Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1894-07-26
Continued

worthy! II, great heavens, am l -
hypocritical, 50 false, as TO appear
better than I really ANS my whole
life life of deceitT'
He looked up eagerly.
If" he said half hesitatingiy, III
I thought you really meant that-if |
could believe that there was some
thing In your life which perhaps for
give me for saying so, ii seems lin
possible, so lnsulting-but. il there was
something you were ashamed of and
did not wish to be known"
''WellT she Intercepted gently, as
he hesitated still.
II would implore you not to let that
stand between u.s. Oh, my darling.
love you so dearly that nothing can
make any difference! I would believe
nothing against you unless yon con-
fessed It yourself scarcely then. And,
even II were forced to believe II. ii
could make no difference. Do you
think anything could change or weak
en- my loveT' She smiled sadly: the
tears were nearly falling from her
eyes Once again the temptation
came over her TO resist no more, to
allow herself 50 to be loved. Then she
turned away from him and broke the
spell.
1T Is useless. There Is a reason why
shall never marry; but I like you
very much, and am 80 sorry to give
you pain"
He looked at her In mute distress.
Good bye" she said.
Good bye" he answered sadly.
When she had gone little way, she
turned, and saw that he was sitting on
fallen tree. his head buried In his
hands. Some impulse OF compassion
prompted her to return. She knew so
well what II was to suffer. and to suf-
fer alone.
Don't fret" she said w1stfuIly,
laying her hand gently upon his shoul-
der. Nothing Is worth such sorrow"
Now he raised his face, red with
embarrassment, all the fire gone from
his blue eyes.
you must despise me for giving
way so, but thought you had gone;
and-and II Is forever"
"No, no: you will forget that after
awhile: then we can be friends
again"
A vehement II incoherent denial. In
spite Of which she insisted
eyes, OF course you will forget You
will meet some one thousand times
nicer some day and come and tell me
all about her; and ] will listen so
patiently to all your raptures and
be so glad to see you happy again.
You will try. won't You, to forget me
soonp"
When he raised his head again, she
was gone-out of sight already
Slowly he arose and wendell. his way
toward home.
The colonel was seated at his writ.
ing-tahle. pen in hand When Charlie
came In the colonel looked up inquir-
ingly, but could frame no question
nor was 1t necessary. A single glance
told him the boys errand had been
an unsuccessful one, detection and re-
lection We're written so plainly on his
face.
For a moment George Severn ex-
periencad. q Jealous pleasure that II
had been SO, deep relief that It
would rot be required OF him to vel
come to a daughters place the woman
whom h. would fain have won as
wife. Then he felt ashamed and re-
pentant. When Charlie with a heavy
sigh, threw himself on settee, he
was conscious only Of sympathetic
sorrow.
MY poor boy-l am so grieyed. Is
there no hope?"
None. l was fool to fancy
could ever have chance. She loves
some one else, 10 her ! am only a
boy. She won't believe how | love
her: she She
The sentence ended in a stihed sob
''She said there was some secret
some reason why she would never
marry" he observed ruefully, after
short pause
AFuh YOU tutlh, lublft, lildl IL lS
for the best perhaps" he suggested.
in a strangely gentle voice You
must not think me unfeeling in say
ing 50, hut il there were any secret
trouble that involved perhaps dis
grace"
'srhe more reason why ! should bear
It with herr broke in the young fel-
low hotly You don't mean 10 say,
dad, that you'd give her up for such
cause as thatT"
"I-lf' IN some establishment
This Is No question OF what | should
DO at all The two eases Will admit
Of no comparison We're | in such a
case, It would o. very different The
best years sc my life are spent, and
have a right to 10 what choose
with the remainder; but you are only
veginning your career III behooves
yen TO be careful not to wreck II at
the outset
"Then you think 1t is something
something Shameful oh, father, Il
you knew her as we'll as | do, you
would not wrong her 50. You don't