Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1899-09-23
1T FEELS LIKE CHILDHOOD AND PLAY
ING HIDE-AND-SEEK


books and slate. Did she ever hear
of him, Caro?" He leaned toward her.
But she was turning the rings on her
slim fingers, the faintest suggestion of
a smile at the corner of her lips.
zone day in class he missed word
not that it was so unusual, and she re-
fused to go above, because, she lisped
i love YOU Then he gave her pansy
with some boyish words of affection,
apd she flushed and asked, Am | your
little heartseaseY Caro- don't you re-
MEMBER"
II don't remember to have given you
any right to ask such questions"
But you remember" he persisted
She laughed softly. SLOW they hat
ed me, those other little girls! They
called me mean, stuek-up snub-nosed
thing"
"A little CLEAN of triumph shone in
his eyes. She remembered.
Then the mountain party years af-
terward. You were sixteen. | was
leading your horse, the saddle turned
and you fell right into my arms, Caro-,
and | kissed YOU"
The long lashes had curtained her
eyes.
Have you forgotten? - he whispered
However did you make such love to
the senoritasY' she asked, demurely
You had no "reminiscences and youth
full follies in common.?"
Don't interrupt, please. / promised
to do it all. Then the night / left
can feel your little fingers soft and
warm in mine yet and see the wistful.
ness in your eyes. You cared then.
You can't deny 1T. Your trembling lips
and sweet wet eyes kept me straight
over there among so many wild fel
lows. You told me to make a man of
myself, and | have worked hard, hon.
est years for you, dear. | have never
loved any other womn"
She sat still, the color coming and
going in her cheeks.
He leaned toward her, his heart in
his face. They We're quite hidden by
the drapery. A voice cut softly across
the low humming that filed the rooms,
woman's voice as she passed with
her attendant to the refreshment room.
.The pretty blonde who stood against
these curtains-she was looking at YOU
with her heart in her eyes," the voice
said. "She is young. In petite: size will
learn to shrug her shoulders and laugh
as the years go on
The girl leaned forwrd to catch the
reply. Her blue eyes black, her cheeks
white, the little teeth set relentlessly
in the soft redness of her under lip.
The answer came lightly after mo-
ment:
"A man will pass sweet wild rose
If lily grows and dazzles just be-
yond."
The voices were lost in the hum.
4, ,.ir Il.
clinched. He watched her anxiously.
The senuouS. softly swelling waltz
melody throbbed in his brain.
Would she never speak? He dared
not
Then with n long breath of relief she
moved toward him. The delicate beauty
of her face shoue like flower in the
Swallowed nook.
Rob" she said softly. SIN so glad
/ know"
"Know what, dear?" He covered the
little fingers as If she had been a child.
She lifted her eyes in astonishment.
"Know that it was wounded pride. of
course. What did you think | meant?
! would have got over it. No woman
with any spirit would have cared for
a man after that But it is such re-
llel not 10 cart. Anu sue lHuSDeu Il
little, light-hearted girlish laugh.
Caro-, are you sure" His voice was
full of entreaty. "Will you let me
teach YOU to care for me?"
1T would be useless"-the words had
no sting. the voice was soft and low
perfectly useless, for l have discov-
cred new and unsupported territory in
my being tonight Rob, you dear
stupid, don't you understand She
slipped her fingers into his. just as in
the old childish days. I've loved you
straight through, but you were gone
so long"
There was an ecstatic movement OF
the curtain, then silence; because un-
derstanding is enough when people are