The Van Buren press., 1898-10-08

| TO one another than usual; and George
| admitted that I never bore malice N
my heart.
So the months went on, and George
| had to go away; and grew much fond
er of him then, and l don't think |
would have cared to change him for
any other man ] knew-as a fanceei
| pud l used TO write such lovely letters
tc him. l used TO think out sentences
in the night-little remarks l knew
he'd like to get from me. really was
very attentive to him. I've nothing TO
reproach myself with on that score.
And so things went on.
And then, after awhile. when George
had been gone some time, his letters
changed, and he seemed rather
troubled about something. / didn't
take much notice of it, just thought
that perhaps the climate didn't suit
| him; and once | took the trouble to
copy out and send to him a recipe
which | had heard was good for one
IL one felt irritable.
Bat nothing seemed to cheer George,
and at length, when I was really be-
ginning to grow troubled about his
temper, | had letter from him to
say he thought we had better say
"Good-by;" he thought il was his duty
10 me to say so; he felt that we 1--WE,
if you please!D had made a mistake;
he could never hope TO be worthy of
me This modesty was somewhat new,
etc-a whole heap of 1t.
wrote back and said: 'Oh, very
we'll; l expect you know best" But
/ was really awfully angry; and what
made me angrier than anything else
vas the thought that neither he nor
anyone else really knew how hard l
had found it to play the sweetheart
part of the arrangement to George,
and that l hadn't wanted to be en-
gagged at all. OF course. they all
thought that l was secretly wearing
tbe willow; and the livelier | became
as the days passed by. the more COM
passionately my relations looked at
me. "She's overacting, poor dear"
they were thinking. I'm fairly placid,
as a rule, but my wrath did simmer
up at times. and | did think a few
strong thoughts of George.
AS l said just now, my wrath blazed
out strong as ever when Jane opened
the dool this afternoon and an
nounced Cousin George. his very self.
and smiled straight into his face, and
talked away without a moments
awkwardness, and said how glad | was
to see hint which was true). He
seemed rather uneasy, and not in very
good spirits; perhaps he was a tiny
bit ashamed of himself in spite of my
friendly manner. But | made him sit
down. and | talked on blandly, and
didn't shirk thing. | told him about
every person and every place we had
seen and known together. and posi-
lively dallied over the subject of his
long absence and the summer before
his departure. l did it chiefly to prove
10 him that memories were nothing to
ile-that was mere justice to myself;
but did see him grip his hands now
and then. and his lips grew white. just
as they used 20 do when he kept on
proposing.
He didn't talk very much, on the
whole; he answered my questions with
a good many monosylla bles, but now
and then he would dash into conversa-
tion with a strange sounding voice.
And played off my dimple recklessly,
and felt so glad that my frock was ex-
tremely becoming.
At length there came a pause in our
conversation, and then | feigned au-
other mood, and l made up my mind
that 1 would not break the silence.
Cousin George sat and breathed hard
for a minute or two, and then, sup
pose, he decided on breaking down
the artificiality of our interview. for
he got up from his chair and strode
about. l looked out of window
and pretended to be pensiye. At last
he stopped beside me and said: Flo"
l looked up at him and laughed.
Cousin George" l said. with mock
solemnity.
"Don't laugh" he said, drawing back
his lip.
Il must" 1 said, "when you look so
serious."
"a am serious" he declared. Flo,
won't-you-forgive?"
Forgive" / repeated wrinkling my
brow and looking puzzled. Forgive?
have no enemies; people are so good
10 me, rarely have anything to for
give"
"Forgive me" he pleaded.
YOU" l cried. surely I've moth
ing to forgive you. Why, you have
never done me anything but kind
ness"
He turned hastily away, and NUT
tered something which sounded
wicked. Then he turned to me again.
'Flo,7 he pleaded, will you row down
With me to the island?"
/ really was taken absck then. for
gathered how much IN earnest be was.
and / felt touched. Put recollected
his last letter TO me. and put on a
silly smile. oh / said. lightly. I'm
30 sorry, but I'm engaged this after
noon" Then / sighed and added:
I've so many engagements"
Tomorrow. then-next dsy-neKt
week, only promise"
"Oh. you've no idea Of my impor-
tance. laughed. Listen 10 this," and
rising, went to a drawer Of my writ
ing table and took out my little tab
lets.
Listen" said again, holding up a
finger 10 him. "Thursday-that's to-
day: Tea at the Forrestiers'. Friday:
Drive tn ElLertnn Mannr- Z L c.