The Van Buren press., 1899-02-04

the dr. ersss from the roots Of .se
apple tree.
= don's know lie said. = hsd nc
idea What business meant. ! though
thar in London I should bare some
chance Of meeting Intellectual people
That's a hateful phrase" she said
sharply.
.sThen I'll change it, he said. and the
voice vas a voice she had rot heard be
fore. a wanted 10 90 10 London, be
cause thought had 10 chance here oi
meeting You-oh, o. course don't
mean Mss Mabel RoscommOni but you
don't suppose l have never dreamed Of
a woman ike yoa. woman who knows
all the things I want 10 know. and
never had the chance to know; woman
could worship. as worship you, ny
seoFnfal lady?7
His voice vas hard, defiant. and her
ewes were hard and seornful. She was
very angry.
And so you thought you would meet
ne. or ny ike, among the young ladies'
who serve II the mantlss Thank
you
You aren't a snob. really he said,
quietly. Please don't talk Ike oae
/ Just 10 annoy me-
Il was hard hitting-the gloves Of
On both sides Each drew long
breath. The level shadows o. the tree
trunks lay thick ard black across the
orchard grass
You dezpize ne, he said; don't Try
10 make me 0espise you Not thai you
could. ! know you better than you
know yourself. How could / know what
chance there wss for ne in London? I
have found you. and found you here.
f | had gene 10 coIlege-if ny father
had not soWH wheat that year should
De your social equal. and gentleman.
~You have a great deal OF faith in Ok
ford. she said. With cold malice.
You'll Only be sorry afterwards. he
said WHY hit q man when he's down
love you from your head 10 your feet.
I lore your voice and your dear brown
eyes. and that smile q yours. ! love
you. body. soul and spirit; but I'm not
worthy 10 tell you 50. Forgive me and
I forget IT, II was for yoU / wanted 10
go to college. for you l went 10 Lon
don. was d fo0l. but it was for you,
because ! have dreamed OF you al ny
I life. Now I've told you, and its all
over"
What are yOu going to do2 Shall
you 60 back 20 London?a Her voice
vas low and not quite steady.
"No. I've had enough Of that. shall
stay here and help my father to work
the farm. Yes. ! shall have books
know you despise them. but that's be-
cause you have got all you want ont
Of them. I shall help to farm the land
ard look after my mother. and read and
Try 10 forget you"
He had risen and stood looking down
al her. She rose, too. They stood look
! ing a each other. He Was no longer a
boy in her eyes-he was a man and
her master. She perceived now how the
afecfations that had annoyed her were
lot part Of the man. but merely the
irappings he had put On-foOlishly
yainiy put onto gain her approval.
She thought Of his life. alone al the
farm. She thought OF her life. alone in
the crowded high school. She raised
/ her eyes to his, and her eyes were full
OF tears.
Don't be unhappy about me- he
said. eagerly. u ought never to have
| told you, and it is not so hard really
as If l had never known you, for then
/ | could never have settled down here,
where | really belong, and have done
my plain duty. | should have wan
dered all over the world looking for
YOU. Now | shall have the memory
Of you TO keep me company, and l can
1 do what ought to have done long ago
and what ! should have wanted TO do
but for wanting to find you. You are
not TO be unhappy am not; | am
/ glad"
] Her tears brimmed over and fell.
This, then, was the nature he had
1 thought too poor TO show her; this the
soul he had covered up with borrowed
! plumes.
Forgive me-" he said, again. Il
ought not TO have told you, but never
thought it would hurt you like this.
Believe me, | shall be glad all my life
that have known you, and all the farm
and the fields about will be dear to me
/ forever now. You will do me good, and
not evil, all the days of your life"
She made two steps toward him and
| laid her arm on his shoulder and her
| wet cheek to his.
Il will, please God, she said.
The borrowed plumes had fallen
away, and there was nothing now be-
/ tween his soul and hers.-The Sketch