Evening journal., 1892-11-14

II must nave pCen stone Dllnd not 70
nave noticed" with ripple Of amused
laughter. And the way you nipped
their aspirations in the bud was simply
,ruel."
"Well, did not want them, he stur-
lily protested. did your"
"Not the least bit in the world But,
.hen, could have submitted gracefully"
"Well, could not want something
better" bending smilingly to look into
ler eyes under the shade Of her wide
orimned hat Her color rose higher az
her eyes dropped shyly under his look
As remote from the world of men as is
that Rocky mountain trout stream, the
eager feet of fishermen have found it out
and have trodden well worn trail along
Is banks They We're compelled to go
| single file, Donald ahead combating the
way against the heavy punches Of bend
ng grass, turning often to hand Anita a
lew washed flower or help her across one
If the frequent little pitfalls burrowed
out by beavers. To her it was an en-
,hanted land, full Of rare beauty and
delight as she followed, her eyes fixed
wistfully on Donald's goodly form. At
east he was hers 10 the exclusion Of all
other women, her heart exulting at
the thought If he ever knew all, he
might find it hard to forgive her; but
even his coldness to woman was sof-
tened by gentle consideration that was
not far from tenderness, and better that
than the most impassioned love Of an
other man.
| The bank rose at last to a hill that left
the creek brawling over its rocky bed far
below in the shadow Of the great chf.
They on the top looked down with bated
breath and the exultant thrill that comes
upon one when he stands on high places.
Not such very good fishing" COM
mented Anita smilingly as she sank
Down to rest upon the carpet Of pine
needles, resinous odors waited down
from the branches overhead; mot much
fishing, but them An expressive pause.
that told Of exceeding content
Upon my word, had forgotten that
we came fishing" laughed Donald, drop
ping down beside her
She was picking up bits of stone.
throwing them one by one over the cliff.
He sat furtively studying her flushed
face, grown young with a look Of happi-
less it had not worn for many day.
This is rather nice, Nita, he said at
length. luxuriously inhaling long breaths
If the pine scented air; "quite like a bit
IF auld lang syne, isn't it,"
yes" she briefly assented, her face
turned away. She seemed carefully
searching for pebble better suited to
her purpose.
eve used to have some rather good
times together, Nita; rather better than
we have been having Of late, don't you
thinkg"
YES, she said again, in weak little
voice, her eyes, that could not see for
sudden tears, rigidly fixed ON the bit Of
stone she was nervously twisting in her
fingers. He reached over and took the
)ther hand, that was lying idly in her
lap n delicate blue veined thing II
seemed as if the pressure of his thumb
md finger might almost crush it into
helpless deformity, and yet it had been
stronger to shape his life. he thought,
than all the powers of earth beside. Her
wedding ring fitted loosely on her finger
now, he noticed, and the great diamond
that had been his extravaganza when
first they became engaged flashed few
bright dots of light upon his hand and
cuff. About as intangible in his grasp
IS those hickering reflections now was
the happiness he had thought sealed to
him forever when ne placed that ring
upon her finger.
1.-THE hearts Of love gave hands, but
our new chivalry is hands, not hearts.
he quoted slowly. Her hand moved rs
if to take herself away. but his grasp
sightened insistently upon her wrist.
and he went on softly strolzing the up
turned pink palm. "a thought it was
your heart that gave me this hand once.
lear. his lips coming closer to her small
EAR. "l wonder if the hand could not
give me back the heart now if it tried.
No answer, save for the sign of the cling
ing fingers that frightened upon his.
"Oh, Nita," drawing her TO him in ir-
repressible passion. remember that am
your husband. Try-oh. darling. try to
care for me again.
"Againl" murmered Anita. in tender
mockery, lifting her brimming eyes. in
which he could not fail to read her secret.
why, Don. there has never been a
moment when did not love you / was
mad for a moment, but
Il know" exclaimed Donald, stopping
her words with kisses. "You cared for
him first"--
But you are wrong-utterly wrong"
interrupting in her turn. And then she
told him all the miserable little story.
"If you had only loved me enough to
trust mel If you had but guessed how
cared for your he exclaimed, his voice
eloquent Of pain. when her confession
was finished 1t was all he said Of re-
proach, but it was enough
"You cannot forgive me-" she mur-
INJURED, drawing from him dejectedly.
He pressed her back with passionate
force.
81 don't believe you know yet what
love is, Nita." he said, almost harshly.
81 love you. There can be no talk Of
forgiveness between us after that. What
ever you might do / should still love
you, simply because could not help it,
"And l thought you growing so care