The Camden chronicle. (Camden, Tenn.) 1890-current, 1894-06-29

up? l turn them over in my hand
such a 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 it?-and remem-
Der the pleasure with which / first re-
ceived them, and the pride with which
l have often poured over them since.
Hark some one is crossing the
hall. Surely Jane won't be SO foolish
as to show any one in here now.
In another moment "Mr. Dayton"
is announced, and Jack himself stands
before me.
"Jackl" I started to my feet, and
all these treasured documents fall,
rustling to the floor, but Inever 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. 1 told him wished our engage
ment to end, and he remembered it,
evidently, though I, for one brief mo-
ment, have forgotten. Oh, Jack
Jack ?"
He waits till the servant has left the
room, then takes a 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.
81 thought 1 had better bring it my
self, in case of accidents"
"For me?" 1 speak vaguely, and
without offering to take it. Iwant to
gain time.
"Yes-your letters. Ihave no right
to them now"
GLOW beautifully you have packed
them"
He turns away with an impatient
gesture and lays them on the table.
81 need not detaln you any longer,
now my errand is DONE" he says,
quietly.
"But- there is something else. Oh,
you forget !" as he looks at me ques-
tioningly.
"You have returned my letters
promptly enough-how can I thank
you for such promptness?-but you
forget your own. As you say, have
no right to them now"
"You wish me to take them? Very
we'll"
But I do not wish him to take them
anything but that want to post
pone the moment Of parting, that is ALL
evil you be good enough to fetch
them?"
'"They are here, on the floor. Will
you be good enough to help me pick
them up?"
He does so without n word. To
gether we stoop and collect them; to-
gether we lay them on the table. To-
gether for the last time!
l bring paper and string, and pro-
coed to pack them up, while he
watches me in silence.
81 fear this will not be such neat
parcel as yours" 1 say, speaking as
steadily as lean, and bending over the
table to hide my troubled face. "You
know I'm never good at this sort OF
thing"
81 know" shortly.
81 caa't do itr' and a great tear
splashes on the packet. 'Pm very
sorry, but"
"Don't bother about it," and he
, lays his hand on mine suddenly, enc
} need for such q fuss. Give them tc
me as they are.
"What are you going to do with
them?" as he takes them from my
J trembling hands.
"Put them in the fire !" and he turns
b to do SO.
, ''No, no, mol" 1 cry, springing for
ward, and laying OBTAINING hand on
: his arm. "Oh, don't, Jack! !"
"Why not?" pausing. You DOM
: want them, and I'm sure don't.
IL dol Please give them back
to mep
: "What for?"
'To keep. To remind me-"
"Of my folly?"
"Of my own. I"
"Your folly is over and done with
Our engagement is broken off, he says
moodily. Better forget it ever ex'
Q isted."
, 81 cannot do that" with an ire.
r pressible little sob. 81 am waiting
7 for those letters
"Take them, then," and he throws
4 them down on the table. "Keep them
9 to compare with Horne's, if you like.
2 1 don't care !"
GLOW can you insult me so? What