Warren sheaf. [volume] (Warren, Marshall County, Minn.) 1880-current, 1894-03-01

gagement-all breathed the spirit OF
love. She could understand his actions
even less as she read them, which she
did with marked eagerness. Out of the
confused tangle of odds and ends that
filled her cabinet she searched for let
ters in Newmann's well known hand
writing. The letters had been tossed
in promiscuously and hidden from view
since
A bright, crisp. new-looking envel-
ope dropped from her fingers as she
drew out bundle, and, picking it up,
she examined it curiously. AS her
glance fell upon it the blood left her
face and her heart stood still. It was
in her own handwriting addressed to
Newmann-her answer to his letter of
three years ago.
AS she sat there regarding it in bewil-
derment Mr.. ,Newmann's card was
handed to her.
No traces of agitation were visible
in Miss Bragg's manner when she smil-
ingly greeted Newman minute later.
He nervously shook hands. Miss Bragg
did not sit down. II believe we are to
walk?" she said, as if the matter was
OF so little Importance that she had al
most forgotten. EYES," h said, getting
up hastily.
AS they reached the sidewalk they
stopped undecided which way to 60.
Its nice walk out in the vicinity of
Jefferson Heights" Newman said,
hesitatingly. ''We used to walk there
often, you remember" ''Oh, no, not
Jefferson Heights" she said, as if the
place was not to be considered, ''it's so
stupid detest the place" She slow
~ set off in an opposite direction.
Newman walked silently beside her
for few moments Presently he an
nounced the discovery that it was a
fine day for walking. Next he OBJ
served that the day was just like that
on which they had taken their last
walk together. This was followed by
another and longer pause, broke by
Newmann's question: you remember
what fine day it was, Miss Bragg?"
She made an effort to remember, knit
ting her brows and looking thoughtful.
Utterly failing to recall it, she excused
herself ''You see we walked together
more than once and the days were al
ways fne-I knew they were, because
I wouldn't have gone otherwise. And
then three years is too long to remem-
Der such thing as the state of the
weather"
After that Mr.. Newman evaded the
weather and that last walk as perilous
tnnSoc Ia 70
had the air of man who wanted bad
ly to talk of something else. He grew
nervous when Miss Bragg at last turned
round and faced homeward. The walk
had grown to be dull. miss Bragg"
Newman said at last, .I'm going to
Europe in few days, and there's some
thing | want to ask you before I 20.
If your answer is what l hope it will
be will not go. Why did you not an
swer my letter three years ago?" Miss
Bragg's face assumed the expression of
one who has an unpleasant something
to say. 'Such letters are not easy to
answer" she said. Zone has to think
before replying. I did write letter to
you, but did not send it. I thought I
would wait-I thought could tell you
better But you did not tell me-,
Newman burst out eagerly. "You did
not ask me-" she said, quite calmly.
Newman looked flushed and disap.
pointed. What did you write me?"
he asked as they walked on. Can you
guess?" she asked. His face showed
his disappointment. ''Oh, I guess
know what it was" he said, bitterly,
land it has caused me hours of anguish
and pain, nights Of sleepless unrest.
Oh, Miss Bragg, you can't guess how
much it has cost me- l have seen no
pleasure, no peace, no rest. 1t will al
ways be the same. You will pardon
me for bothering you again, but had
hoped, after waiting three years and
seeing that there was no other man,
that you might change your answer.
could not 90 to Europe without asking
you"
They walked along in silence.
They were already within sight of Miss
Bragg's home. At the door he stopped
before her and asked, half imolor-
ingly: "Am l to accept your answer as
final?" She nodded an affirmative.
My answer is fnal," she said Miss
Bragg" he said, TREMENDOUSLY, Il can
never forget you. shall think of you
constantly while I am abroad. I'm
sorry to have caused you the pain of re-
jecting me second time. Good-by."
He held out his hand and took hers
in a strong grasp ''Good-by, Mr.. New
manu." she said. 81 trust you will
have pleasant trip abroad" Thank
you," he said. ''Good-by." He gave
her last look and turned to go. .sMr.
Newman, stop moment" she called.
He walked back to her, his honest face
flushed with pain. II am awfully sor-
ry," she said. Believe I esteem you
highly and regret that this has oc-
CURED. Your letters-I want to return
them. Wait a moment till / get them"
"You may burn" he started to say,
but she was gone.
She found them just as she had left
them in her cabinet. She picked them
up and evened their ends SO as to make
a square bundle. She tied the package
with small satin ribbon. Her own
letter lay on the cabinet. She picked
it up and held it undecisively for mo-
ment Impulsively she tucked it be-
meath the ribbon with the rest
II think you will find all Of them
here" she said, handing him the pack
age. And ] happened to find my an
swer to your letter of three years ago.
You were curious to know what had
written, SO put it in with your letters
Good by"
They shook hands. ST will read it,
even though it gives me pain, he said
in a low tone.
He hurried down the walkway, the
very image of an unhappy man.
But the steamer for Europe that left
. few days later did not number Mr..
Newman among its passengers. he
had read in Miss Bragg's answer
''woman's yes Robert l. Adamson,
in Atlanta Constitution. IA
Tho Pie and the knife.
It was in q Washington restaurant
and the gentleman at the table may