The Dickinson press., 1896-09-19

"oh. you happened to hear ana be
looking at him gravely, and he blushed
more than ever, tried to spesk. fsiied
and left me In q hurry.
I wondered what had been the re-
suit Of the party, and that afternoon I
went to find out. The maid left me in
the hall, saying she would see IL her
mistress would see me. lam so used to
making mystelf at home In Joan's
house that the girls formality annoyed
me, and, to assert my old footing, I
pushed open the dining room door,
meaning to wait there.
The room was dim, but I saw two
figures very close together, which dis
entangled themselves when they saw
me. aud one gave a little shrek.
pardon" And in confusion I retired
to the hall. l had seen that the second
figure was Simmons. Does Joan
know I wondered. Before I could
satisfy myself l heard the drawing
room door slammed, and q man rushed
down stairs. 1t was Stamford, looking
very ross. He did not see me till I
ventured to speak to him; then he
glared, muttered something, seized his
hat and left the house.
l went slowly up stairs and into the
drawing room. Joan was standing by
the mantelpiece with her handkerchief
In her hand. She was crying and gave
a little jump when she heard me.
"Oh, is it you, Jim? Why did you
come up? l can't see any one"
II am nj one," said I. "VVhat's the
matter?"
Nothing" she said.
Nonsense" I said, with severity.
"Come, tell me all about it, as you
used to do when your dolls were
broken" l pushed a chair toward her,
and she sank into it with a sob.
1--we been such a foolr'' she said. 1T
can never respect myself again"
"Is it as bad as that?' said /.
Worse. You were right when you
said matchmaking was dangerous. 1t
is, horribly"
"Ah! You've burnt your ingers"
And for no purpose. Biddy and
II know" l said. "They are in the
drawing room. 1 disturbed them. But
surely Stamford does not blame your"
"Of course he does" She dabbed
her eyes. "He thought-he didn't un-
derstand-he imagined-men are so
vain" She stopped short.
"What did he imagine?" I asked.
"That it was for my own sake" she
faltered.
"Good graciousw I cried. "And you
have just u%ndeceived him?"
ut was dreadful, Jim. He thought l
cared for him, as he did for me, and
when he found out that it was a mis-
take he was awfully upset. He said I
made a fool Of him and that he would
leave England and go away" And
the poor little woman broke down.
l let her sob q few minutes, then I
said: "Was it a mistake? Do you
want him to stay in England?"
Il don't want to drive him away"
she sobbed.
"That is not what 1 mean," I said.
do you love him after all?"
She hesitated. THAT'S a horrid
thing to ASK" she said.
"Never mind" I said, sternly. IF
you don't love him"
But I do! That's the awful part of
It," she cried. "I've only just found it
out, and how could I tell him 1 did
when he took it for granted I'd been
running after him? l had to let him
think it was o mistake or despise my
self all my life"
YOU'RE in a mess. JOAN" said I.
"Shall I tell him?"
"Not q wordw she cried.
Just then l caught sight of a pair Of
mems gloves on a chair. care those
his gloves! l said, pointing to them.
"Oh, yes" she cried, catching them
up.
'They are a good pair He will be
sorry to lose Them" l satS. Suppose
you write and tell him that they are
here and suggest he should call for
them?"
Jim, you're an angelw she cried.
Mrs. Stamford has aba .doned match
making.-St. Paul's.