New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-07-07

attitude and expression. sweet patnet'c ali
th.t made his heart beat faster with great
desire to comfort her.
Perhaps her thoughts were with that o'hei
fellow! While he trying to discover why ne
so disliked that other fellow Ruin gave d "'''e
sigh. and the sadness vanished from her iaoe
How perfectly idyllic this Is" she said' ""a'
a comfort It Is to be able to Sit silent WIG" o"o
feels inclined and not feel one Is playing INC
bore 1t IL a sign Of true friendship MALI"
could not do so with any one but you' ou' ~"
understand" She looked at him with sweet
grave smile I'VE ought to be good frienus st'er
knowing each other all these years. oughth
WEI"
Mark nodded. Friend always seems to me
such an inadeouate cold word" he said rrlehos
and acouaintances the same to me.
ooh no, Oh no. she cried "Acquaintances
mean so little, the are nothing nave ~
many hut OF friends so few. You are one OF
my chiefest. and
81 ALWAYS thought we were more than
friends" he said
"you silly boy. how could we be- she replied
with a little laugh but the laugh did not ring
true.
We'll you know what the old foiks
MARK. do you know that it Is nearly O'clock
and that I promised to be at Armstrong; a'
1870? We must really go In now
The Man got up rather unwillngly; ne was
uneasy somehow about Ruth; she seemeo u
have raised a barrier between then' a soe
thing that made him feel that she was less
his than he had chosen to consider her'
Later that day 1t occurred to him that he had
not thought Of the Irish girl for several hours
He did not think OF her until the moon rose
and he went out on the headland. and sat alone
with his pipe, and he onged TO make her aware
OF the fact.
"Rutb do Won feel inclined TO come for
strorl?" The Girl was sitting In large basket
chair In the garden on the CHI top III hei
hand she held a magazine, but she was h"t
reading it. she was looking out over the sea.
thinking thinking Of something which called
up a little smile to her lips
She looked 80 sweet and fresh, and cool. her
soft white gown showing her pretty, sunourht
cheeks and the glorious color OF her hair'
Mark approached her with his request almost
efficiently. During the last week or TWO ne
had found that she did not jump at his sug-
gestions with her old alacrity; In fact. 1t had
taken him all his time and all his tact TO Sc
cure her company At ALL and so occupied mad
he been that he had had no time to think at
all OF the Irish girl; at least. he mad only touhd
time of an evening over his pipe. and two OF
those evenings he had spent In thinking OF
Ruth. He was quite unhappy IN those DAYS
for az is usual in this life he had not APP
preciated the good things life held for him
until he felt he was likely to lose them
To-day. however. Ruth willingly consented
to accompany him. Let us go on the neather.
she said and you must talk TO me, for am
feeling fearfully lazy i,
So they stroed along the narrow lane IN
sprngy beds OF purple and white heather
stretched away for miles and the low hedges
were draped with festoons of honeysuckie ana
"old mans beard" Close 10 one OF these
hedges they found a seat or at least futh
found seat Mark did not want one. he lay on
the heather beside her
claimed as she leaned back against SOFT cush-
ion Of swee; scented thyme. III was super
stitious should say 1t was TOO good 10 ,as,
Il think II IT," said Mark rather mourn
fully I'VE seldom have walk or anything
else together now. Ruth" s,o,
No" She was not prepared for ms sudnea
IT, and determined 10 make the most OF IL.
Ruth. dear you have changed lately we are
not such good friends as we use' ~ 'e
Why is II? Tell me.
lie looked up at her. and from his lowly
position could every change In her race.
Don't be silly" she said. studiously averting
her eyes She stopped and gathered handful
OF heather which she promptly began 10 ne-
stroy and scatter In htte showers osrr a m,
became herself again. Get into "A more COM
Portable position" she said. smiling down a, at
him. land talk TO me. ! must De amused
So the Man with Sigh lay down on MS
heather couch and began To talk. In those
DAYS he ala anything the Girl told him. ana
everything he could think or TO please her.
Presently he began to talk or MS ia'e Vis.' 10
London that visit on the subject OF which he
had hitherto been so silent.
And those Irish people. said the .,isl W.,
conccrnedly Idly sticking pieces or heather III
his curls while she looked keenly down on ms
face The top OF his head was toward her' MS
eyes we're fixed on the blue sea. where II APP
did not see her why do you not ask them
down here? You were so much with them ana
liked them So am sure you would De gao 10
have them 49,, 49,, n
No answer The Girl stuck another piece OF
heather In his hair then took II all our again,
Il am sure should have liked to nave me, me,
them I think | should have liked the siri
awfuy'
Il know you would not" ,.r..
why? | think we should get on beautfuiiy
y am sure Won would not She is not your
style at all
What style is She"
"Oh don't know She Is an awfui n'r'' anu
not good form at all"
oh silence ensued for about hve MN
utes then the Man rolled over. ana painting
his elbows In the heather looked up ueuei
mnedly In his companions face An ihNn"s
OF the truth had reached his brain
Ruth. must know. 1t is only fair thar you
should tell me why you lay Chanseu 80
made no attempt to reply. Won't you tel
me-" he said wistfully; you are making me
very miserable dear" His voice was quite sad
and pleading. 1t touched the Girl IN spite Oh
herself ,. -.
II am? Oh. Mark" The tears almost came
into her eyes. but she smiled instead How can
| make YOU unhappy?
because I love you Ruth. and cannot bear
,bis something that has risen between us: II
drive. me mad Ruth. my dear little girl. don't
YOU know how love you and that want you
To be something very very much nearer thah
frcnd?"
The smile died away from her face she grew
very male and her fingers trembled a little as
che played with the heather. but she spoke
calmly. almost coldly. i did not KNOW IL WAS
me YOU loved" She said
IL have never loved any one else not with
real love such as | have for you. l may have
admired Others yes and perhaps thought my
self in love with them for time: but that Is all
w. - -. -. I'm, a. Ia