The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1894-09-26
SNAKE IN THE GRASS.

a WNeo 80 $1,000 o@&DN ~ w. AS
business OF hers If / 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 only my
lover / was spelling, but my future hus-
band, and if I let him have his own
way in everything now I should never
be able to have mine by and by when
we were married.
So Jack and I quarreled at the Hornes'
dance last night.
I hardly know what it was about in
the first instance, but it grew and grew
until 1t 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 / 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. I never thought of his
doing that.
"As you please" he SAID, speaking
quietly all of o sudden. We were in the
conservatory, and the dance music in
the drawing Don must have drowned
the sound Of our voices half q dozen
yards away. ''You wish our engagement
to end, Maud? So be it. Your letters
shall be returned to you tomorrow, and
I will at once leave you free to resume
your Irritation with Frank Horne"
"But-Jack"--
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.
Harkl 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" il
announced, and Jack himself stands be
fore me.
"Jackt" / started to my feet, and al
his treasured documents fall rustling Il
the floor, but I 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 ms
to myself and reminds me that he is M
longer my Jack, or Jack at all to me
/ told him / wished our engagement Il
end, and he remembered it evidently
though / for one brief moment have for
gotten. Oh, Jack-Jackl
He waits till the servant has left tht
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
II thought I had better bring it myself
in case of accident"
For me?" / speak vaguely ant
without Offering to take it. / want Il
gain time.
"Yes-your letters. / have no RICH
to them now"
, "How-how beautifully You hav
/. packed themI'
3 He turns away, with an impatien
gesture, and lays them on the table.
81 need not detain You any longer
) now my errand is done, /" he says quiet
~.
"But-there is something else. Oh
! you forgotl' as he looks at mequestion
ingly. lyon hare returned my letter
, promptly enough chow can I thank 20
for such promptness?s but you forge
your own As you say, / have no RICH
to them now
: "You wish me to take them? Yer
WE'LL"
But / do not wish him to take them
Q Anything but that. i want to postpon
the moment Of parting. That is all.
xviii You be good enough to fetc
them?''
Z ssThey are here ON the floor. Win 70
be good enough to help me pick ther
q up?''
He does 30 without q word TogeShe
we stoop and collect them. Togethe
we lay them on the table. Together IL
the last timei
e bring paper and string and procee
to pack them up. while he watches m
in silence.
IT fear this will not be such q nes
= parcel as yours" ] say, speaking
steadily as ! can and bending over til
table to hide my troubled face. "Yo
know I'm never good at this sort (
thing
81 know, = shortly.
d ~ can't do itr' And q great tea
II splashes on the packet. ''I'm sorry
IA butt
IL Don't bother about ii. And he Lar
his hand on mine suddenly. mo nee
1 for such . fuss. Give them to me !,
i they are.
: What are Jon going to do wit
them?'' ! he takes them from n
trembling hands.
Put them in the firei' And he tur,
20 do 70.
No no. moi ! CRY, springing 70