The Columbus journal., 1893-03-01

locking up in a quick way, as people
sometimes do at feeling the eyes OF
others upon them, she bowed and
smiled.
Il suppose you want me to ask you
to come in:?" she said.
..Oh. no." he answered. laZilv. II
see YOU are busy. 1t struck me at
home. however. that this cloudy
morning would be fine for a game"
And he nodded i'm the direction of the
tennis court.
..Oh, indeed. Sir Lei5urely. And
it occurred to me that this would be
an admirable time to foster my neg
lected plants. Come. l have some
exercise for You. You shall be a
'horny-handed son of toll now for a
while. and help me train up those
vines over the porch"
Mandcn looked down at his spotless
finaTels.
They arc spanking ~clean,' he
said.
$50 home and get into some work.
ing Clothes" said Miss Beth's voice
from somewhere near the ground.
She was wedding.
..Pshaw.' he said. opening the gate
and coming in. Il was trying to
creep out of it. but You make ME feel
ashamed of myself. You're a great
worker. Miss Beth"
That is the only way to be hap
py." said the spinster. She stood up
and looked at him with clear gray
eyes. What is it with youg?' she
asked. You must confess tennis
was MOI your only object here to-day.
Shall | keep you from anything if |
make you tie up vines' Did you want
to see me -rarticularly9"
Yes. | wanted to see-you par
ticuiariy." he said, changing the en-
phaSis.
Has she been cruel again." she
asked. showing her white tccth as
she smiled.
That is all over" he said. 1T
has been off for three weeks"
why. Max! You never told me-"
NO. | was ashamed to tell YOU"
..Why?" she asked. shortly. WAS
it your fault? All, Max, it was, You
tickle thing"
She said the last in a low, disap-
proving tone that made the blood rush
to the young mans fair face. He
pulled a leaf from the lilac bush and
turned toward Miss Beth.
There he said, Il thought YOU
We're my friend"
$50 ! am" she answered. But I
am hers, too. and though | have seen
you every day you have told me
before. And | had been thinking her
so happy.
..She is not" he said. wretchedlv.
..She is miserable. Every time I
meet her ] hate myself for the pain |
have given her. But it was useless
to struggle further, Miss Beth. l had
ceased to love her."
Miss Beth said nothing. She
turned toward the house, up the little
g~ravelled walk. and Max slowly fol-
lowed. They soon began TO work up
on the vines. and Max's little love
affair was not mentioned again.
Miss Beth kept her own counsel.
She puzzled her active brain for a
reason for the little quarrel-she felt
sure it was a little One-although she
would ask nc questions of either side.
Now. when Elizabeth Davenport was
twenty years old, she had been very
much in love with a young man, and
aNbetrothed to him. She afterward
decided that she did not love him,
and had sent him away. He was
proud. and did not return. She at
length realized that she did love him,
but she could not call him back, for
she had no idea of his whereabouts.
Then the news of his marriage
reached the town.
So, drawing from her own expert
ence Miss Beth desired to save Max
and Ethel much sorrow. She admired
Max extremely. He was college
bred. unusually bright, and promised
to be a light in the literary world.
She had once laughingly told him
that it was fortunate he was five years
her Junior. she might strive to rival
Ethel. All this Max parried good
naturally. and they were excellent
companions.
Max lived next door to Miss Beth,
and had a little habit of dropping in
at all hours of. the day. He did not
offer to go in the evening, unless
Ethel was to be there too.
Miss Davenport frequently sum-
the young people of both
sexes to help her overcome the quiet
of the evening hours. The old
woman who lived with her was not a
factor in the entertainment problem,
andthe young people adored Beth.
One day. after Max Mandon had
been over in Miss Beth's yard all the
morning. she wrote him a note ask
ing him to come for a while to chat
with her that evening. Max was moth
ing 10th to 60. If he were fortunate
enough to be the only caller. they |
would discuss plots and material, pick
books to pieces. and argue the pro-
gress OF art generally.
1t vas perhaps two weeks after
Max had confided to her his mlsun-
.%erstanding with Ethel. and it was
about 8 o'clock in the evening when ;
he strolled over in answer to Beth's |
There was a light in the
and another in Miss Daven-
little room over the porch.
He stood for a moment wondering
whether she were ready to receive
aim yet. and thinking it would be
better t. walk up the street for q
while. But he decided TO enter.
He was very much at his Ease In
.he hnuse- so when fhs old Woman