-"
Edith. mo. it is nothing. of the kind you
think-nothing."
Hugh "Ah but it is though, and you shall
let me help you. 1t is some fellow, some
scouudrel who has made love to you, taught
you To care for h IN, and then gone from you"
Edith. Never mind my griefs Hugh"
Hugh. But / do mind, my dear girl
Who should mind II don't! Am not your
nearest relation well as your best friend =?
Tell me who it is. I insist On knowing, and
them
Edith (smiling through her tears). "What
would you do?" ,t
Hugh. dor would break the villains
head !"
Edith. NO Hugh. that would be-simply
Hugh (hotly.l Not at all 1t would give
me the very greatest pleasure in life"
Edith. II think not, Hugh"
Hugh. "Ah, soc, you still love the
scoundrel?"
Edith taiter pauso), May trust you
with a secret2"
Hugh. "Of COURSE you may"
Edith. Eyes Ido love him still. Ialways
shall. / shall never marry any one"
Hugh. "Oh. what = pity. | had hoped
your good sense--you have lots of sense,
Edith-woud have opened your eyes, for the
fellow evidently is u heartless ruftian."
Edith Indignantly. Not ut all !"
Hugh mot heartess2 Oh, come, nowl"
Edith. mot heartless-only blind"
Hugh. "He never knew how much you
cared for him7"
Edith. "He never did"
Hugh. "Thsn forgive him."
Edith. $50 do l. Hugh"
Hugh. AZ should like to punch his head all
the sameI He must be an ass BLACK and
White.
Hare you done your daty in getting one more