Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1894-09-14

theless found her very agreeable; ]
and, though never neglecting.any one
else, it soon became evident that she
was the attraction. The other two
gave way to her, and she
1t was who went with him to picture
galleries and lectures and concerts;
who was the life OF theatre and opera
parties-saucy, wiltul, charming.
With all his gravity and erudition,
1t was plain that he admired this i'll
regulated young woman. He had
never before been thrown closely into
companiodship with such a nature.
He admired her beauty, her1dainty
costumes; even hor girlish extraya-
ganee of speech and saucy disregard
of his opinion pleased him better than
Augustus unyarying politeness, or
Gertrude's cleyerness. His eyes fol-
lowed her every movement, wistful
light in them sometimes that touched /
Jim.
Larry was curled up in a deep win
dow-sill, overlooking the park, bask-
ing in the sun, for she was veritable
Persian in her love of sunlight, when
Professor Chesney came into the
room. He leaned against the side OF
the window, looking at the picture
she made in her quaint puffed andfur-
beloved gown, the sunlight falling ON
her brown head
Larry looked up nodded with
smile that showed her small white
teeth, and settled back in her original
position, waiting for him to speak
and so he did, after while, but not
as she expected.
81 am going away tomorrow, Miss
Larry, he said. "My pleasant visit
has come to an end all too soon"
Tomorrow" echoed the girl, sit
ting up straight. 81 am very sorry
YOU are going"
And, much to her own surprise, she
real ed that the remtr6 was perfect
" sincere.
81 am glad to hear you say that,
said the professor, trying to keep his
voice steady. ''Is makes it a little
easier to say something that is in my
heart
Th he told his story in warm,
eager words, very unlike his usual
calm ones words that stirred Larry
styangely. There was queer express
sH--a.sa-.sesl-z -. iass.s.s1 l,e
11ore him.
Professor Chesney," she said
with quivering lips, II am not worth
the love you have offered me- You'll
realize that when l tell you that | have
only been pleasant and civil to yon all
these weeks, not from any liking fol
you, but toto plague the others. "
Thoroughly ashamed, she bent hel
head, unable to meet his eyes.
"You mean that you have deliber-
ately played part all these weeks?
You, whom l thought so frank ant
true? How could you do it? Then
you've not the slightest love for me il
your heart-that, l suppose, is out o.
the question:"
There was hurt shocked tone il
his voice that touched Larry keenly.
81 don't love you," she answered
"but l shall be very grateful if after
what have told you, you will let me
be your friend.
She put out her hands and moved {
step nearer to him; but, to her morti
fication, her extended hands remained
untouched.
81 did not ask for your friendship,
he said, unsteadily; "and just at pre-
sent / want only what ask for. By
and-by l may be able to appreciate
your offer; 1 shall try, but you VI
taught me hard lesson, Larry, one
Tn not likely to forget. Perhaps
ought to have known better; but
with break in his voica-"Im no
used to women. Tn only an old fos
sill, after all "
4 And, without another word, he lef
her.
Up in her room Larry was still
more surprised to finl bit of cryin;
necessary. She could not account TO
the unhappy feeling that took posses
sion of her as she reviewed the pas
weeks, and realized that the kindly
pleasant compauionship she had ac
cepted so heedlessly was at an end.
81 suppose he'll hate me now an'
forever" she thought, between he
sobs. ''But how could l say [ love'
him when l didnt?'
Then she sobbed all the harder
The professor left the next after
moon, while Larry was out.
A box OF white roses lay on the ia
ble addressed to her, a card attached
on which was written "From you
G friend, Roger Chesney." That wa
all; but she guessed dimly what a
& effort it cost to write it.
S With trembling fingers she mad
( three parts of the flowers, and CAV
them to her mother and sisters.
Il 81 don't want them,' she said
proudly. in answer to her mother
/ femonstrance. II was only civil t
him to please you all. "
= Jim noticed that the brilliant eye
we're full of tears, and that she too
IL lo,.