The Van Buren press., 1895-05-04


marry Betty, we should be poor, but !
knew her tastes were simple, and l
would work trebly hard and win sue-
cess for myself, and wealth for her. be-
fore we were five years older. OF such
visions is love guiltyl
AS the girls were resolute TO keep TO
their plan OF walking from Bormio TO
Pohtresina, we set out In true Bo-
hemian fashion, like respectable gyp-
sizes. The roads were good, the
wea ther perfect, and we tramped joy
ously to Bolladorc and Tirano, staying
a.day here and q day there. just as the
fancy took u.s. II was at Tirano that
the climax of my brief madness came
and the denouement of this adventure
befell.
We were housed in the Hotel San
Michele, one OF the qualntest hostel
ries surely wherein man might take
his ease, for the building had formerly
sheltered peaceful sisterhood. The
bedrooms were vaulted, the doors were
of stone, and all the doors opened on
to broad, cloister-like gallery. At
the end of this winding gallery was an
immense loggia, which looked on the
piazza and the cathedral-a pilgrimage
church-whither on great festivals the
faithful were gathered together from
all the surrounding villages.
Perhaps it was the Soldering influence
of the gray old building, or the con-
vcp sual air of the place, or the asceti-
cisM which breathed from those cell
like bedrooms; but certainly on that
third evening of our sojourn there the
girls manner had changed. Betty's
beautiful face was sad and elouded,
and Kittie's gayety had vanished.
After dinner she pleaded headache
and went to her room, and Betty
looked troubled as she left us, but did
not offer to follow. Isuggested stroll
in the convent garden, from whencs
came the click of the bowls, for that
old-world game was always in full
swing after the days work was over
the garden, being large, served as an
open-air club to the townspeople.
Betty agreed, and we were soon in the
cool, high-walled pleasance-a quiet
spot, where all we heard of the players
was the click OF the ball and the dis
tant sound Of laughter and talk.
The sun had set, and a cool breeze
was whispering among the broadleaves
of the fig trees. in the grass the drone
of the grasshopper made a sleepy muir
mur. Betty was curiously silent, a
trifie embarrassed in manner, and
somehow this unwonted shyness and
taciturnity gave me confidence in my
self. l talked to her about many
things, as if were entitled to her SYM
pathy, told her OF my struggles, Of my
ambitious, Of my hopes-talked as a
man rarely talks save to the woman he
loves and hopes to win for his wife.
Somehow or other-made bold, think
by tender softening Of her face when
spoke about the hardness of the
struggle for fame when the struggle is
made single-handed-I blurted out my
secret. l loved her, and life would be
desert without her love.
Then in the gray twilight I saw a
white, astonished face and two large,
frightened eyes look at me in horror.
"Mr. Aslehurst!" she painted, you
are surely mad. 1t is not ! you love-
it is" she stopped and bit her lips.
Good heavens! 1t was the old com
plication. l read her unspoken thought
in flash. She believed it was Kittie
l loved, that it was for Mttie's sake
that l had dangled at their heels all
this time.
was about TO protest that 1t was
she -Betty-and she only that loved,
when she resumed, In a calm, self-pos.
sessed tone:
| You must forget that you have ever
spoken SO to me, Mr.. Aslehurst; that
you have ever thought Of me-in that
way-for l. am married already-my
husband Is coming to join us at Pom
tresina"
| l stared at her incredulously for q
moment. Ft.r.4d ftfa 3agiFs7v =
"But, Miss Blount-!'''..
II was Miss Blount once. am Mrs
Field now. Perhaps you know my hus.
band; he Is a barrister, too; he could
4 not. get away sooner because he had
some important case to work up" she
went on, rapidly. ut is all Kittie
Morison's fault -this-this dreadful
mistake. Kittie was my greatest chum
before married last year; she was
very angry with me for marrying, and
she persuaded me, just for the sake Of
old times, when we used to come
abroad together for walking tours, te
be Miss Blount again., Itwas she who
wrote the name in the hotel book al
Bormio; and when you called me Mis-.
Blount Kittie was delighted, and in
sisted on keeping up the joke"
THAT was little rough on me-"
said, In a crestfallen way. The comica
side of the situation was apparent t.
me, and for moment l forgot the
pangs Of dcspised love. .-g
''We did not mean any HARM" she
murmured, humbly. I'VE used to have
such splendid times together when we
toured about, Kittie and I. When
heard you call me Miss Blount, Tai
most forgot that had a husband in
London"
"Poor Field! He would not be fat
tered.' zs5s
lyon know my husband?"
"Slightly. We meet pretty often il
hall" ! answered. dryly.
A'Oh, Mr.. Aslehurst, what must yo,
think Of me? But do love Edward
and III shall be so happy to see hin
at Pontresina. We are a model couple
and ever so contented. IL thought
that you admired Kittie Morrison, she i,
such dear good girl; she has alway,
been very independent and high-spir
ited-but-" Again she stopped, ant
I read in Mrs. Fields beautiful fac,
the gist Of little romance that had
no doubt, been simmering in her braiI