Democratic Northwest and Henry County news. [volume] (Napoleon, O. [Ohio]) 1894-1905, 1895-12-12

you haUe acotded me. Why?"
acquainted. Without reply Marian led
the way to a garden seat and sat down.
There was q pause for brief space.
Then she said abruptly and curiously:
"You have avoided me. Why? Did
you give me up because was aippant?
Or is there some other reason?"
Hugh felt himself flush uncomfort-
ably, but her face was hidden now by
the tapping brim Of her hat as she toyed
with the bunch of syringa blossoms she
carried. Their sweet, heavy fragrance
rose in q love inspiring incense and. af-
fected him like the swing of sensu-
GUS tune.
BE gave quick, short laugh to hide
the feeling in his voice he could not
quite control
perhaps was afraid you would vote
me prosy with all the other failures +"
"You know better than to think
that" said Marian very softly, her eyes
heavy with reproach. "But never mind.
/ will not ask you why your interest in
me died. I prefer to believe it was for
no deeper reason than that you were
hard worked and I in New York for
days at time buying clothes.
When she spoke again, the old bitter
ness was in her voice.
"We are all dreadfully self sufficient.
Nothing after all-much as we may
fancy we prize it--nothing is really in
dispensable save money. Twas surprised
that did not miss my chats with you
more"
II am surprised that you missed them
at all" he said gravely. She flashed a
glance at him that was almost angry.
II leave here shortly. Mrs. Ventnor
goes to Newport in few days. I join
her later. Where are you going?'
"I may go for good bit of swim
ming and weeks fishing of Cape Cod
some time in August. I have not
thought much about it."
She rose slowly, shook out her fieecy
dress and gave him long, earnest look.
"You are not cut out for an idler, DR..
Larremore. But you should take long
holiday. Your eyes are too worn even
for such grave student Of human life
and its problems. :"
"You think so? Perhaps I shall take
your advice"
He walked down to the gate with her
in silence. 1t was almost dark now.
Romantic couples strolled by engrossed
with each other. From a neighboring
street the high voices of children sing
ing ring song came plaintively to
their ears.
There was ecstasy to Hugh in the
beauty of the night. The breath Of the
flowers, Marian's low tones, his sense
of her nearness, stirred the poetry in his
nature to its depths. They were silent.
But speech would only have Jared the
Unfolding, serene delight Of the twi-
light.
Suddenly he remembered Marks
coming and asked impulsively:
"You like to meet all sorts Of people,
don't you?''
''Just as some people collect books.
Some are labeled heavy, some light,
some trashy and some odd. 4"
"Have you given me place in that
eollection?" and there was a playful
menace in his voice
YES" with sudden seriousness.
"Yon are in very somber cover, but
wonderful truths one cannot forget are
CLEANED from you.
"That's very good Of you," said
Hugh, with a pleased laugh, "but ]
can't see your face to know If you are
in earnest. Now, in day or two ]
want to introduce man to you, differ.
ent from any you know. Among your
collection I dare say be will look very
uninviting. The cover will not only be
somber, bnt pitifully worn, but the
pages will read like the throbbing Of q
human heart. /"
"You make me curious. Who is hep
"a missionary. Mark Thorne. He
has spent ten years in Persia.
A low laugh that startled him came
to him out Of the shadows.
"a missionary"
Eyes"
"It will indeed be refreshing. I have
never known one. Fetch him and your
wife to dine with me il he arrives be-
fore 60.
She gave him her hand, and then, as
if she had forgotten that fact, but Of
which he remained intensely conscious,
paused to ask one more question.
lit has just occurred to me that you
have never spoken Of religion. Are you
religious?'' she asked, shade In her
voice, as if her brows were lifted.
II have no religion--at least, not
what most people would call a religion.
have my own blind yearnings after
that great something Iwould fain kneel
before. have not found 1t yet But as
Isearch for It in vain I receive enough
light from the invisible source to guide
my steps
"And what does it show your" came
softly from the shadow Of the big hat
II can only follow its truths very i'm.
perfectly. But know that man 3 homo,
is his souls nourishment, that it IL
right to help as well as can all those ]
meet who need Il. and''--- he paused
donhtfuljy
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