Evening journal., 1892-11-11

"And how is your cousin?" he asked at
myth, when she was twisting the paper
her hands again, absently staring into
le fire. He asked the question in all
indlness, in his resolution to let the
cad past rest; but in spite Of himself
is voice sounded forced, and to Anita
is words seemed pregnant with hateful
arcasm.
"Read IT," she said with sharp brevity,
olding the letter out TO him. He shrank
ack with a gesture of extreme distaste.
"No, indeed. Could you imagine that
was limiting at such a thing? l have
lot the slightest wish to pry into your
correspondence"
"But l insist upon your reading it,"
'ffering it imperiously. Donald reluc-
antly accepted the letter.
ANITA MIA-Incredible as It may seem, the
loctor has just told me that / must prepare TO
axe my little trip over the range, for have TO
20 soon, and l have believed him, because l
lavo fallen into habit OF swallowing what
sver he gives melt seems to save the judg-
nent such a lot OF wear and tear, you know.
Don't feel badly about itvsweet; what's the
lse2 It's a case OF spilled milk, you see. What
breaks me up Is that can't go to you and say
all tho things that are making my head feel
top heavy. / always made a poor shuttle at a
letter. you know, and 1t comes harder than
ever now. When left you | meant to come
back, as Of course you knew. / saw how things
were going, and hoped to find happiness wait
ing for me when came again. But now-"u
ny a que les morris qui ne reviennent pas
circumstances over which / have no control
H. ~ Dssk Oh ~
could 90 to the mountain just the same, and
you, oh, Nita, darling the one person In all
the world who could make these last few days
Of mine perfectly happy, won't you come
Surely you can reconcile 1t to your conscience
! ask so little.
want to tell you that have sent my will Z
Uncle John, whom have made executor. III
never liked me much, and he played me low
down trick when he stood you of from marry
ing me. All the same he is square fellow
and win see that you get a fair deal-for o.
course have left everything to you. / hav'
fooled away an awful lot of money, but the es
tate was handled in first class shape till caml
OF age. and some Of the investments that hap
pened TO let alone have turned out way up
You will be fairly we'll fixed, after all. tel
you this that you may know that for the res
OF your life you will be absolutely independent
TO 60 where you like and do as you please
inclose now draft to cover expenses Of you
journey II you will come.
Think fast, Nita, Il comes upon me sudden
ly that am horribly pressed for time. /
seems ridiculous when think how hard hav
worked sometimes trying TO kill time, that nov
time In turn is killing me. / don't ask you d
sacrifice your own feelings: It Is hardly WORT
while TO be selfish for the little time that
left. But what do you owe 20 that man whit
docs not love your what do you owe to tn
world7 TO anybody while + oh, my dar
ling. / have certain sweet memories that III
me with hope that you will come, memorie
that will make me happier in heaven, II ther
turns out 10 be such place, and il l ever Sc
Il. l shall not ask it II you come, for shal
have my heaven here. Yours till death,
GRAY.
Donald looked up stonily when he ha'
finished the last page, his face white a
the dead.
"And may ask what you are going +
do about it," his. voice strained AM
harsh.
II don't know" lifelessly staring a
the glowing Goals.
"Great Godl you don't knowl Is !
possible that you are giving meme
who don't love you-that you are givini
me the benefit of a moments doubtT hi
breath coming in gasps. "Wen, whe
you have quite made up your mind, is
too much to ask that you will kindly lie
me know? should, of course, want t
20 to the station with you and wish 70
bon voyage" with short, ugly laugh
as he left the room.
Hours had passed by, and Anita wa
still sitting motionless before the dyin
fire that family glowed in the twilight
when Donald came in. He stood still