Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1897-11-25
MERELY MUCH.

haven WEI she said meditatively.
Eyes. we've had good time," he
echoed.
And now we have to say goodby,"
she went ON, with an elaborate air OF
satisfaction.
And to-metaphorically speaking,
of course-drink to our next meeting"
he said.
II don't know, . doubtfully. "A poor
imitation of past pleasure is bad ex-
change for the pleasant memory of it. "
"Ah, / see!" His voice had little
bitterness in its tone "You and l are to
be only pleasant memories to each other
from this time forth?'
"Only! Isn't that great deal? Life
holds nothing sweeter than the remem-
brance of happiness.
He was silent for a moment. The
drawing room windows, overlooking the
promenade. with the sea beyond, were
wide open. A troop of negro minstrels
was performing just beneath, and the
we'll known chorus of negro song, ac-
companied by the usual bones and tam
bourines, was waited into the room.
you forget, he said at last, 1.-THE
delights of anticipation. Suppose, for
instance, that you and l, instead Of
making up our minds that our friend
ship is at an end, were to look forward
to another meeting
She shook her head.
mo, it is better not The past we
know is pleasant; the future-is uncer-
tain. -
You are full of wisdom, he re-
marked sarcastically. "Do you always
reduce sentiment to the level of an al
gebraical equation?"
Don't, please. l assure you l am
not enjoying myself at this moment
But l hate an anticlimax
"Anticlimax! Why, we have reached
no climax at all yet, he protested.
Haven't we?'
She was looking at him now through
half closed lids and smiling.
He started at the new thoughts her
little question raised Had they indeed
reached their climax and passed it? He
experienced a twinge of regret as the
idea forced itself upon him.
You are the most consummate firt
l know" he said slowly.
There seemed to be good deal of ir-
relevance in the remark, and her eye
brows raised themselves in protest.
"Oh, no. / am in earnest, and fiirt
is light, airy creature, with no seri-
BUSINESS in her. "
"That is only one kind and the least
dangerous. You make of Irritation a
fine art. F"
"You do me too much honor. But,
seriously, do not agree with you. You
see, / am no idealist. prefer the truth
even if it be unpleasant, to the pretty
thing which is all "a sham. "
but l do not understand you, Bar
bara. The pretty thing is not necessari-
ly sham. .
'No, know. But very often it is"
she answered bitterly. Anyway l
will not tempt the fates. The remem-
brance of our friendship, though it has
been SO short-or perhaps because it
has been SO short-will always be
sweet. In little while the passing of
the weeks and months will almost ethe-
realize it. | should like to keep it so. +"
He sighed impatiently and replied
IF that sort of thing gives you any
satisfaction it is perhaps better to part,
for TO me it is sheer nonsense. "
''If we tried to bring the old time
back again." she went on without
needing his remark, "to pick up the
threads two or three months hence were
we put them down today, it would be
failure The pretty gossamer thing
which we have woven would break.
No, Dan, / am going to say 'Goodby,'
and-hope we shall not meet again. -
Is there no other way?'
He lowered his voice and looked
downtown into her eyes. His own
were puzzled and unhappy, and he held
his breath for her answer. He scarcely
knew what he hoped it would be.
Il don't think so. "
He turned away with a sigh in which
many conflicting emotions were blended
and watched the little waves ripping
over the beach. She crossed over to the
pier glass and Strengthened her hat and
veil
A fly drove up TO the door and the
driver got down and rang the bell
"Goodby, she said, holding out her
hand
He came from the window and held
her fingers in a close grasp.
Are you quite sure Barbara
Her hand was Oh the door now, but
she turned round as he spoke.
"Are your" she asked
"I-don't know"
Neither do l. !"
1--WE have been very happy together. ="
"Yes-for four weeks. -
Then why not for always? Shall we
risk it, Barbara"
No; ii is too great.
Then it must be Goodbye"
Yes, goodby."
He opened the door for her and she
passed out, without looking back, down
the steps and into the waiting vehicle
The driver mounted the box and drove
off.
She turned and waved her farewell
to the man, standing on the steps There