The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-02-15

life-a full stop between two sentences
is that it?"
YES" he said carelessly, "a paren-
thesis-a pleasant parenthesis."
He didn't know it would be his last
word with her at Brescoe. When he
rode up few days later he found Miss
Marjoram had gone. She had been sent
for suddenly-abroad, Mrs. Greenfield
said. The telegram was lying on the
table. He picked it up mechanically.
1t was addressed to the Honorable
Mary Marjoram by Lady Joanna Pier
pont, at Bordighera, and said merely,
Come at once"
1T seems" remarked the landlady,
standing by, that she was quite
great lady-a writer, and rich with
my Lady Joanna Pierpont for aunt,
and all sorts Of fine connections. But
she had disagreed with them. The old
lady wanted her to stay at home and
do nothing, and Miss Marjoram wanted
to go out and do a great deal. She told
me she got tired Of sitting on cushion
and sewing fine seam. Well, it's eV
eryOne to her taste. And, whatever
hers were, she was the pleasantest
spoken young lady l ever came across"
WorSley Frere rode home slowly,
and, going. found himself face to face
suddenly entered into his life and he
was trying to argue it away. He Ia
bored for night and day, and then
he told Mrs. John Frere that he was
going to take run to the continent
preparatory to his voyage to Africa
1t was just a week later that he came
across a slight figure leaning-in a brief alb
sence from sick room-toward the sleeping
Mediterranean. The palms and villas OF
Bordighera were around; behind steeply and
sharply, rose the picturesque buildings OF
the old town, the cathedral dominating them.
He was man of prompt measures. and,
made you do it," he asked quietly, sitting
down beside her and displacing an armful
of roses she had laid along the seat
She turned, and a quick, unbidden glow
sprang into her eyes.
"a love of the unconventional she said
lightly; the same reason that made me shy
against poor Aunt Joanna's social routine
and turn journalist. 1 came to Brescoe to
contribute column on it's cottage hospital,
and l met-yes, it must have been there I
met you. l wonder, shall we meet again, for
l must go to my invalid now. She is very
Ill. Goodby.''
Her casual manner angered him.
This is ridicu;ously inadequate to the oc-
casion," he said firmly. getting up and stand
ing SO that she could not pass him. I'VE
meet after ten days-days that have meant
much to me-and you wonder fiippantly
whether we shall see each other again.
Yes she acquiesced, with her eyes
finchingly on him. Her hands were trem-
bling, though.
Don't you know that I have travelled
two days to see you-to ask an explanation
which our frequent intercourse and your
whm justify?"
"Whim!'' she said coldly; "to you, at
least, l am not called on to explain my
tons The time was mere breathing space
"a lull. couldn't help the accident any
| more than 1 could help being indebted to
you
He folded his arms, looking at her, but
her eyes were on the curve Of the bay that
held the silent sea.
You could help the deception. Why
should you have pretended to be what you
were not?'
She faced round on him suddenly.
Because" she said fiercely-"because
happen to be one Of those unlucky women
who can't find their whole content in nurs-
ing poodle, writing twenty letters a morn
ing, driving out once a day, and being
fawned on for their expectations. 1 got
away from it all-for year. 1t was Aunt
reed over TT ven e o we vrn
But I don't see why, having taken up my
anonymity, L should drop it again. l was
Miss Marjoram simply-a woman with call
ing when l left Aunt Joanna. Why should
l be anything more to you, Of whom I knew
so little?"
I've met under exceptional circumstances.
She interrupted him. "Our intercourse!
What was it? A parenthesis-a pleasant pa
renthesis in two busy lives. 1t was passed
And the sentence goes on if it had never
been. 1t was your own phrase"
my own phrase!" he echoed. PERHAPS
so-a week ago. Women haven't the monop-
mine That month is sentence, chapter, book
itself to me-"
She moved from him, fear in her eyes,
You are testing Mr.. Frere" she said
under her breath. cit is a poor revenge
"Revenge!" he said in his deep, vibrant
tones. You are hard to melt and harder
to Cannot you tell, Mary-cannot YOU
tell l am in earnest?"
Over the sea the darkness was stealing;
the sibilant Groom Of the waves came up TO
their ears from below But still Mary Mar
itS nj hTnoc ri
silent. To their right the feint lines Of the
distant Esterels, Mentone, Monte Carlo and
the grand dim mountains; below. the muir
murous Mediterranean; around unbroken
hush wherein two hearts alone seemed to
beat.
At last he moved toward her, covering her
restored but still delicate hand with his
strong one. Then she looked at him. some
thing else than fear dawning in her eyes,
If surrender was in them with tears, she
would not let 1t pass into her words.
II thought the lady journalist headed the
list of your aversons, Mr.. Frere?" But the
assumption Of audacity did not deceive him.
"A week ago. Now, If you would sit by
me thus every night 1 should work better;
do you comprehend"
She laughed low, recognizing the quotation.
And you believe in marriage between peo-
"Quite!"
81 don't think do" she said slowly, ris-
shouldn's like to see Mr.. Frere married to an
aggressive, untidy, square-toed personals
love of the orderly and beautiful would suffer
too much"
Aggressive untidy, square-toedv he re-
peated.
And suddenly she found herself in his arms
with his kisses her brow.
Your fault, Mary he said when he
held her at last away from him, all rosy and
charming under nights kind shadows. And,
Strengthening her old lace ruffes, she merely
said resignedy:
"Well, have warned you. Two of a trade
never agree, but
"They will
And it is sure that the two people who went
down the hill toward the little town half an
honr Lotto hon