The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1894-09-12
SNAKE IN THE GRASS.
l detest Celia.

We were 60 happy till she came to
stay with jacks people and told me I
was spelling him. OF course it was no
business of hers if were-she. admitted
that-but she was so fond of me that
she felt she must speak, being older and
more experienced than l, and implore
me to remember that it wasn't only my
lover Twas spelling, but my future hus-
band, and if 1 let him have his own
way in everything now 1 should never
be able to have mine by and by when
we were married.
So Jack and Iquarreled at the Hornes'
dance last night.
hardly know what it was about in
the first instance but it grew and grew
until it seemed to me there was nothing
we weren't quarreling about, and Jack
was soon terribly in earnest. Though
we had been engaged for three weeks,
I'd no idea he had it in him to be SO
angry. And of course lost my head
and got angry, too-really angry--and
said horrid things, and-and-I told
him that our engagement was broken
off, and there must be an end of every
thing between us, and--and-Jack took
me at my word. never thought Of his
doing that.
Gas you please" he said, speaking
quietly all of o sudden. View i'll the
conservatory, and the dance music in
the drawing room must have drowned
the sound of our voices half a dozen
yards away. "You wish our engagement
to end, Maud? So be it. Your letters
shall be returned to you tomorrow, and
1 will at once leave you free to resume
your Irritation with Frank Horne.'
"But-Jack' -
His face was set and white He never
even looked at me- The music ceased.
Celia and several other dancers strolled
into the conservatory, and he left me.
Yes, he went away and danced with
other girls, and he never spoke one
word to me or came near me again the
whole evening.
Hark! Some one is crossing the hall.
Surely Jane won't be SO foolish as to
show any one in here nowl
In another moment "Mr Dayton" is
announced, and Jack himself stands be-
fore me.
"Jackp' I started to my feet, AMI all
his treasured documents fall rustling to
the floor, but ! never think of them.
Who thinks of love letters in the pres
ence of the writer? Jack is here, my
Jack. and
But is he indeed my Jack?
The first glance at his face recalls me
H. L..
longer my Jack, or Jack at all to me.
/ told him wished our engagement to
end, and he remembered it evidently,
though for one brief moment have for
gotten. Oh, Jack-Jack!
He waits till the servant has left the
room, then takes q small packet from
the breast pocket of his coat and turns
to me.
''This must be my apology for dis
turbing' you,' he says very formally.
81 thought had better bring itmyself,
in case of accident.
''For me?' I speak vaguely and
without offering to take it. I want to
gain time
"Yes-your letters. I have no right
W AONs
"How-how beautifully you have
packed them"
He turns away, with an impatient
gesture, and lays them on the table.
81 need not detain you any longer,
now my errand is DONE" he says quiet
ly.
"But-there is something else. Oh,
e. L. <o
ingly. lyon have returned my letters
promptly enough chow can I thank you
for such promptness3, but you forget
your own. AS you say, I have no right
to them now"
"You wish me to take them? Very
wellp'
But 1 do not wish him to take them.
Anything but that. want to postpone
the moment Of parting. That is all
will you be good enough to fetch
them?'
''They are here on the floor. Will you
be good enough to help me pick them
up?''
He does SO without q word. Together
we stoop and collect them. Together
we lay them on the table Together for
the last time!
bring paper and string and proceed
to pack them up, while he watches me
in silence.
81 fear this will not be such neat
parcel as yours, I say, speaking as
steadily as I can and bending over the
table to hide my troubled face. "You
know I'm never good at this sort of
thing"
81 know" shortly.
81 can't do it!' And great tear
splashes ON the packet. "I'm sorry,
butt
Don't bother about it." And he lays
his hand on mine suddenly. "No need
for such a fuss Give them to me as