Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1897-06-03
The Conspiracy.
TIS:S:S:S:S:S:S
- y -
BY E. H. MASON.

They were strolling along the beach.
$780," she said, looking up at the tall
young man in white duck. $50 she has
Tilted you? I wouldn't have believed
so very pretty. But she noticed
the gulp her companion gave-"I am
awfully sorry for YOU" Her companion
looked down at her and smile played
round his mouth.
"You know what they say about
pity. 1t really wouldn't do, you know,
for you to fall in love with me-"
"Well, really couldn't, you know.
See that?" and she raised her hand,
with diamond glistening on the en-
gagement finger.
"My, but it is a sumner" he said,
taking the little hand and gazing into
the depths of the solitaire. "And
wonder who"
swell you needn't, for am not 60
ing to tell YOU"
A softer glow overspread her face,
and her eyes were full of happy light.
"Do you know" she said, II am
ashamed to be so happy around you,
when you are so'-she paused.
"Wretched?' he suggested. "Well,
you needn't be-" He was looking
gloomily ahead. 'When all the light
has gone out of fellows life it kind
O. does him good, kind O. rouses the best
in him, to see some little girl trilling the
very sweetest song of her existence. 1t
does make him feel sad, but-why,
hello, Charley! You think I have mon
opoliZed Miss Fairchild long enough?
Well, am off for once"
He strolled off over the rocks. 81
wonder why the deuce she turned SO
red when he came up? He must be the
man." TX. ~
They were strolling on the beach
again. The pebbles were sparkling in
the bright glow of the sun, and here
and there a shell glittered like gem
in the setting of white sand. The girl
stopped to pick up one of these.
81 say-my-Miss Fairchild. you have
not lost your ring, have you? Where is
it?"
She was looking away from him out
vi VIC NdtCl.
ooh, don't know-don't care"
He stepped around to the other side
to see her face. His own was full of
merriment.
"You surely don't mean to tell me
you have Tilted Charley Brown. l
wouldn't have believed it of you; you're
real nice girl and oh-so pretty. Do
4aI x,1,, hoyo inst l,a ,.;,, -,
sawdust to keep it nice"
no, 1 won't. I've sent it back and
his letters and pictures and-oh-how
hate him!"
He was silent long time, then said,
soothingly: Tell me all. about it,"
''There is nothing to tell"
Surely you would not do cruel
thing like that without provocation."
"Provocation?" She gave him
whitening glance. "Do you know what
he oid?"
81 haven't the faintest idea," he
laughed. Possibly he tried to kiss you.
I don't wonder that you are indignant
1 would"
'Try to kiss me indeed. No-but-
Well l saw him kiss somebody else the
other night, in the shadow of the palms.
That ugly old Smith girl, too"
He whistled.
us it possible? / had no idea he was
such depraved creature. l don't
wonder that you"
81 didn't laugh at you when you
were"
'Wretched?" he suggested.
I'm not wretched!" she exclaimed
Indignantly.
When he walked round to the other
side to see what was going on, for she
had turned her back to him, he found
flushed, tear-stained little face.
''Oh, say, please don't" he said gently.
3'He isn't worth it,"
''l'm not crying about him"
what them"
"I'm angry-indignant."
"Oh-you would like to have revenge
and all that? Like to make him fade
away and die of broken hearth"
"Yes, would"