Pawtucket tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 1890-189?, 1894-06-01

udnccu Win FRANK, dnus Yes, ulftcd WIN
him little, you were flirting all the time
with Celia aud Mollie, and, oh, there
wasn't girl in the room that you didn't
fiirt with. You know there wasn't"
"Yes, and you should know that there
is safety In numbers" he retorts, fixing
his dark eyes on mine reproachfully. But
you, Maud, you fiirted with Frank all the
time. and no one but Frank. A very diff
ferent thing"
"And what was to do when you deserted
mei Sit still and look miserablei Thanks,
no. Really, you are unreasonable"
"You forget that did not desert you, as
you call IL, till after you gave me TO under
stand that i wasn't wanted. You told me
to go, and went"
"You did-on the instant"
"And you blame me for that nowi Did
you not mean me TO take you at your wordi"
look at him as he stands, very tall and
erect, on the other side of the fireplace, his
brown eyes, with a certain defiance in them,
watching me intently, and / feel thankful
that at least we are not going to part in ST.
lence. His love may not be strong enough
to stand the test Of our quarrel, but still
he loves me. Oh, II l only
"Did you not mean me to take you at
your wordp he repeats
NOt ike lndt, SLOWLY. lou WeDt-
oh, yes-as If you were glad TO go. / dare
say you were, but you needn't have be-
trayed your feelings quite so plainly"
IL haven't the smallest intention of be-
traying my feelings for your gratiflcation,"
he says, with some warmth. "You have
treated me shamefully, but see little use
in discussing it now. don't want To re-
proach you for jilting me. You've done it,
and that's enough"
"Jilting you'll oh, Jackp'
Call IL what you please" and he turns
away wearily. I'VE won't quarrel about
that Celia was right, see."
"Celiai"
"Yes. She said it would only make mat
ters worse IL l saw youi i didn't believe
her, butt
Cecilia tried to stop your coming'"
IF you like to put it in that way, yes,"
with look of surprise. But thought /
ought to bring those letters myself so
came"
From bitter sense of duty, / under
stand"
mot altogether that" He hesitates a
moment and then adds quickly: IL may as
well tell you all since am here. / thought
that is, hoped-there might have been
some misunderstanding. and you have said
so sudden to me, you know, for i had not
grown tired Of our engagement, whatever
you may have done. But since you evil
IDENTIFY wish to quarrel with me won't
stand in your way. You might have trust
ed me- though, as you have trusted Celia"
Celia again l begin To hate the sound
of her namel
Celia seems to have been unwarrantably
busy with my affairs" l say coldly. IL
don't know, of course, what she may or
may not have told you, but this do know,
that have never trusted her, and that
trust her less than ever now."
"You are ungrateful surely. She tried
to spare you this interview"
"Had IL not been for her It would never
have been necessary. But 90 TO her, since
you'd rather take her word than mine,"
passionately. go to her and tell her that
she has succeeded, thanks to my folly and
your
break off, unable to speak for the rising
sobs that choke my utterance, and turn
away abruptly to the window.
"Succeededi Celia" he repeats more TO
himself than to me. MAUD, what is the
meaning of all thisi Is it possible that
Celia misunderstood"-
''She misunderstood nothing" l speak
"A ",
turning round. 'She is far too clever for
that. 1t is you who misunderstood, and l."
"What have / misunderstoodi Oh, II
you won't tell me, must 90 to Celia
and''-
Yes. go to her. What are you staying
here fori"
Nothing now" And he walks to the
door. In another instant he will be gone.
Can let him go like thisi No, thou
sand times no.
wait" and turn impplsively, you
you have forgotten something"
'Have II And what"
"Your ring. have no right to it now, as
you say"
~ never said so, butt he checks him
self. "Give it to me, then"
"Come and take it."
cannot, will not take it off. try in a
feeble, purposeless sort Of way, conscious
that his eyes are upon me all the time.
Then / desist and look at him, laughing
nervously.
81 can't do it, Jack. II you want it, you
must take It off yourself" And hold out
my hand.
He takes it in silence, but he makes no
effort to remove the ring Instead of that
be looks at me for moment and shakes his
peaQ.
'No, dear, don't want it. II it is to
come off at ALL you must take it."
1T seems almost a pity, doesn't itp say
softly, and my voice Is scarcely as steady
as it might be. He makes no reply, but
passes his arm around my waist, and his
hold on my hand tit..tens.
"Ive got used to = you see, and should
miss it. May keep IL, Jack~
"On one condition"
"And :hat Isl
THAT You keep me too"
"Oh, Jack, how gladlyP
He is my Jack once more, and tell him
all, my head on his shoulder.
Our quarrel is over, and we both detest
Celia. She can never come between US any
more. .-.All the Year Round.
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