Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1895-06-15

he continued with a sadness when she,
being busy with her horse, winch had
become FESTIVE, did not notice, al
though she heard his words-"but
dare say you do not wish | should go
into all that again, do you|
"No," she answered, CURLY, an
moved that he should 50 ask her ii he
should speak of his love; and then, in
her annoyance annoyance he was
conscious Of although he could not
understand it--she struck her horse
and urged him forward so that he be.
gan ut once hard run, which carried
him and his rider quickly out of sight
before she could check and turn him,
as she tried almost at once to do.
When Mt last she succeeded, and came
back to where Gray had stood, he had
turned and was walking away, striking
at the plants along the path with his
cane, angry and hurt that his wound
should have been SO ruthlessly and 30
needlessly opened. But, in truth, it
had not gone far, if at all, toward
healing.
"Mr. Gray!" Ethel called, for he
was not yet out of hearing. MIR.
Gray, You had not finished" she went
on as he joined her.
"Einished?" he repeated. 81 don't
know. But / am sorry to have driven
you away by speaking of my love- l
shall not so offend again"
ooh, she responded, demurely.
"Besides." he continued, at once
breaking his promise, "you have told
me that | was able to make you be-
lieve that ] loved you. Why should |
speak of it again"
81 don't know, I am sure" was all
she could find to say
"Of course it is all over now. |
would like to assure you, though.
You were good enough, you know" he
explained, "to say that you had been
worried. | can only thank you for
your kindness and interest, and say,as
said before. that ! mean to do the
best can. will not be overcome, y
he added with determination, cor let
my life be ruined.
at will all he easy enough, ]
fancy" she returned.
"Dont," he pleaded. Don't say
anything 50 untrue. 1t will no be
easy"
"But you left me so suddenly last
night, and--aud-" she went on with
hesitation and evident embarrassment,
"and you began 50 soon to forget
and to he here and interested in other
things"
ooh, yes" he assented as she
paused, cont, at all events, | did not
begin to try to forget until you forced
me to. And" he continued, grimly,
81 have not succeeded very well,
either. But | will"
"Oh, certainly you will. There is
no doubt of that. There are SO many
things Il man can be interested in"
"Fortunately,a man is compelled to
beat least, | think fortunately. He
has his affairs. -
"That is just it!' she interrupted,
petulantly. ellis affairs, indeed! !"
Yes Gray went on, not needing,
apparently, the interruption. "And
it is fortunate for me that | am com
PEELED to be interested in my affairs,
is it not? If my way had all been
made fer me I could afford to nurse
my grief and to make much of it, and
| dare say | would. And that would
not be good to do, surely"
"No, l fancy not, she answered,
doubtrully, and then with quick
change of manner she asked him
But why did you leave me so sud
denly last night?"
"rhere are times when man can
not retreat too quickly he returned,
quietly, "and it seemed to Inc that
had come to one of them. 1t was all
or nothing with me. had been lover
so long--I was your lover, you know.
Even though you did not know it, ano
whether you wanted Inc to be or not,
was; and you do know it now. When
| could not he that | could not bt
anything. / have loved you-how cal
one tell? When did | first meet yoni
Ever since then ] think ] must have
loved you, and looked forward, ant
hoped to win your love and you.
was blind, perhaps, and deluded, bu
my hope WAS very real to me. Whel
that WAS killed, or gone, there wa
nothing let for me to do or say t.
YOU And / would not urge you;
would not plead for your love;
would not tell you that with it to hell
and encourage me | might viii
the world. PShaw! Although | di,
think it the one good thing whici
could come to me in life, | still dit
not want you to give it to Inc in pity
or because | wanted it and begged TO-
it. No; | wanted it only if you coul'
give it to me freely, and as right
That is all. "
ooh, that is"
Except" he interrupted, 81 wan
You to know that because you find me
as you said, trying to be interested II
all this" and with conprehenslv,
gesture he indicated all the fair view
before them "that / love you an
less or think your love any less goo
to have and to keep. But he wen
on, grimly, 1--WE know | can remem
Der how cruelty child suffers whe
he finds he cannot have the moon
But he lives through it. He has tc
alas !"
, ooh, l have no patience" she be
, gan; but interrupting herself, wei
, on, abruptly: ''If only You had bee
willing to trust mel"
, "rrust you!' he repeated, is aston
shment. 81 asked you to share a
my hopes. Why, asked you to b
my wife What stronger evidence {
trust can man give than that?"
"Oh, that - she said, contempt
ously.
"Well, that is of some consequence
+ though you speak as if it was OF nor
0 ut all. p"
"a man might ask a woman TIL
$ because he wanted wife.
: Eyes, he might"
n cor hac6use he thOuoh he owed s