The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1894-03-01

was away on q business Trip, OtneES
were written to her at mountain re-
sorts, others still were nothing but
I mere formal notes asking for an en-
| 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
filed her cabinet she searched for let
tiers 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. 1t was
in her own handwriting addressed to
| Newmann-her answer to his letter of
| three years ago.
AS she sat there regardingit 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 a minute later
He nervously shook hands. Miss Bragg
| did not sit down. 81 believe we are to
walk?" she said, as if the matter was
OF so little Importance that she had al
most forgotten. Yes" h e said, getting
up hastily.
| AS they reached the sidewalk they
| stopped undecided which way to go.
''It's a nice walk out in the vicinity of
Jefferson Heights" Newman said,
hesitatingly. "We used to walk there
| often, you remember" "Oh, nc, not
Jefferson Heights" she said, as if the
place was not to be considered, tits so
| stupid detest tine place" She slow
ly 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
Newmanns question: "YOu remem Der
what fine day 1t 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 iine-I knew they were, because
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
topics. He talked about people, and
had the air of u 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 a few days, and there's some.
thing want to ask you before l go.
If your answer is what hope it will
be l will not go. Why dill 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. did write letter TO
you, but did not send it. thought |
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, | 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 sans. You will pardon
me for bothering you again, but l had
hoped, after waiting three years and
seeing that there was no other man,
that you might change your answer.
could not so to Europe without asking
you"
They walked along in silence.
They were already within sight of Miss
Braggs home. At the door he stopped
before her and asked, half implor-
ing y: Am to accept your answer as
final?" She nodded an affirmative.
My answer is final" she said. Miss
Bragg" he said, TREMENDOUSLY, II can
never forget you. | shall think of you
constantly while l am abroad, I'm
sorry to have caused you the pain Of re-
jecting me a second time. Good by"
He held out his hand and took hers
in strong grasp. "Good-hy, Mr. New
Manu." she said II trust you will
have pleasant trip abroad" Thank
YOU" he said. "Good-by." He gave
her last look and turned to go. 'Mr.
Newman, stop moment" she called.
He walked back to her, his honest face
flushed with pain. Il am awfully sor-
ry," she said. Believe | esteem You
highly and regret that this has oc-
Cured. Your letters-I want TO return
them. Wait 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
square bundle. She tied the package
with q small satin ribbon. Her own
letter lay on the cabinst She picked
it up and held it undecisively for mo-
ment. Impulsively she tucked it be-