Semi-weekly independent. (Plymouth, Marshall County, Ind.) 1895-1897, 1896-02-01

III ~ a''N
Don't be silly she said. studiouSly
averting her eyes. II stopped and
gathered Il handful of heather. which
she promptly began to destroy and scat
ter in little showers over her white
gown. In Il moment she recovered and
became herself again. Get into Il more
comfortable position" she said. smil-
ing down at him. and talk To me. ].
must be amused" SO the man. with a
sigh. lay down on his heather couch
and began To talk. In those days he
did anything the girl told him and ev-
erything he could think of 10 please
her. Presently he began to talk of his
late visit to London. that visit on the
subject of which he had hitherto been
so silent.
And those Irish people" said the
girl. unconcernedly. idly sticking pieces
of heather in his curls. while SHE looked
keenly down on his face. The top Of
his head was toward her: his eyes We're
fixed ON the blue sea, where ii appeared
for away in the distance. so that he did
not see her. "Why do You not ask
them down here? You were so much
with them and liked them so | am sure
YOU would be glad to have them"
No answer. The girl stuck another
piece of heather in his hair. then look
it all out again. Il am sure | should
have liked to have met them. | think
| should have liked the girl awfully."
Il know YOU would not
why? | think we should get on
beautifully together
II am sure you would not. She is not
your style at all"
what style is she:'
"Oh. | don't know. She is an awful
firt and lot good form at all"
OH \ silence ensued for about
! five minutes; then the man rolled over,
ard. planting his elbows in the heather,
looked up d~eterminedly into his com
panion's face. An inkling of the truth
had reached his brain.
Ruth. must know. 1t is only fair
that you should tell me why you have
changed so to me-" Dead silence. The
girl looked away and made no attempt
to reply. Wont you tell me- he said.
wistfully. You are making me very
miserable. dear" His voice was quite
in spite of herself.
Il am? oh, Mark The tears al
most came into her eyes. but she smiled
instead. How can | make YOU I'M
happy
because l love YOU. Ruth, and | can
not bear this something that has risen
up between us; it drives nj mad. Ruth.
my dear little girl. don't you know how
| love You. and that | want you to be
something very, very much nearer than
Il friend:'
The smile died away from her face;
she grew very pale and her fingers
trembled n little as she played with
the heather, but she spoke calmly, al
most coldly. Il did not know it was
me you loved" she said.
Il have loved anyone else, not
with Il real love, such as | have for
you. | may have admired others-yes.
and perhaps thought myself in love
with them for Il time. but that is all SO
different; YOU know it is"
YES, | think know" she said, but
it might happen again
Il do not think it would" he said.
seriously. Il never knew until | came
back this time. and-and began to feel
that | might lose you. how much |
love YOU. dear" He wondered then
why she smiled SO oddly. You must
have seen it. Ruth
But. Mark. how about that other
girl, that Irish girl? Aren't you-don't
you-care for her.
Pooh said the man with unfciGncd
scOrn. care for her: | never did.
one may flirt with Il girl like that. but
rs to loving her, or-marryinS her
well. | pity the poor fool who does. She
flirts nbominably."
Then the girl smiled again. Il tri-
umphant little smile. quite unintelligi-
BILE to the man. She knew that her
course of treatment had been success
full; the cure was complete.
why do you smilc:' the man asked,
p~crpleXcd.
..Hccausc-oh-because l am SO hap
py."
Happy? Do o mean that" catch
ing one of her hands and kissing it
p~assionately. 'Then it is To be-may
| tell the old folks that it has all come
about as they wished? Look at me-,
child, and tell me that you really mean
ii. that you do care"
Still she looked away. intent on tear
ing up the unfortunate heather by her
side. The man watched her in silent
dismay; he could not understand her in
this variable mood.
"You do not care" he said ut last.
when the silence had become unbeara-
bic. You do not care and you cannot
make Yourself" There was IL great
sadness in his voice, his face seemed
in n moment to have aged and grown
haggard. He turned over and proppcd
himself on one elbow, with his face well
away from hers.
Something was laid on his bowed
head.
1t was Ruth's little hand. mark"
she said, softly.