Arizona silver belt., 1894-05-26


 Tho girl had shifted her position till instead of her full face her profile was turned toward him. Looking away to- ward the paddock that lay brilliant in sunshine on the skirts of the apple or chard, she asked in low, slow tones, twisting her hands in her lap:
 Don't you think that perhaps if B found out afterward--when she had married A, you know--that she had cared for him so very, very much he might be little sory?"
 If ho were D gentleman, he would regret it deeply.
 ''I mea.--sorry on his own account, that-that he had thrown away all that you know?"
 Tho professor looked ineditative.
 ''I think, he pronounced, that it is very possible ho would. can well im- agino it. :"
 "He might never find anybody to lovo him like that again, she said, gazing on tho glcaming paddock.
 "Ho probably would not, ," agreed the philosopher.
 "And--and most people liko being loved, don't thoy?'
 ITO crave for lovc i5 an almost uni vcrsal instinct, Miss May.
 Yes, almost," sho said, with Q dreary little smile. You zee, he'll get old and--and have no enc to lcok after hinl. "
 "TIo win. !"
 "Al.d 20 homo"
 Well, in 8 sense, nonc, {" corrected the philosopher einiling. But really you'll Brighten mo. I'm bachelor my self, you know, Miss May
 "Yos," hhe whispered just audibly.
 And all your terrors arc before mo.
 Well, unless -
 "Oh, wo needn't havo that unless, !" laughed the philosopher chcorfully. "Thcro's no unless about it, Misa May
 Tie girl jumped to her feet For an instant che looked at tho philosopher. Sho opened her lips as if to speak, and at the thought of what lay at her tongues tip her face grew red. But the philosopher was gazing past her, and his eyes rested iI calm contemplation on the gleaming paddock.
 "A beautiful thing--sunshine to bo sure, said he
 Her blush faded away into paleness; her lips closed. Without speaking sho turned and walked slowly away, her head dropping. Tho philosopher heard the rustic of her skirt in the long grass Of the orchard. H3 watched her for few moments.
 "A pretty, graceful creature" said he, with q smile. Then he opened his book, took his pencil in his hand and slipped in careful forefnger to mark the fly leaf
 Tho sun had passed midheayen and began to decline westward before he fin. ishcd the book. Then he stretched him. self and looked at his watch.
 Good gracious, 5 o'clock shall be late for laachl' And he hurried to hi feet
 He was very late for lunch.
 Everything cold, " walled his host ess. Where have you been, Mr. Jern ingham?"
 "only in the orchard, reading.
 And you 'ye missed Mayl Missed Miss May? How do you mcanl had long talk with her this mornings most interesting talk
 But you weren't here to say good. by Now, you don't mean to say that you forgot that sho was leaving by the 3 o'clock train? What q man you areP' Dear ne, to think of my forgetting itl' said tho philosopher shamcfacedly, She told me to say goodby to you for her.
 She's kind. l can t forgive myself His hostess looked at him for mo. ment Then she sighed and smiled and sighed again.
 Have you everything you want:' sho asked. Everything, thank you, said he, citing down opposite the cheese and his booll--he thought he would just run through tho last chapter again against tho loaf; everything in the world that l want, thanks. His hostess did not tell him that the girl had come in from the apple orchard and run hastily up stairs, lest her friend should sec what her friend did sec in her eyes, so that he had no suspicion at all i that be had received an offer of mar riagc and refused it. And he did not re- fer to anything of that sort when he paused once in his reading and ex claimed:
 I'm really Sorry I missed Miss May. That was al interesting case of hers. But gave the right answer The girl ought to marry A.
 And so the girl did. Anthony Hope la English Illustrated Magazine.