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

Lou lOTBeJ buub L Oll mol desert |
you, as you call it, till after you gave
me to understand that 1 wasn't wanted.
You told me to go, and l went"
"You did-on the instant !"
"And you blame me for that now!
Did you not mean me to take you Mt
your word?"
! look at him as he stands, very tall
and erect, on the other side of the
fireplace, his brown eyes, with GER
tain defiance in them, Watching me in
tently, and I feel thankful that at least
we are not going to part in silence.
His love may not be strong enough to
stand the test of our quarrel, but still
-he loves me. Oh, if 1 only
"Did you not mean me to take you
at your word?" he repeats.
''Not like that" slowly. "You went
oh, yes-as if you were glad to 90.
1 dare say you were, but you needn't
have betrayed your feelings quite SC
plainly"
81 haven't the smallest intention Of
betraying my feelings for your graft.
fication," he says with some warmth.
"You have treated me shamefully,
but I see little use in discussing it
now. don't want to reproach you
for iilting me; you've done it, and
that's enough.
"Jilted you! Oh, JackW
"Call it what you please" and he
turns away YEARLY. We won't quarrel
about that. Celia was right, l see.
"Celia?"
eyes; she said it would only make
matters worse if 1 saw you. 1 didn't
believe her, but"
Cecilia tried to stop your coming?"
eff you like to put it in that way,
yes" with a look of surprise. "But I
thought ought to bring those letters
myself, so l came"
''From bitter sense of duty l I'M
derstand.
''Not altogether that" He hesitates
moment and then adds quickly: 81
may as well tell you all since I am
here. I thought-that is, 1 hoped
there might have been some misunder.
standing, and you have said more than
you really meant. 1t all seems so sud-
den to me, you know, for had not
grown tired of our engagement, what
ever you may have done. But since
you evidently wish to quarrel with me
l won't stand in your way. You might
have trusted me, though, as you have
trusted Celia"
Celia again! I begin to hate the
sound of her name
Cecilia seems to have been unwar-
rantably busy with my affairs, 1 say
coldly. 81 don't know, of course,
what she may or may not have told
you but this I do know, that l have
never trusted her, and that [ trust her
less than ever 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. eco to
her, and tell her that she has sue
ceeded, thanks to my folly and
your"
l break of, unable to speak for the
rising sobs that choke my utterance,
and turn away abruptly to the win
dow.
Succeeded? Celia?" he repeats
more to himself than to me. "Maud,
what is the meaning of all this? 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 l misunderstood? Oh,
if you won't tell me 1 must so to Celia
and"
Yes, go to her. What are you
staying here for?"
Nothing now," and he walks to
the door. In another instant he will
be gone.
"Wnit," and I turn impulsively ;
"you-You have forgotten something. "
"Have I? And what?"
"Your ring. 1 have no right to it
now, as you say. "
"I never said so, but" he checks
himself. "Give it to me, then"
"Come and take it,"
I cannot, will not take it off. l
try in feeble, purposeless sort of
way, conscious that his eyes are upon
me all the time. Then L desist and
look at him, laughing nervously.
II can't 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