The morning call., 1892-06-29

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were dajsh,ns their o,ts. thousht Yea
would like ,ham,'
Indeed del' buNhS her uese in The
Odouus, hall-epen hudS, ''Oa. Ned how
kiud You ara Go met
She had been SHY az hts cafesseA cf late,
flushing and pallpE II no onlv leoked at
her. but iust Ter ono bglet iestsnt ehe
seemed g. have fegGoten everything e0t
the roses aud htm.
''SranGe that | should be. isut itF'
shifting tenderly down inio her urturucd
face Prove that YOU thinG NC 50 Nv go-
Ing Nth me NJ the hills this morning
VIII youF'
But her face was hidden now. She was
sobhng on his shoulder.
Don't dsrhnGV T. a little break 10 the ten
der voice. "What is there 70 cry aboutg
''You!" she answered with passionate
information.
There was r merry picnic on the Nils that
day; every conveyance was crowded a
band played somewhere among the soft
shadows, and there was feastlng ana gay
laughter. Daisy was furious at the Invasion
of SO many people. AS size slipped her small
hand into Meas some time during the alter
noon she whispered:
II think il horrid, Mr.. Brucel They've
gone and sat right under our dear tree, where
we readl II it wasn't awful wicked, /
lust wish God would make big earthquake
aud shake 'em all of this hill, anyway.
And besides, you've had to go down ana
back SO many times. most know your
Door ponies are about sutfuCated this hot
dav. on, dear, seems If this has upset every
tning, don't il, Mr.. BTuce2 Come now md
help me find Sybil; she sent me 70 look for
you: she wants some flowers up on the rocks
ana can't reach them. ! wouldn't STAY and
taste a bit OF their old donation ior anything,
would You, Mr.. Bruce ?"
AND Ned went away with the child to
find her sister. laughing amuSiUEly at her
funny talk. They found SybIl presently,
aud while Daisy ran back again TO nave
one more uesu at the intruderS, Ned took
of his hat and climbed slowly up the steep
ledge 70 where above hm swung the laurel
srTav she wanted. its dark-green leaves and
waXen buds waving In the soft breeze. Inc
tree branches about him tUm bled MS halT,
his hands were scratched aad there was
rent in his sleeve, when a few minutes
later he stood at the foot OF the ledge once
more, laughing iCtle at his battered p
pearance. as he held out the spray OF laurel
TO Svhil Dare And then-wSs he dream
ing? The beautiful face, not cold and Toud
now, but palld with passionate tenderness,
leaned toward him, her tTemu Gus eyes
sought his, her breath was on bis cheek;
lie could feel the wild thrObhlng OF the pulse
in the white fiugers that clutched his arm
as she hail wis cred. half painted out bis
name:
'Oh, Ned-Ned"
Just for one dizzy instant he gaZed, fas-
cinsted eulhralled-the next. the not 0lood
rushed over his face In torrent IS be I'M
clasped the jeweled fingers from his arm,
picked up lis hat and said coldly:
at is time TO @ home. think my wife
will be waiting for me-
They rode slowly down the sunset hills,
ra-s-HH Ia
She looked in amaZement from one " the
other of her mute companions, wondering
why nobody talked
At last. stealing her hand into Ned's AID
nesting close up TO him With little SILVER,
she half sobbed:
Seems most As If the summer was all
gone, don't it. Mt, Bruce? l believe l begin
10 feel cold already"
Then turning TO SybH: "What makes you
look SO white and funny, Sybll? GU most
make me want 10 cry. Have you got chill
like did when ] had the fever last spring.
Don't talk, darling, l am tired"
Down in the valley, where Mrs. Bruce
and Beth sat on the piazza Of the brown
cottage watching the sunset, Beth asked
quite suddenly, in voice that she tIled TO
make steady
Mother. have you noticed, OF do I only
imagine that Ned has changed a good deal
this summer
''No, my daughter, had not observed any
change Edward Is always patient, es-
pec.aliy when things 60 hard with him; he
Is 20 very patient"
The sweet, kind voice, so like Ned's.
faltered a little rs she spoke, ana she took
off her gold-rimmed glasses 10 wipe the
tears that blurred the n.
Ned" Beth said, creeping close TO his
side as they sat IN the garden In the moon
light that night, ami nervOusly turning
round and round The ring he wore on his
little finger. will Sybil Dare stay in Hills
borough through the autumn, do you
"Svbu Dare?" A touch Of scorn in the
kind voice. Il hardly think so. though
certainly do net know what she intends
deing. Wnyp
Nothing. only l hoped meant thought
On. Ned. don't You understand? Why
viii You make me say 1.-THE hdeOus tale
that is in eyerybOdy's mouth-that Sybu
Dare is in love with her handsome driver
that she goes 10 the hills each DAY for the
sake OF being with You. L believe my heart
is breaking on, Ned" pautugly, 'has
my GOODNESS, nav Indifference, driven you
away from me? Answer me-do you care
for SybH DareY
AS the good Good hears me, mol Not if
she were the only woman IN the world
Oh, my darling. you have believed this tale,
and all the while have been suffering the
tuytures of the damned because l thought
Raw Allan's favor"
"Oh, \ d."
"Oh, Beth !"
Looking into each others eyes, they both
laughed.
What a muddle we have made Of life so
far! | began IL first by trying 10 imagine
my silly heart was breaking for Ray Allan,
who was never worthy OF any woman's re-
gard. Then yen kept il up By failing to
understand how entirely l soon grew TO
love you. Ana we have both ended it by
doubling each other all summer"
Thank God, It is ended and we under
stand a. last. lie said IN a Joyous voice.
In a prneely home in the city, where a
beautiful woman dwells, you can see. be-
tween The quick opening and closing Of her
chamber door, a picture hanging on the
wall: a hillside. tTee-sbadowed against a
cloudless summer sky. In the foreground
TWO figures; a mans face, winning and
tender, smiling down with his beautiful eyes
at the little yellOw-ha girl whose hand
he is holding. and down in the corner,
framed with the pictured faces. spray
Of wltheTed mountain laurel.
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