The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1899-04-06
"A misunderstanding
By Edwin Push
NHEEDLE and I had spent the even.


been very candid with one an other, and
were in a fine glow of honesty.
ITS q breach Of confidence, I'm
Z afraid," said Cheedle. "And it isn't
thing you ought to know, because you
are quite vain enough already. (No Of
tense, of course, old man. We're being
frank, you know. Hang It all, I'm vain,
too.) But tell you this for her sake"
:, "Her sake? Whose?" asked.
{, GAIL in good time," he replied. II
wouldn't tell you at all, Phil, If didn't
repose SO much on6dence in your good
taste; for, whatever else you may be,
Phil, you are still gentleman"
IA colorablc imitation, at least,
hope," said. l. -
"You know my wife's cousin" he
began.
"She has so many"
lawful crowdl But mean the pref
ty one."
Little girl with faxen hair7
Rather-a shade---too conscious OF
her profile?"
eyes Ha, hal MiS Marsh" He
slipped solemnly.
: "Well?"
ut is pity. My wife told me. /
should never have suspected it myself
She's little bit impressed by you"
"In love with me?"
Darn your complacencyl suppose
so."
"Poor grill" said 1.
"She isn't fool, either"
''Not bit of it," cried.
"That makes it all the more extraor-
dinary."
II don't see that"
my object in telling you was to
warn you against playing of that in
fernal trick of yours on her, You
know what mean? That way you
have of talking to a woman as If she
were the only one of her sex in the
world"
"A reprehensible habit. So danger
ous!" said I. II will be careful"
"Yes, do be careful, old man."
We were silent awhile. / got up, muir
muring again: "Poor grill" bade fare
we'll to Cheedle and went home. I had
not intended to be at the Maesie's party
ON the following evening, but, know
ing that Miss Marsh would be there
and feeling anxious to begin the cruel
business Of disilludonment at once
that ii might be the sooner over-I
dressed and went.
The drawing-room was very crowded.
looked about for Miss Marsh, and
presently espied her in a far corner. BY
slow stages made my way toward her.
. She marked my approach with wist-
full face, and when was close enough
made room for me beside her. Poor
thing! We shook hands andI noted a
tender light in her eyes. My heart
ached with pity.
"How hot it is in herel" said she.
Oh, these hollow commonplaces ut
tered, calmly in gale of passionl
eyes" said L. II wonder if we could
get out into the conservatory
We managed it by dint of many po-
lite hustlings, strewing our path with
apologies as we went. Our end at
tained, we sat down side by side under
q tub-palm and looked at one another.
"How pleasant it is out here!" she
murmured.
$50 cool!" said l.
Conversation was certainly difficult.
'The usual rumor concerning you Is
out" said she.
"Indeed!" cried. It was no time to
be witty.
"They have married you again. Mr..
Wroughtnight."
s'Who is the unlucly Lady this time p
"It.would not be fair to tell. And
two are mentioned"
Poor girl!
"You know that Rumor 10 lying
jade, Miss Marsh ?"
"By nature-yes. But sometimes
by accident-she speaks the truth"
How valiantly women cover up their
scars!
"Of course," !" said I, "there II no foun.
dation for the rumor."
II had hoped there was" said she
softly.
Brave heart! It was q dire businessl
'There may be, some day." muir.
INJURED. II mean that expect shall
marry sooner or later"
"Oh, I hope so." said she. 'Wheu
you are little older. Some strong
helpful woman with ideals. Not apooI
little society butterAy-hke me-"
IF she were like you," said I. and
stopped
"She won't 'be." said Miss Marsh
quickly.
My heart was torn of pity Of her.
Zone so seldom marries the person
one wants to-" said I, breaking ths
truth to her gently.
'And how much better for us-thatis
isn't it,"
The rejoinder hardly pleased me,
"How do you mean, Misw shP"
II mean that the object Of our firs
love is so rarely the person to make u
really happy"
remembered that this was her thirf
season.
'sFirst love 10 the only love-" aid 1