Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1894-06-04
& CROSS PURPOSES.
II was all Celia's fault.

strength Of HIS love. / should have taken
it for granted and been happy still.
Idetest Celia.
We were so happy till she came to stay
with Jacks people and told me was spoil
ing him. OF course IL was no business Of
hers IL / were-she admitted that-but she
was SO fond of me that she felt she must
speak, being older and more experienced
than /, and implore me to remember that
It wasn't or1y my lover was spelling. but
my future Husband, and IL let him have
his own way in everything now l should
never be 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, bat 1t grew and grew until 1t
seemed to me there was nothing we weren't
duarreling about, and Jack was soon ter
ribly In earnest. Though we had been en-
gagged for three weeks, I'd no idea he had it
in him to be so angry. And OF course
lost my head and got angry, too-really an
gry-and said hdrrid things, and-and-I
told him that our engagement was broken
of, and there mug be an end OF everything
between us, and-and-Jack took me at
my word. / never thought Of his doing
that.
"As you please" he said, speaking quiet
" all Of a sudden. We were in the cOnserv-
atory, and the dance music in the drawing
room must have drowned the sound Of our
voices half n dozen yards away. You
wish our engageLn ent to end, Maudt So be
IT, Your letters shall be returned to you
tomorrow, and will at once leave you free
to resume your filtration with Frank
Horne"
"But-Jack''--- .-
His face was set and white. He never
even looked mt me. The music ceased. Ce-
liza and several other dancers strolled into
the conservatory, and he left me.
Yes, he went away and danced with 9th
er girls, and he never spoke one word to me
or came near me again the whole evening.
or course danced too. What else could
/ do under the circumstances? / danced
with Frank Horne. and flirted with him.
Our engagement is broken olive have
said there is not to be an engagement any
more-and now
Oh, how miserable I am!
It is n dull November afternoon, and
mamma has gone out, so sit alone in the
fire lit dining room and think over all that
had happened last night and wonder what
Jacks next move will be. Surely-surely,
he cannot mean
He has not returned my letters yet. Sure
ly that is n hopeful sign.
am still wearing the ring he gave me.
suppose II he returns my letters shall
have To-
No, no. can't part with it. He can't
be 10 cruel-so unreasonable.
His letters, too. Must 1 give them up3
turn them over in my hand-such little
bundle of them as there is and so very hard
TO read till one learns to know the writing
or to love the writer, which Is it2
Hark some one is crossing the hall.
Surely Jane won't he so foolish as to show
any one in here now.
In another moment "AIr. Drayton" is an
nounced. and Jack himself stands before
me.
"JackW / started to my feet, aud all
these treasured documents fall rustling to
the floor. but never think of them. Who
thinks of love letters in the presence of the
writer Jack is here, my Jack, and
But Is he indeed my Jack?
The first glance at his face recalls me to
myself and reminds me that he is no longer
my Jack, or Jack at all to me. | told him
l wished our engagement to end, and he re-
membered it evidently, though for one
brief momen. have forgotten. Oh, Jack
jack
He waits till the servant has left the
room, then takes small packet from the
breast pocket of his coat and turns to me.
This must be my apology for disturbing
you," he says very formally. II thought
had better bring it myself, in case of acct
dents"
"For me'" speak vaguely and without
Offering to take it. want to gain time.
"Yes-your letters. have no right to
them now,'
"How--how beautifully you have packed
theml"
He turns away with an impatient gesture
and lays them on the table.
II need not detain you any longer. now
my errand il done" he says quietly.
"But-there is something else. Oh, you
forgetr az he looks at me questioningly.
"You have returned my letters promptly
enough (how can | thank you for such
promptnesss), but you forget your own. As
YOU say, have no right to them now"
"You wish me to take them9 Very we'll"
But do not wish him to take them any
thing but that. l want to postpone the
inofeent of parting That is all.
"Will you he good enough to fetch themv
"They are here on the floor. Will you be
good enough to help me pick them upf"
/, He does so without word. Together we
stoop and collect them. Together we lay
them Oh the table. Together for the last
timel
bring paper and string and proceed to
pack them up, while he watches me in 81
lence.
II fear this will not be such neat parcel
~ yours. y say. speaking as steadily AS
can and bending over the table to hide my
troubled face. You know I'm never good
at this sort of thing"
Il know" shortly.
II can't do itr' and a great tear splashes
on the packet. I'm very sorry, but"---
I, Don't bother about it," and he lays HE
sand on mine suddenly. "Noneed for such
fuss. Give them to me as they are"
what are you going to do with themf"
o. he takes them from my trembling hands
Put them in the flre!' and he turns to
do 80.
mo, no. no' cry, springing forward
and laying OBTAINING hand on his arm.
"Oh, don't. JackT'
"why nots" pausing. "You don't want
them, and I'm sure DON'T"
ar r.. "a. L. - - VS