The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1894-02-21

W. o. ~y ~~ "N&Sb ~ w.
needn't have betrayed your feelings
quite so plainly"
II haven't the smallest intention
of betraying my feelings for your
qualification" he says, with some
warmth. You have treated me
THANKFULLY, but I see little use in dis
cussing it now. I don't want to re-
proach you for jilting me. You've
done it, and that's enough"
"Jilting you'll Oh, Jack!"
Call it what you please" and he
turns away YEARLY. I'VE won't
quarrel about that. Celia was right,
I see."
"Celia7"
Yes. She said it would only make
matters worse if I saw you. I didn't
believe her, but
Celia tried to stop your coming1"
IF you like to put it in that way,
yes with a look Of surprise. But
I thought / ought to bring those let
tiers myself, SO l came"
From a bitter sense of duty, I un-
derstand."
Not altogether that" He hest
tates a moment and then adds quick
ly: Il may as we'll tell you all since
I am here. l thought-that is, l
hoped-there might have been some
misunderstanding and you have said
more than you really meant. 1t all
seems so sudden to me, you know, for
I had not grown tired of our en-
gagement, whatever you may have
done. But since you evidently wish
to quarrel with me l won't stand n
your way. You might have trusted
me, though. as you have trusted c.
liza"
Celia again! l begin to hate the
sound Of her name!
Celia seems to have been unwar-
rantably busy with my affairs" I say
coldly. Il don't know, of course,
what she may or may not have told
you, but this I do know-that / have
never trusted her, and that I trust
her less than ave now"
You are ungrateful surely. She
tried to spare you this interview"
Had it not been for her it would
never have been necessary. But go
to her, since you'd rather take her
word than mine" passionately. 60
to her, and tell her that she has
succeeded, thanks to my folly and
your
I break off, unable to speak for the
rising sobs that choke my %utterance,
and turn away abruptly to the win
dow.
"Succeeded1 Celia?" he repeats,
more to himself than to me. Maud,
what is the meaning Of all this3 Is it
possible that Celia misunderstood
She misunderstood nothing" !
speak in a dull, expressionless way,
and without turning round. She is
far too clever for that. 1t is you who
misunderstood, and l."
What have I misunderstood? Oh,
if you won't tell me, l must 20 to
Celia and
Yes, go to her. What are you
staying here FORE"
Nothing now" and he walks to
the door. In another instant he will
be gone.
Can l let him go like this9 No, a
thousand times, no.
Wait" and l turn impulsively.
"You-you have forgotten some
thing"
Have II And what2"
Your ring. I have no right to it
now, az you say"
Il never said so, but"-he checks
himself. Give it to me, then"
Come and take it."
/ cannot-I will not take it off.
try in a feeble, purposeless sort of
way, conscious that his eyes r upon
, me all the time. Then l desist and
look at him, laughing nervously.
II cant do it. Jack. If you want
it, you must take it off yourself" and
l hold out my hand.
He takes it in silence, but he makes
no effort to remove the ring. Instead
of that he looks at me for a moment
and shakes his head.
:, No, dear, / don't want it. If it il
? to come off at all, you must take it."
1T seems almost a pity. doesn',
itT I say softly, and my voice il
. scarcely SO steady as it might be. HI
makes no reply, but passes his arm
a around my waist, and his hold on m,
! hand tightens.
j I've got used to it, you see, and
, should miss it. May l keep it, Jack?
''On one condition"
: And that is
That you keep me too"
O "Oh, Jack, how gladly"
:, He is my Jack once more, and Itel
! him all, my head on his shoulder.
Our quarrel is over, and we bot
detest Celia. She can never come be
!, tween us any more.-All the Yea
;, Round.