Waterbury evening Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1887-1895, 1894-09-03
SNAKE IN THE GRASS.
[ detest Celia.


she felt she must speak, being older and
more experienced than /, and implore
me to remember that it wasn't only my
lover was spelling, but my future hus-
band. and if let him have his own
way in everything now should never
De able to have mine by and by when
we were married.
So Jack and quarreled at the Hornes'
dance last night.
hardly know what it was about in
the first instance, but it grew and grew
until it seemed to me there was nothing
we weren't quarreling about, and Jack
was soon terribly in earnest. Though
we had been engaged for three weeks,
I'd no idea he had it in him to be so
angry. And of course 1 lost my head
and got angry, too-really angry-and
said hOrrid things, and-and-I told
him that our engagement was broken
off, and there must be an end of every
thing between us, and-and-Jack took
me at my word. 1 never thought of his
doing that.
LAS you please" he said, speaking
quietly all of a sudden. We've in the
conservatory, and the dance music in
the drawing room must have drowned
the sound Of our voices half a dozen
yards away ''You wish our engagement
to end, Maud? So be it. Your letters
shall be returned to you tomorrow, and
l will at once leave you free to resume
your Irritation with Frank Horne"
"But-JIck''
His face was set and white. He never
even looked at me. The music ceased.
Celia and several other dancers strolled
into the conservatory, and he left me.
Yes, he went away and danced with
other girls, and he never spoke one
word to me or came near me again the
whole evening.
Hark! Some one is crossing the hall.
Surely Jane won't be so foolish as to
show any one i'll here now!
In another moment Mr.. Dayton" is
announced, and Jack himself stands be-
fore me.
Jack started to my feet, and all
his treasured documents fall rustling tC
the floor, but l never think of them.
Who thinks of love letters in the pres.
ence of the writer? Jack is here, my
Jack. and
But is he indeed my Jack?
The first glance at his face recalls me
10 myself and reminds me that no is nc
longer my Jack, or Jack at all to me.
I told him 1 wished our engagement tc
end, and he remembered it evidently,
though for one brief moment have for
gotten. oh. blackjack!
He waits till the servant has left the
room. then takes Il small packet from
the breast pocket of his coat and turns
to me.
This must be my apology for dis
turbing you," he says very formally
Il thought had better bring it myself,
in case of accident. y"
For me-" l speak vaguely anG
without Offering to take it. want t.
| gain time.
"Yes-your letters, have no righ
10 them now.
"How-how beautifully you hav,
packed them"
He turns away, with an impatien
gesture, and lays them on the table.
Il ncc,! not dotain you any longer
now my crrand is done, he says quiet
".
"But-thcrc is something else. Oh
you furgotr' as he looks at me question
inGlv. You have returned my letter
| promptly enough chow can thank yo,
for such promptncss:l, but You forge
your own. As you say. have no RICH
10 them now"
Won wish me to take them? Yer
WELL"
But | do not wish him to take them
Anything but that. L want to postpon
the moment Of parting. That is all.
will you be good enough to fetc
them
They are here on the floor Will yo
be good enough to help me pick theI
up:''
He does so without q word. Togethe
we stoop and collect them. Togethe
we lay them ON the table. Together fc
the last time,
] bring paper and string and procee
to pack them up, while he watches IL
in silence.
Il fear this will not be such n ne;
parcel rs yours 1 say, speaking !
steadily us 1 can and bending over tt
table to hide my troubled face. "Yo
. know I'm never good at this sort
thing"
II know, shortly
Il can't do it!'' And great teG
splashes ON the packet. "I'm SOFT.
but
Don't bother about it" And he Ia,
/ his hand ON mine suddenly. mo nee
E for such 4 fuss. Give them to me ;
/ they are
What are you going to do wit
l them:'' as he takes them from III
= trembling hands
Put them in the firer" And he turn
, to do so.
mo. 10. no." cry, springing 70
ward and laying a OBTAINING hand {
his arm. "Oh. don't, Jackr'
A why not:" pausing You don
t want them, and I'm sure 1 don't"
II do. Please give them back
me-
What for:"
''To keep! To remind mel
"Of my folly:''
''Of my own. r.
Your folly is over and done wit
Our engagement is broken off, - he 81
. moodily. Better forget it ever ext
o cd
Il cannot do that, :" with an irrepres
ible little sob. ~ am waiting for tho