New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-03-15
"rO yOI, MY LOVE. TO YOU"


beginning to be frightened at my own audaclty
In putting the question at all.
Miss Runciman began to smile Her eyes
sparkIed She glanced down at the paper
crushed in her grasp. And !. foiiowihe her
GLANCE had curious notion that that strong
hand might crush great many things
But before she made any reply she put her bas-
ket on the ground and examined the paper.
"Ah.' she said. "ten years ago! Newspaper
rot ten years old! Who has been giving you ''iS
STUFF"
Her eyes travelled over the columns as she
spoke.
Miss Rachel Cobb" replied concisely.
..Oh! And she is doubtless watching us no"
from somewhere. Yes. there she Is!
Certainly. Rachel was still LOOKING '"roue"
the window over the sink.
Miss Runciman nodded at the face as seen
through the glass.
Good morning. Miss Cobb she called out
Miss Cobb left her place of observation and
came to the open door. She looked confused.
"1t was 'Melia Rilrs paper" she said. Her
brother 'Gustus has worked in Philadelphy Tor
a good many years"
She actually had the air Of apologzing.
.rm sure you ought to be grateful to 'Meiia
Rill" responded Miss Runciman. you are
aren't your
Yves" answered Rachel. and then. hastily, I
mean no: amt grateful; don't care nothin
about II; 1t amt moth to me-
"But YOU saved the paper my dear Miss Cobb.
You had a feeling that you'd need 1t some tme'
eh?"
The sneakers ewes. with metallic brightness,
looked over the old maids figure in relentless
way.
Rachel rallied She stood more firmly. and she
-...oa Tho side NJ the door with one hand. Her
little pg-like face grew Drawer
"I d'know" she said. "'s you need to look at
me like that Miss Runciman. II you be MISS
Runciman or whoever you be- anyway guess
I'VE got a right to 'Melia Rilrs old papers II
Iwant to. Yes" gathering courage IN guess
I've got right to show um too
"Bravo,, cried Miss Runciman. and there was
such a sneer in her face and voice that quite
shrank for Rachel's sake
81 dknow what you mean by your outianuish
words" said the woman in the doorway
She turned away and ast down. l could see
her sitting there looking white and tired
Miss Runcman saw her. too and the next mo-
ment her aspect changed. The glitter left her
eyes She advanced to the doorway no" CUT
dial her voice was as she said:
I'VE are not going to quarrel. though. are We
>t,.. Cobb? II you knew much about public
use and newspaper as do you wouldn't have
saved this thing" dropping the paper on the
Noor She had now evidently cast the Whole
matter behind her. She went on, still win 'ha'
air OF eoodfellowship: II do hope your mems
have laid some more eggs. Miss Copo. want
every one you can spare.
pache, drew a long breath She gazed Won
aer,nsIy at the woman before her. l don't Know
why there seemed something pitiable In her ap-
pearance to me at that moment. her race
changed from its expression OF anger ana suspi-
c,on TO something had never before seen on her
countenance But then had never taken much
notice OF Rachel Cobb's face. save to be glad
mine was not like II. not that mine was any '"ihs
TO boast Of, heaven knows.
She rose: she extended her hand for the bas-
ket.
"I guess I en- spare you a few" she said.
"you'd better come in while git um."
As Miss Runcirnan stepped over the threshold
T walked away But I purposely kept In the
path that she would naturally take when she
returned to her carriage.
Presently sat down under a tree and waited
It was very hot; the tree branches hardiy pro-
,ected me from the afternoon sun that Kept
searching me out more and more warmly. But
was not hot was cold / seemed to be cold
with suspicious questioning. Who was Mrs
Drew Hollander, and why wouldn't she stand by
the prima donna? And perhaps, IL rather kne"
about those paragraphs even he would withdraw
his consent to my going with that woman. Anc
rept thinking of what mother had said about
something that was giittering but was not good
more and more was convinced that must
ana ont for myself whether 1t was good or not.
rha aim was certainly very bright. turned
y.,re,ched myself out on the grass. with my head
a that nv gaze could take In the space down be
,o~, there at the foot Of the falls. The lovely
mist rose I'D from the falling water; heard INT
.os, monotone Of the falls. Yes and IN mo
..,. : heard something else female voice. no
90 ,-o,, me beginning to sing. held mysel
r,r,d,v still. for did not wish to lose note.
30. .ur. u was Bathsheba Hildreth singing. A
49,, .he seemed to be playing with few notes
,n..,rv them about and catching them again
had always envied the possessor OF con
tralto voice, and now began to envy TINS girl
I couldn't make out at all what sne WAS shs
In. ,or n last she did sing some song-or ratne
a sort OF recitative. which chansed 'n'o so'e
ros,,ow and sweet, and persuasive. but surel
,.oI,r. somehow. I was wicked. for was dis
tinctly glad that this voice was lacking. kne'
was mean-spirited. Gradually sat up. that
might listen the better. 1 had no more tina
Gained An upright, sitting position than the sins
ing .topped and at the same moment was say
ing TO myself: "She fats; 1t is horrible to nat
began 10 20 over In my mind. on higher ke!
what had Just heard. ....
Almost Immediately a mans voice. iurtne
.wav' Vane Hildreth's voice. took up the tun
iishtly. but dropped 1t directly to say, VII
brotherly frankness: ... ,
Il don't see that you get over your Hating
the least"
II didn't ask you whether did or not" wa
the retort. .a ~,
There was q slight rustling then nano pc
sside a branch close to me. and Miss Hildretn
ace appeared among the green leaves.
ssYou'ye been listeningr' she exclaimed
nodded. usu ..r.
hesitated. then I nodded again.
"Oh the devil you do! said this young iao
Ehsn- You mustn't m'nd my saying 'ne ue'