The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1894-03-03

had not seen them since first receiving
them, but now she read them with pe-
culiar interest In the package were
three or four written while Newman
was away on business trip, others
were written TO her at mountain re-
sorts, others still were nothing but
mere formal notes asking for an en-
gagement-all breathed the spirit of
love. She could understand his actions
even less us she read them, which she
did with marked eagerness. Out of the
confused tangle of odds and ends that
filled her cabinet she searched for let
ters in Newmann's well known hand
writing The letters had been tossed
in promiscuously and hidden from view
since.
A bright. crisp, ncw-loolting envel-
opc dropped from her fingers as she
drew out bundle, and. picking it up,
she examined it curiously. AS her
glance fell upon it the blood left her
face and her heart stood STILL 1t was
in her own handwriting addressed to
Newmann--her answer to his letter of
three years ago.
AS she sat there regarding it in bewil.
derment Mr.. Ncwmann's card was
handed to her.
No traces of agitation were visible
in Miss Bragg's manner when she smil-
ingly greeted Newman a minute later.
He nervously shook hands. Miss Bragg
did not sit down. ~ believe we are to
walk@' she said, as if the matter was
of so little Importance that she had al.
most forgotten. YES" h e said, getting
up hastily.
AS they reached the sidewalk they
stopped undecided which way to go.
Its nice walk out in the vicinity OF
jefferson Heights" Newman said,
hesitatingly. "We used to walk there
. often, you remember" 'Oh, nc, not
Jefferson Heights" she said, as If the
place was not to be considered, '.it's so
stupid detest the place" She slow
ly set off in an opposite direction.
Newman walked silently beside her
for few moments. Presently he an
nounced the discovery that it was a
fine day for walking. Next he OBJ
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, broke by
Newmanns question: You remember
what a fine day it was, Miss Bragg"
She made an effort to remember, knit
ting her brows and looking thoughtful.
Utterly failing to recall it, she excused
herself You see we walked together
more than once and the days We're al
ways fine-I knew they were, because
: wouldn't have gone otherwise. And
then three years is too long to remem-
ber such a thing as the state of the
: weather"
After that Mr.. Newman evaded the
weather and that last walk as perilous
topics. lie talked about people, and
had the air of u man who wanted bad
ly to talk of something else. He grew
nervous when Miss Bragg at last turned
round and faced homeward. The walk
,, had grown to be dull. ''Miss Bragg
. Newman said at last, ''I'm going to
;. Europe in n few days, and there's some
,, thing / want to ask you before l go.
If your answer is what ] hope it will
be will not go Why dill you not an.
: swer my letter three years ago?" Miss
. Bragg's face assumed the expression OF
one who has an unpleasant something
! to say. 'Such letters are not easy tc
:, :, answer she said. zone has to think
L you, but did not send it. ! thought
would wait-I thought could tell yor
>, BETTER ''But you did not tell me,
: Newman burst out eagerly. "You die
= not ask me-" she said, quite calmly
Il Newman looked flushed and disap
pointed. What did you write me?'
Q he asked as they walked on "Can yor
. guess?" she asked. His face showed
II his disappointment. ''Oh, l guess
y know what it was" he said, bitterly
\ land it has caused me hours of anguisl
4. and pain, nights of sleepless unrest
~ = Oh, Miss Bragg, you can't guess how
! - much it has cost me. 1 have seen nj
- pleasure, no peace, no rest. 1t will al
II ways be the same. You will pardon
:. me for bothering you again, but hat
- hoped, after waiting three years ant
"a seeing that there was no other man
= that you might change your answer.
~ could not go to Europe without asking
. YOU"
e They walked along in silence
e They were already within sight of Mis-
e Bragg's home. At the door he stoppe
IS before her and asked, half implor
D. ingly: 'Am to accept your answer a
IS fnal?" She nodded an affirmative
= my answer is final," she said. mis-
Bragg" he said, TREMENDOUSLY, 81 ca
H. never forget you. i shall think of yo
r constantly while I am abroad. II
" sorry to have caused you the pain of re
IS jecting me second time. Good-by."
II He held out his hand and took her
7. in Il strong grasp. "Gcod-by, Mr.. New
t. mann," she said. II trust you wi
L. have pleasant trip abroad" '"Than
G. you," he said. 'Good-by." He gav
n her last look and turned to go. mi
81 Newmann, stop moment" she called
He walked back to her, his honest fac
ne flushed with pain. 81 am awfully So
is ry," she said. Believe l esteem yo
10 highly and regret that this has o.
o. Cured. Your letters-I want TO retur
al them Wait moment till get them.
u, "You may burn" he started to sa.
III but she was gone.
IL She found them just as she had le!
Us them il her cabinet. She picked thel
'g up and evened their ends so as to NAL,
n square bundle. She tied the packag
US with small satin ribbon. Her ow
III letter lay on the cabinet. She pickle
CT it up and held it undecisively for hi
ment Impulsively she tucked it b
d. meath the ribbon with the rest