The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-02-08

overwhelming her for an expression O
her feeling for him, which she was no
In the least prepared to give. She hat
not realized the depth of his love fo
hers was not at ell awsre OF the nal ur,
OF her feeling for him. She begged hin
To get up and then ne did so,+till entreai
Ing her answer. She blushingly and
brokenly told him she liked and trusted
him and had ths ggestest respect for. him,
and when he passionstely declared hs
wanted only her love, shs grew distressed
and assured him that her love could oaly
go where respect and trust preceded and
she was not sure she loved him as he had
a right to expect n wife to love.
"Give me time" she urged" to think
IL over and know just how 1 do feel,
and to talk with mother and sister Edith /;
you know tlSy are your friendsv'
So Roy,a q time, was persuaded that
Myrtle really could not give him an
answer az once, for, SAID she. You have
thought this over and have known what
you want, while / have not expected 1t
ana can't know ell at once. l couldn't
let myself love any one until knew be
| loved me" she concluded naively and so
can't make up my mind all at once"
After some talk. Myrtle promised she
would give an answer the night of Com
mencement day. "Don't mink OF ii until
then!" she urged msternally, "out give
yourself up to your st1dies and your
oration. You must do your best you
know"
Roy smiled in a superior fashion at the
thought OF forgetting his love, even for.
an instant, but agreed to what she pro-
posed, and then he took her to the door
where he bid her good night, not caring
to see any one else that night.
Myrtle went slowly into the house. She
wished she could go at once to her room,
without seeing anyone, but did not dare
to do SO, as her mother would worry, and
she would be questioned. So she forced
herself to 60 into the sitting room and
engage in the conversation but she ex-
cused herself in few minutes and went
to her room and sitting by the open win
dow went over, in her min d. all the details
of her acquaintance with Roy Claiming,
trying to decide il she loved him as he
ought to he loved. She recalled all his
loveable qualities and in the silence and
darkness she blushed as she acknowledged
TO herself that she liked him better than
she had ever liked any young man, and
that she would miss him--sh. yes She
Was that the test?
She did not know, but she heard Elsie
and Laura coming up stairs and the began
hastily to undress.
The next day on her return fro m
school, she went to her sister Editb's
room and gsining admittance, she sank
on footstool at her feet, saying faltcr-
ingly, "Oh, Eeitb, have something to
tell you, and want you to tell ne what
to do"
Mrs. Sharon threw aside her sewing
and pushing back the curls from Myrtle's
brow, passed her hand caressingly back
and forth as she asked tenderly, "what
is il pirlie?"
"I-You know" osgan Myrtle STAN
meringly.
"Why no, my child, l can't say do
knowP laughed her sister, "but you
promised to tell me!'
Myrtle laughed too. nervously, but
began again. swell, last night, Roy
MIR. Channing, / mean, asked me--told
me-"
She was stammeriug again, and sud-
denly light seemed to break upon Mrs.
compre ehension. She lifted up |
Myrtle's blushing face and said in sort |
of panic, "You don't mean that MIR.
to youv'
swell, presume 1t amounts to that!,
acknowledged Myrtle in wonder at her
sisters behavior. "He ssid he Loved me
and asked me IL could love him and b.
his wife,
"And what did you ssyP' demanded
Edith.
"I didn't say anvthing." said Myrtle
\ little shame facedIy.
"Didn't say anything!" echoed Mrs.
sharon.
"well, no, couldn't say for certain
whether love him or not, so asked him
'or time to think 1t over and talk with
vou and mother about it,"
"Have you spoken TO mother YETI"
'sked Mrs. Sharon.
"No. l wanted to see you first. You
ike Roy don't your" asked the girl
Ipxiously.
"Ub, I've nothing against Mr.. Chan
'ingl but am surprised for one
hing, and / do not think You have seen
nough Of society to chouse yet whom
'ou love, time" she heeitated, but Myr-
lie said, "Yes, and them"
"And then," continued Mrs. Sharon.
MIR. Claiming has no means OF his own,
nd no business and no profession. 1t
would be years before you could be mar
led, unless you are willing to hamper him
o ne cannot do his best. and suffer
'overty as we have always done. want
ny sisters to marty 40 a. to better them
elves! Then have an idea that he is one
( the visionary Kind that will never