The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1894-04-27

tiers i'll NeWIni-nn'S well known hand
writing. The letters hal been tossed
in promiscuously and hidden from view
since.
a bright, crisp. new-lool1ing envel-
ope dropped from her fingers she
drew out ii bundle, and. picking it up,
she examined ii cnriously. As her
glance fell upon it the blood left her
face and her heart Stood still IL WAS
in her Own handw riting addressed to
Newmann-hc 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 Briggs manner when sine snii-
ingly greeted Newman ID minnte later.
He nervousiy shook hanis- Miss bragg
did not sit down Il believe we are Ia
walk" she said, as if the matter was
OF 50 little Importance that she had al
moal forgotten. Yes" c said, getting
mp hastily.
As they reached the sidewalk they
stopped undecided which way To go.
Its nice walk ont in the vicinity al
jefferson Heights" Newman said,
he ,ItatIngly- Nv: used u walk ther..
often, you reLncnucr. On, nc, MOI
jefferson Heights" she sail, as il tia.
pla'-e was not To be considered, hts So
stupid detest tue place" he slow
ly set pff in an opposite direction.
NewmanD waiked silently beside her
for d few plopcG,s Presently he an
nouuced the discovery tfat il was ii
fine day for walking. SesI ne oh
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, bro'.e by
Newinann's question: lQu remem ter
what fine day IL was. Miss Eragg?"
She made an effort To remember, knit
ting her brows and looking thopghifpl,
Utterly failing to recall IL. she excused
herself "Iou see we walked together
more than once and the days were al
ways tine-I knew they were, because
/ wouldD't baye gone otherwise. And
then three years is too long to remein-
Der such thing H. tHe state of the
weather"
After that Mr.. Newman eyaded the
weather and that last walk as perilous
topics lie talked about people. and
had The air OF a man who wanted bad
ly To talk OF something else He grew
nervous when Miss Bragg at last turned
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 | go.
If Your answer is what / hope it " i'll
be | will not GO. Why dil you not an
svver my letter three years ago." Miss
Bragg's face assumed the expression of
one who has all unpleasant something
to- lott
answer" she said. .:One has To thin:
before replying. | did write Il letter t.
you, but did not send it. l thought
would wait-I thought ] could tell yuI
better" But you did not tell me,
Newman burst out elgeriy. You dIs
not ask me-" she said, quite calmly
Newman locked flushed and disap
pointed What did yCu write me-
he asked they wuised ON. Can you
guess?" she asked. His face showed
his disappointment ''oh, / eurss
know what it was" he said, bitterly,
''and it has caused me hours OF anguish
and pain, nights of sleerless unrest
Oh, Miss Bragg, you can't guess how
much it has cost me- ] have seen no
pleasure, no peace, no rest 1t will al
ways be the same You will parIoi.
Inc Tor tothering you again, but has,
hoped, after waiting three years aus.
seeing that there was no other man.
that you might change your answer. /
could not go to Europe without ASKING
you"
They walked along in silence.
They were already within sight of Mis-
Bragg's home. At the door he stoppe
before her and asked. half imoior-
ingiy: Am l to accept your answer a
tinal?" She nodded an afiiT NATIVE
My answer is hnal," she sai.t. Mis-
bragg" he said. TREMENDOUSLY, Il can
never forget you ] shall think of you
constantly while ] am abroad. I'm
sorry to have caused You the pam of re
jecting me second tune Good by
He held ont his hand and took her.
in strong grasp. ''Good-b by. Mr. New
mann," she said. II trust you viii
have pleasant trip abroad ''rhanL
you" he said. ''Good-by" He gav,
her last look and turned To go. MIR
Newman, stop moment" she called.
He walked back to her, his honest face
flushed with pain. Il am awfully sor
ry," she said. Bell, We | esteem you
highly and regret that this has oc
CURED. Your letters-I want TO return
them. Wait a moment till get them
on may burn- he started to say,
but she was gone.
She found them just as she had left
them in her cabinet She pm ked them
up and evcned their ends so as to make
a square bundle She tied the package
with a small satin ribbon. Her own
letter lay on the cabinet She picked
it up and held it undecisively for d 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 Ia find my an
swer to your letter of three years ago.
You We're curious to know what had
written, SO L put it in with your letters.
Good-by."
They shook hands. ~ will read it,
even though it gives me pain, he said
in 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 a
"woman's yes. Robert l. Adamson,
in Atlanta Constitution.