The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1893-06-07
Eomalear 49, sr Nl1KlllOss ulEsAplR co


mo one will ever love me now" 1
moaned. "No one--no one"
Then thought of Will Hanley, and
my grief surged up afresh, submerging
me completely. How could he look on
my face, all Scared and drawn, with
out feeling Of revulsion? How could
he like me now, when had become SO
repulsve that could not look upon my
own image without a shudder?
HE will not, he will not" I cried.
burying my face in my hands and pour
ing forth my grief in a flow of tears.
"He will never like me again, and I
shall be all alone, with not one friend
in all the world"
/ thought then that l would never
have the courage to meet viii again,
for felt that it would grieve me be-
yond recovery to have him turn from
me with loathing, as thought he sure
ly must when he saw my dis6gured
face. felt that must keep away
from him. hide from him, and never,
never let him look upon my features.
Yet how could bear to do that? How
could live without his friendship and
his cheering words? There was a Bit
ter struggle in my heart and / was ex-
quisitely miserable. knew not what
to do, and in any case there was only
suffering before me.
was still weeping when heard q
footstep on the stairs. listened, and
my heart began to beat wildly. knew
that step was not Aunt Mary's, and l
could associate it with but one person.
1t was, it surely was, thought, the
step of viii Hanley l would have fed
from the room, but that was impossible,
as he was already at the door. l looked
about for place to hide and there was
none, and all | could do was to sink
down by the bedside and bury my face
in the covers. was resolved that he
should not see my sadly altered fea-
lures.
He came to the door and knocked. l
heard him distinctly, but made no an
swer hoped he might go away, and
yet did not want him to do that. He
knocked again, then entered. knew
it was Win Hanley now, because could
feel his presence. For an instant he
stood ON the threshold, evidently sur
veying me in silent wonder, and unable
to comprehend the meaning of the re-
ception gave him. Finally he spoke:
agnes" he said didn't you hear
me lSnock?"
made no reply, but buried my head
deeper among the bed clothing. He
was certainly perplexed by the strange
ness of my behavior. 1t was so differ
ent from what he had always known of
me. Coming a step or two nearer he
spoke again, and there was trace of
sadness in his voice, ! am sure.
agnes have come to see you at
last" he said Have you no welcome
for me?"
Still did not answer one word. I
could not have spoken if l had tried,
for was choking with grief.
agnes" he continued, "are you
angry with me? ] would have come
sooner but they wouldn't let me.
came to the house every day and begged
them to let me come to your room, but
they said couldn't. shouldn't be here
now only everybody is from home ex-
cept Aunt Mary, and l plead and
begged till she let me come. I've
thought of you every hour, and wanted
to come because l thought you'd be
glad TO see me-"
He paused as If expecting me to say
something, but maintained strict
silence. He continued:
agnes, amt you glad came? You
amt angry with me, are you?"
He was by my side now, and his tone
was so pathetic, so pleading, 30 sad,
that it went to my heart like dagger.
would have given the world to have
turned my face to him and told him how
glad was to have him there. But
dared not. Icould not bear to let him
look upon me.
He waited moment, then came
close to me and placed his hands on my
head to lift me up. ! struggled but his
strength was so much greater than
mine that he overcame me directly,
and in spite of all my efforts he raised
my head and looked fairly in my face.
/ shall meyer forget the look that
swept over his features at that instant.
The blank establishment, the slight re-
vulsion, and the mingling Of pity and
love. For a moment he shrank from
feeling in his heart, and drawing me to
him he kissed me. Oh, what relief II
was to have the trying ordeal over, and
to know that my one friend had not
turned from me with loathing. To
know that, altered as | was, his SYM
pathy his pity and his love were still
mine.
"Why, how foolish you are" he said,
when expressed my emotions to him
ibid you suppose would think less
of you because yos met with this great
misfortune?"
Il thought you must" I replied. "My
face looked SO terrible when saw It il
the mirror that almost loathed 1t my
self"
well, i DON'T he replied, emphatic
ally, "and / like you just as well as
ever did. OF course miss your beau
tiful hair, and I'd give everything
ever saw II your face wasn't SCARED
but don't think any less of you fol
that. You're Just as good as you wa
before, and that's why liked you. ant
you won't look so bad. neither. wher