Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1897-11-25

She hides her face in her hands be-
cause she cannot bear that look in his,
or that craving quest of the great gray
eyes.
Jack Dangerfeld is quite still for a
minute, only he draws his breath with
one hard sigh.
"Are you sorry for me?" he says, at
last, in a whisper. "God knows need
it."
"Tm so sorry! I'd give up my life to
to comfort you. Jack, if you'd only
let me be your friend--your sister" .
There is grim, heartsick smile on
Jacks mouth at this purely womanly
suggestion. His teeth shut together
for a minute till they grit, and he turns
his face away.
ETHEL, between you and me there
never could be any other love but-but
the one, and that's impossible. I've
wiped the last chance out years ago,
and l knew it when looked in your
face the first time. l never was mad
enough to hope it, child. l only used
to think of it sometimes-how it might
be if 1 had q new life to live, and your
hand to hold all the way"
He drops his head on her knees, and
the little, soft, womanly hand creepS
over it, touching the dark hair pitifully.
"Will you let me tell you something?
Nobody ever knew it, and nobody ever
wilt-except you. l want You to know
how sorry I can be for this, and-and-
why it is so utterly impossible. I had
my chance of happiness once, Jack, "
with a pitiful little smile, 'and I killed
it myself-the only love ever cared for
and wanted, or ever shall, l put away
from me-just by my own folly; and
there is nothing more hopclessly dead
and gone than my chance of ever being
glad again n this world, Jack"
He has no answer for a minute, eX-
eept to take up her two hands and kiss
them. Not passionately now, only rev.
erenty, as if they were something holy
-tenderly as mother would kiss her
sick and sorrowful child.
"You see it never could be as-as you
wish it," she says, dropping her face.
81 never could give another man what
I gave him. And he never will know it
now, or know I'm sorry-but that is my
punishment. Jack, don't talk about i
10 me-" she breaks off, drawing her
hands from his with a sudden shiver Of
pain. cts all hopeless and over and
done with, and shall never care for
myself again, whether live or die; but
I do care for You, dear, and I want to
help you, if you'll lei me; if you show
me the way to make some one living
creature a littlo happier or better be-
rause of me-"
Her voice and her eyes are full of
tears, but he does not seem to see or
hear them.
There is a soft roll of carriage wheels
outside in the night; Mrs. Dangerfeld
is coming from her ball.
AS Ethel hears it, she springs up; and,
so doing, gives little cry as something
falls flashing from her dress and rolls
on the carpet.
my locket!-oh, take care!" for Jack
steps aside quickly-too quickly.
The little blue-and-gold toy that he
has seen every day round her neck lay
Just at his feet, and his boot-heel has
crushed it as Ethel cries out to him.
He drops on one knee to picki up.
"By Jove! I'm sorry-I didn't see it.
It's too bad. I'm awfully sorry. Ethel"
What had Mr.. Dangerfeld discovered?
4 name inside the golden circlet, and
the small colored likeness Of mans
face-a comely face enough, blue-eged
and fair, and full of rightroyal pride.
His eyes rest greedily on it for sec
ond, and then flush up into hers. They
ask single question, and they have
! their answer.
Give il to mel" cries Ethel, hurriedly,
the blood rushing holly to her face.
"Oh, let me go! Don't let them find me
here"
He let her CO. There is no more now
to ask or hear. And when the night key
rattles in the lock, and Mrs. Danger
field and her daughters troop rustling
into the hall, they see Jack standing
alone in the parlor, lighting cigar as
he leans against the mantelpiece, star
ing at the mirrors faithful reflection
of his nonchalant, handsome face.
Jack, have you any engagement for
/