The times., 1898-02-20

| she had treated them all alike, as COM
| rades and friends.
| And this man. Mimsy; does he care
| for you at ALP"
"Yes." wistfulIy: .he cares for me. He
| does not love me-
How do you know fhat?''
Because. If he did, he would have
| asked me to marry him."
| Very young, amateur reasoning that.
And if he did ask you, would you mar
| ry him?"
Yes. tomorrow.
with all the love on your side2"
Yes: / love him; that is sufficient. /
told Harry So.
/ was little bit disappointed in Min
sy. L had thought her so different. And
here she was, ready, a a moments no
, tice, to throw herself at the head or into
did not love her. And telling Harry, too!
I could only gasp: You told Harry"
Yes; and 1 told him who it was
Worse and worse.
My dear child. you shouldn't have
| done that. What did he say?"
He looked very much surprised, and
said, Then L haven't the ghost of
chance. | won't bother you any more.
Mimsy.' And then he went home, and I
came on with Jenkins.
Here was a pretty kettle of fish. Poor
Harry. 1t was bad enough to have to
hear a refusal and the daShing OF all his
bright hopes to the ground it was harder
still to be calmly told of rival, not only
preferred before him, but loved. it SEEM
ed. i had felt sorry for Harry before,
now 1 felt more sorry: had fellow
feeling for him. And poor Mimsy.a This,
then, was the cause of her depression
To care for a person who does not re-
turn your love. that is hard toe Ought
1 to invite her confidence further? | was
nt For d..
/ have hurt the child, or made her trou-
ble any worse 10 bear than it was al
ready. And yet, If / knew more, / might
be able TO help her. Here she was, loY-
ing a man who, perhaps, had no nten-
ton of asking her to be his wife. / was
gradually working myself UP into per-
feet fury of rage against this unappre-
ciative loved one, when Mimsy slowly
rose. and stood. for moment, looking
away into the west where, across the
valley of the town as far as we could
see the earth-iine was slowly rising
above the sun.
Not once had she made a movement
towards me, she whose nature was so
affecticnate, who had always been so
lavish of her caresses. l missed them
now. / scarcely dared to think of what
life would be TO me without them, An,
yes, since the morning, how she had
changed! Then she was child; now she
had crossed the boundary-line, and the
old. free affection could never be our
again. A sudden mad desire came over
me to take her in my arms and hold her
so that never should the breath of other
love come near her. Was IL the pent-up
longing of years breaking loose at last?
But between US there glided the shadow
of the other man, the man whom Mlmsy
loved, and my half-outstretched arms
fell down. And still she stood thsre apart
from me- her eyes travelling among the
familiar objects around us and lingering
on them with a pathetic sadness. as If
she were taking a last leave. L could
bear it no longer.
"Mimsy," / said, as calmly as | could
for my heart was beating rapidly, send
ing the blood tingiing through my veins
tell me, who is this man VINO is TAX
ing your love from us?''
As she turned and looked into my face,
| saw in her eyes the giistening of tears.
They giistened. but they were bravely
kept abck. The sight maddened me.
Quick. Minsy: tell me-
II cannot tell you" she said very soft
ly. but you shall see his photograph. I
always carry it with me-" Here she took
from her pocket little. thin, weil-worn
leather case. which she placed in my /
hands. Il am going indoors now, she !
continued, "and L want you not to open |
it until you are quite alone. And when |
you have seen the face, it will be good !
by between US forever dear, dear. Guar J
dy. for | can never, after that, continue |
to live with you here"
/ sat down and watched her move |
slowly over the grass, pathetic fig |
ure passing gently from me into the
unknown future. At the window she /
turned and waved her hand. l am not !
ashamed TO say that in my eyes the |
tears were swimming. | still held the |
little leather case tightly grasped in my |
hand, and as she disappeared / nerved |
myself to a final effort. l opened it, |
and as / looked / sprang to my feet.
There before me was an old and fad
ed photograph of-myself.