The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1895-02-19
HE WAS MISERABLE.

''But, Grace, you will forgive me, won't
your Tell me you didn't mean what you
said just now.n
II don't think anything you could say
would make the matter BETTER" she said
coldly. and without another glance or word
she went up the stairs.
And the cause of all this was little in
cident that had happened the night before
"a mere trifle, as it seemed to Harry, but
something infinitely more to Grace Leslie.
Ever since the girl had been q tinnid
freshman and Harry sophomore In the
great university of M the two had known
each other, and in these last months there
had crept into their friendship something
which was making it very different thing
from the boy and girl acquaintance CT
former times.
But the day before our story opens Harry
had seen Grace on the campus and at part
ing said:
to try those songs"
And the girl had nodded assent, with the
laughing words:
"Well, don't forget. I'll never forgive
you If you do"
The evening came, but no Harry. Grace
had given up another engagement for the
sake of trying the songs with him, but the
hours wore away. and he did not come.
The next morning one of the small boys
| at the house where Grace boarded, who re-
| joiced in the rare, sweet name Of Tommy.
| came down to breakfast OVERLOOKING with
| the news of the night before. .
You ought'er have seen the boys down
| to Ipsi last night. Tore up all the fences in
| town. That King fellow was there, too,"
| with grin at Grace II saw him. and my,
| didn't he have good time, thought
$50 he cares more for some fun with a lot
! of rowdies than for me-" said Grace, and
| the proud look in the girls face boded no
| good for the unfortunate lover.
Harry had tried to explain that he had
been carried away by the enthusiasm of the
| moment when the plan was first proposed,
| but Grace would hear nothing.
So it happened that the young man went
| home that night with a little anger as well
! as pain in his heart. But though he tried
| his best to nourish the former, though he
called Grace hard, unforgiving and unreas-
| enable. yet in spite of himself very humble
letter found its way to the girl some weeks
| later, short and to the point:
DEAR GRAcE-Won't you forgive met I'm
| perfectly miserable. HARRY KING.
There was a softened look in the girls face
as she read, and the next morning Tommy
| started off with most important air and a
note tightly clasped in his chubby fingers.
But owing to a chance of meeting with
| some other small boys and the game of mar
bles which at once ensued Harry King never
received it, and so he knew nothing of the
! one line the note contained:
Come up tonight. GRACE.
The weeks went on, and December had
come. The snow had fallen heavily for sew
eral days, and Tommy rushed in one after
noon with eyes big and round.
''Been coasting. Had some bully fun
too"
So it happened that Grace found herself
that evening. together with a crowd of mer-
ry students, at the top of long hill. The
night was cold and clear-a perfect one for
coasting-and it was a very joyous crowd
that started off on the great bob down the
icy track.
Grace Leslie's heart had given a great
bound as she saw Harry Kings familiar
form among those in front of her. But she
was none the less gay, and no laugh rang
out more joyous than hers, though deer
down in her heart there was always the
thought, "How can ever meet him?'
They were almost down when careless
pull on the ropes turned the sled from the
track and in an instant it had struck a great
stone covered by the snow.
There was moments panic, and Grace
though she never knew how it happened
found herself in Harry Kings arms, with
his white, anxious face bending over her
and heard his passionate words:
MY darling, are you hurt?'
Grace did not answer, but her face wa.
very near to Harry's, and in the confusion
about them there was none to heed the two
in the snowbank. nor did the shining star
above tell any tales
Every one. however, noticed the girli
, silence for the rest of the evening and won
dered at it, but it was too dark to see tn,
happy look in the brown eyes.-Chicagt