The morning call., 1893-09-03

honest" He smiled and looked at her
with wistfu earnestness.
Patience thought she understood his
meaning. but before he finished that
broken sentenee-begun so many DAYS
ago-she resolved to relieve her conscience
of duty she felt she owed her poor little
brOken-hearted goddaughter.
II am glad to see you again, too" she
said. I'VE are old friends, Anthony, and
you will pardon plain speaking?" Then.
afraid that to pause would give
word for " friend" size FASTENED
on. II want to speak to you about
Cecilia. You ask her to promise to give
you some sittings when you are back in
town. Well. it will be hardly kind of you
TO press her to do so. or 10 take much
notice of her. The poor child-you will
understand and excuse it, she is very
young and rOmantc-she is, she thinks,
breaking her heart about YOU: and 1t will
he this truest kindness to help her to for
get you-unless-" Then Patience paused.
started by the results of her words. She
had expected to hear the end of the inter-
rupted sentence. Instead. he pushed his
chair from the table and rose, moving i'm
patiently up and down the room, as he
said:
UNLESS want to marry her, | suppose
you mean? Why, what should put such
an idea into her head or yours? The diff
ference in our ages She is lovely girl,
most winning and sweet, and yon say she
cares for Al Old fellow like me-? Poor
dear child But il would be foolish. |
have made one mistake. as you know. Be
sides. am poor man. comparatively. She
has been brought up luxurlously ana
would want more than | could give her.
No, it wouldn't do. You are an old friend,
Patience-tell me. would you advise such
a step?"
He had to wait moment or two for his
answer, and when Patience spoke her
voice was oddly strained.
IF you love Cecilia. the rest Is easy
enough. | see no InsurmOuntable diff
Guilty. She is very rich. She has large
independent inheritance from her grand
father"
Mr. Roscoe took up his portfolio and
held out his hand TO Patience. THANK
You very much for being so open with
me-. be said. ''It is like you to have no
beating about the bush, and it makes
things much clearer, doesn't it? l must
think over what you have said. | may
have been to blame. But you may be sure
that / will consider her feelings. Good
by! | will not stay to see Miss Bond this
evening"
As he stood in the entrance passage put
ting on his OvercOat light cleaned on the
staircase and Cecilia appeared out of the
darkness, her golden hair and lovely face
Illuminated by the flame of the candle in
her hand. He went forward. took away
tue candle and caught her hands in his.
Cecilia, can il he true? Can my love he
anything 10 you?' he SAID.
A few minutes later he was once more
on The road, and he had gratified his de-
sire. He ad kissed that perfect mouth
ami lie was the promised hu> band of the
rich and beautiful Cecilia. Why was he
only half content?
That night, when Patience went to her
roOm-daZed with Ceci!ia's rapturous con-
fideuceS--she took the manuscript Of her
novel from The drawer where it had b, Ell
lying untouched since the day when IL
thuny Roscoe came TO see her. perhaps
it Will he finished now after all, she SAID,
and a tear dropped upon the paper
Blanche Atkinson in Good Words