The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1895-11-13

zled me greatly. Why had she not ac-
cepted Adlow at once? Had she learn
ed something which made marriage
with him undesirable? Sometimes |
felt that had been weak in not de
claring my love in spite of Adlow, but
/ could not make myself believe that
she was anything but i'm fun in our rela-
tions. | roamed far and wide without
seeing Grace again. | could not face
the ordeal of hearing that she had ac-
cepted Adlow, and if she should tell
me of refusal, feared that she would
meet lightly the confession that her
boyish lover was her lovef still in man
hood. l was -cowardly-but
could not help it.
Late in the afternoon hurried back
to the house. Finding my uncle, |
told him, untruthfully, but eXcusably,
perhaps, that | was called away by
business, and asked him to bid Grace
good bye for me. He was a man of
few words, and assented without conf
ment. | had previously obtained his
permission TO take some articles from
the old chest as momento, and now
hurried up To the room to select one.
l sat down upon the chest, fighting
my desire to call Grace from her room,
to tell her that our laughter over the
old times had, with me, changed to
love, and to beseech her not to marry
Adlow. But conquered. Grace was
too noble, too just, to accept anyone,
even though she might love him, in
this underhand way.
/ raised the lid of the chest and re-
moved the blanket used as cover,
when my eyes caught sight of an arti-
Gle which had not been there before.
1t was letter, newly addressed and
stamped. took it up curiously and
instantly was thrown into perplexity.
Ii was in Grace's writing and addressed
to Adlow-the letter giving him her
decision. plainly saw how it hap
pened. Having written her accept
ance as / believed il TO he, she had
come into this room to look through
the chest, which had been as interest
ing To her as To me, and had accident
ally left the letter there. 1t was un-
sealed, and | stood still, crushing back
with violent self-scorn wild tempta-
ton to detain il. | took step toward
the door, with intent to call Grace,
when l heard heavy footsteps coming.
She came in, and found me with the
unsealed letter in my hand. She paus-
ed in sudden confusion, and I, distrac-
ted by the natural suspicion to which
the unsealed letter exposed me, could
only say
'Here is your letter, Grace"
"Have you read it," she said quickly
"A question she would not have asked
but for her confusion.
Grace" | said reproachfully.
"Plcase forgive me-" she cried, TAX
ing it from me. ''Of course you have
not, left it here by mistake
"And | have just found it. If you
will send il will mail it as | go TO the
train. am called away on business.
Mr.. Adlow will be here soon"
She had raised the envelope to her
lips, but now stopped and looked at me
in that same peculiar manner.
"Ralph," she said, ''will you
never
She blushed and dropped her head,
but there was tone in her voice
which came as an interpreter over
which | had SO often been puzzled. |
made two hasty steps forward, paused
doubtfully, and asked:
"Will | never what, Grace"
She looked up and | saw tears in her
eyes, but smile was breaking behind
them, and, dropping her head again,
she said softly and in her half daring
way:
"Never be anything but my boyish
lover"
"Boyish," I repeated, n new glad
light dawning upon my uncertainty. |
hurried to her and caught her hands
in mine. She let Inc have them, and
yielded trembliDgly as | drew her over
and sat with her on the old cedar chest.
"Can it be true" l cried, ''that your
amusement was only meant to hide
to hide"
"Just what yours was meant to hide,
wasn't it, Ralph" she interrupted,
coolly.
ayes, Grace, my love, which came
again as soon rs | saw you. But how
easily we might have missed each
other"
"Indeed we mig ht,n she answered.
Then in a moment, ''0h, I'm so glad;
and 70 think that this dear old chest
that We liked so in those happy days,
should be the means of making Us un-
derstand each other"
III u glorious. Anu "hat Il lieN'SuiS
| selected from it, | said merrily, TAX
ing the letter from her and holding it
up. Shall we go out and mail it?''
"Yes," she replied.
And so we went out, along the gravel
path and through the lane that led to
the village street, she carrying the let
ter in her hand; while the stars came
out above us like the cluster of bright
hopes that were already shining in our