Pawtucket tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 1890-189?, 1894-06-01
CROSS PURPOSES.
NJ was all Cella's fault.

1t was all Celia's fault.
II IL hadn't been for her, IL would never
have occurred TO me 10 quarrel with Jack;
it would never have occurred TO me that
any quarrel was necessary to prove the
strength OF his love. i should have taken
it for granted and been happy still.
detest Celia
We were 80 happy till she came TO stay
with Jacks people and told me was spoil
ing him. OF course IL was no business OF
hers II l 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 10 remember that
IL wasn't only my lover was spelling. but
nay future husband, aud IL let him have
his own way ia everything now / should
never be able TO have mine by and by when
we were married.
So Jack and Tquarreled at the Hornes'
dance last night
hardly know what it was about In the
first instance, but IL grew and grew until it
seemed TO me there was nothing we weren't
quarreling about, and Jack was soon ter
ribly in earnest. Though we had been en-
gagged for three weeks, I'd no idea he had 10
In him to be so angry. And OF course
lost my head and got angry, too-really am
gry-and said horrid things, and-and-I
told him that our engagement was broken
Off and there Il. so be an end Of everything
between us, and-and Jack took me at
my word. / never thought Of his doing
that.
"As you please" he said, speaking quiet
ly all of IA sudden. We were in the conserv-
atory, and the dance music In the drawing
room must have drowned the sound Of our
voices half a dozen yards away. You
wish our engagement to end, Maud1 So be
It. Your letters shall be returned to you
tomorrow, and will at once leave you free
TO resume your filtration with Frank
Horne"
His face was set and white. He never
even looked at me. The music ceased. Ce-
liza and several other dancers strolled into
the conservatory, and he left me.
Yes, he went away and danced with 9th
er girls and he never spoke one word TO me
or came near me again the whole evening
OF course danced too. What else could
| do under the circumstancest i danced
with Frank Horne, and flirted with him.
Our engagement is broken olive have
said there is not TO be an engagement any
more-and now
Oh how miserable ami
II Is dull November afternoon, and
mamma has gone out, so sit alone in the
fire lit dining room and think over all that
had happened last night and wonder what
Jacks next move will be. Surely-surely,
lac cannot mean
He has not returned my letters yet. Sure
ly that is "A hopeful sign.
/ am still wearing the ring he gave me.
/ suppose il he returns my letters shall
have To-
No, no. can't part with it. He can't
be so cruel-so unreasonable.
His letters, too. Must l give them upi
turn them over In my hand-such 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 itf
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. Drayton" is an
nounced, and Jack himself stands before
me.
"Jackp / started 10 my feet, and all
these treasured documents fall rustling to
the floor, but never think of them. Who
thinks of love letters in the presence Of the
writeri Jack is here, my Jack, and
But is he indeed my JackS
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. told him
wished our engagement to end, and he re-
membered it evidently, though for one
brief moment have forgotten. oh, Jack
Jackl
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.
Il, H.. for -
YOU" he says very formally. IL thought /
had better bring it myself, in case of acci-
dents"
"For meS" speak vaguely and without
Offering to take il. i want TO gain time.
"Yes-your letters. l have no right to
them nowp
"How-how beautifully you have packed
themp'
He turns away with an impatient gesture
and lays them on the table.
IL need not detain you any longer, now
my errand is done" he says quietly.
"But-there is something else. Oh, you
forgetp as he looks at me questioningly.
"You have returned my letters promptly
enough (how can / thank you for such
promptnessy, but you forget your own. As
you say, have no right to them now."
'You wish me to take themf Very we'll"
But do not wish him to take them any
thing but that. / want to postpone the
moment of parting. That is all.
"Will you be good enough to fetch themp
"They are here on the floor. Will you be
good enough TO help me pick them up"
He does so without word. Together we
stoop and collect them. Together we lay
them on the table. Together for the last
time
bring paper and string and proceed to
pack them up, while he watches me in ST.
lence.
IL fear this will not be such neat parcel
as yours" say, speaking as steadily as
can aud bending over the table to hide my
troubled face. You know Pm never good
at this sort of thing"
II know" shortly.
II can't do itp' and great tear splashes
on the packet. "I'm very sorry, butt
Don't bother about II" and he lays his
hand on mine suddenly. "No need for such
q fuss. Give them to me as they are"
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