The Neihart herald. [volume] (Neihart, Mont.) 1890-1901, 1897-01-23

trait. Then she closed the album
and looked again at me.
There was a look in her eyes such
as / had never seen there before. II
was of wonder en1ket of pity-pity
for me, who considered myself. the
happiest man on earth.
But that was the way with Kate.
If she's a woman of resource, she's
a woman of surprises as we'll. With
her 1t is usually the unexpected that
happens.
II have performed my part of the
bargain, Kate. / have satisfied your
curiosity. Will you now have the
courtesy to perform yours? You
have written a certain name upon a
piece of paper. Will you have the
kindness to hand it to me?"
81 cannot, Bob; I cannot"
] caught a distinct tremor in her
voice as she said it.
How so? You decline to show
me that paper?"
II promised to give it to you after
you had shown me the portrait, but
/ did not say Immediately after. You
shall see it some day. I promise
you"
"a sheer evasion, Kate, and not
like you. However, it is a matter of
little consequence"
"Of little consequence, as you
say"
1.-THE one important thing is that
/ have made a great discovery all
through that album. You guess what
it is. Kate2"
"That-that''- she stammered.
"That- Miriam Mowbray loves
me-, / said triumphantly.
She glanced at me again with that
look ] had just before seen in her
eyes-half pity, half wonder-then
she said TREMENDOUSLY:
"You-you will speak to her to-
morrow, will you not?"
Eyes, Kate. You are the only one
to whom l have whispered my Sc
cret, and-and I know you wish me
good luck in my wooing."
I'm that and in all things, Bob"
The sweet eyes looked straight in
to mine as she held out her hand. I
held 1t for a moment; then she with
drew it hastily and escaped from the
| room.
The next day / visited the Now
brays. The time was opportune. Mr..
Mowbray was out, but Miss Now
bray was in.
hurry over that disastrous inter-
view. 1 urged my suit with what
eloquenoe I could command. My
proposal was at first received with
chilling silence, and then came the
crushing intimation that it was de-
| olined.
/ will do her the justice, however,
to say that she let down a fellow as
gently as the circumstances would
permit.
She acknowledged to me that she
loved another, and I believe there
were tears in her eyes-I am certain
there we're in her voice-as she made
the confession. Her father, she can
didly admitted, was opposed. to her
lover and had declined to sanction
his advances. He had promised,
however, to reconsider his verdict
in the event of the young fellows
prospects improving in three years.
That time had nearly elapsed. I'm
til that time had elapsed they had
given their sacred word of honor
that the secret of their love for each
other should not be disclosed, and
they had further promised that NO
communication should pass between
them.
I could not but admire a woman
who remained thus faithful both to
her father and her lover, even
though that fidelity proved at the
same time the deathblow to my
hopes.
] think that I stammered out
something to that effect as l bowed
myself from the room and kept ask.
ing myself, "Who is the mysterious
lover, and why was she SO absorb.
ed in my portrait in the album"
Life seemed very hlank to me
when l stood once more in the street,
What should / do now? / scarce
knew. One thing, however, was
very certain. Before / did anything
/ must first consult my ohum-my
ohum Kate.
/ turned my steps to her home,
Here a greater disaster awaited me.
Kate had left Templeton that morn.
ing on a visit to an aunt in Durham,
1t was quite uncertain when she
would return, but she would not be
back for a month at least.
1t was not until a day or two haG
passed that I began to realize all
had lost in the sweet oompanionshiI
of Kate. 1t was not merely her 10y
atty, her unfailing brightness ani
sympathy, but not till then did l un
derstand the gap she had filled il
the last three years in my life.
You will say that I was fickle, i'm
questionable, infrin of purpose, lack
ing resolution and q knowledge o.
my own mind. Well, l am oonten'