The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1895-04-09

and saucy disregard Of his opinion
pleased him better than Augustus 8
| unvarying politeness or Gertrude's
cleverness. His eyes followed her ev-
! cry movement wistful light in them
that sometimes touched Jim.
Larry was curled up in a deep win
dow sill, overlooking the park, basking
in the sun, for she was a veritable
Persian in her love Of sunlight, when
Professor Chesney came into the room.
BE leaned against the side Of the win
dow, looking at the picture she made
| in her quaint puffed and furbelowed
! gown, the sunlight falling on her brown
! head.
Larry looked up, nodded with smile
that showed her small white teeth, and
settled back in her original position,
waiting for him to speak. And so he
did after a while, but not as she e1-
pected.
Il am going away tomorrow, Miss
Larry" he said. 'My pleasant visit has
colle 10 an enQ all 100 SoOn.'
Tomorrow" echoed the girl, sitting
up straight Il am very sorry you arc
going"
And, much to her own surprise, sha
realized that the remark was perfectly
sincere.
Il am glad to hear you say that" said
the Professor, trying to keep his voice
steady. ut makes it little easier to
LAY something that is In my heart"
Then he told his story in warm, eager
words, very qpNkehts. usual calm tones
words Larry strangely.
There waEa qS$ expression on her
pale face as she stood before him.
Professor Chesney," she said, with
luivering lips, Il am not worth the
love you have offered me. You'll real
ize that when I tell you that 1 have
only been pleasant and civil to you all
: these weeks, not for liking for you, but
, TOTO plague the others
Thoroughly ashamed, she bent her
DEAD, unable to meet his eyes.
"You mean that you have deliberately
played part all these weeks? You
whom I thought so frank and true?
How could you do it? Then you have
not the slightest love for me in your
heart-that suppose, is out Of tho
question"
There was hurt, shocked tone in his
voice that touched Larry keenly.
"I don't love you," she answered, "but
{ shall be very grateful If, after what
! have told you, you will let me be your
friend"
She put out her hand and moved
step nearer to him, but to her NORTH
cation her extended hand remained un-
touched.
"By and by I may be able to appra
.iate your offer. I shall try, but you've
taught me hard lesson, Larry, one I'm
not likely to forget Perhaps I ought TO
have known better"-but with a break
in his voice-"I'm not used to women.
I'm only an old fossil, after ALL"
And without another word he left her
Up in her room Larry was still moro
surprised to find a bit Of crying neces-
sary. She could not account for the
unhappy feeling that took possession
Of her as she reviewed the past weeks
and realized that the kindly, pleasant
companionship she had accepted so
heedleSsly was at an end.
II suppose he'll hate me now and for
ever more" she thought between. her
sobs, "but how could I say I loved him
when I didn't"
Then she sobbed all the harder.
= The Professor left the next afternoon
while Larry was out
A box Of white roses lay on the table
addressed to her, a card attached, on
which was written: Prom your friend,
Roger Chesney" That was ALL but she
guessed dimly what an effort it cost him
to write it.
With trembling fingers she made
three parts Of the flowers and gave
them to her mother and sisters.
IT don't want them," she said proud
~, in answer to her mothers relnon-
strange. Il was only civil to him to
please you all"
Jim noticed that the brilliant eyes
we're full Of tears and that she took
the card away with her.
"It must be q relief to you to have
him goEe,' he said, as they stood for q
moment in the hall. Association with
such serious man must have been 4
trial to you"
He was unprepared for the way she
iamed out at him.
'Snch a trial as makes ME more will.
Ing to accept the statement that man is
made after Gods own image and pos
scsses some sod-like attributes. Now
Elp'