The Red Cloud chief., 1899-11-24

him that I first heard of her; we were
talking about the theater, and he told
me her story, though not quite as I
have heard It since. l don't
know why I am telling you
all this. I don't know why
l am thinking Of 10. I ought to
be ashamed to remember such a silly
episode. l used to write letters on
pages OF my exercise-books and leave
them for him Mt a pastry cooks. He
used to leave his letters for me every
day at the same place, and q young
lady with golden ringiets would hand
them to me with al calculated smile.
The same young lady is at the same
pastry cooks still. l never 90 through
that street"
Mes's lips were trembling q little,
though her eyes were laughing at me.
How long is this agof" asked.
"Oh. a century ago! When l was
sixteen. nearly four years ago"
And no one knew
mo one Only the golden haired
lady who sold us jam-puffs and lemon
ade and ices"
And was he as young as you?-
Meg smiled.
mo, not as young as l." she said
drily. He must have left school ter
years before. He had left college. He
had left the bari think perhaps he
had left half a dozen other professions
which he never mentioned. Oh, yes,
Kitty, he was in every way a hero. old
enough, tall enough, dark enough.
wicked enough, I dare say!"
You were In love with him. Meg?"
II thought I was, dear. One can
Imagine most things when one Is six
teen, or a little over"
How did II END, Meg?"
at didn't end. He left a note one day
with the golden haired lady. asking me
to go for a walk with him by the Ser
pentine. I left a note In answer to say
that I would ONE I went; but he
forgot the appointment. He never
wrote to me any more. l have not seen
him or heard Of him from that time Ia
this. l have often been very glad"
1t was hard to know what to say. ]
sat looking at her thoughtfully.
The letter that came for John this
morning was from him ?" asked.
"Yes-I am sure of It," said Meg.
She rose from her seat, humming q
scrap Of q song.
Il shall 60 and dress now" she said,
when n tells ones love stories one
should always tell them In picturesque
dishab!lle. Did ] look sufficiently love.
lorn? Did I 1 muse you. Kitty? Well
I am tired Of looking ugly; I shall &C
and Dress"
She went away, still humming, W
the stairs. and l sat rejecting on al
that she had said. Was Meg laughing
or was she in earnest. L did not know,
So deep was / in thought that I did
not hear the door open, did not hear
John enter.
Kitty" he said In a quick tone,
less calm and steady than was his
wont, II want to speak to you. Come
into the study with me; ] want to
speak to you alone"
Meg has gone upstairs" I observed
rising obediently, however to follow
him.
He closed the study door behind US,
and drew forward a chair toward the
Ere for me. 1t was weeks since I had
sat alone thus In Johns study with
him. / looked around the II
somehow looked more dreary than II
had been wont to look. The dust lay
thickly on the chimney piece and writ
ing table; there were no flowers any
where; the hearth looked dirty; the
fire burnt dull and low, and John him
self had changed since I had sat there
with him last. He looked sadder,
older.
kitty" he said, standing before me,
one elbow on the chimney-piece, and
looking down at me. II am going to
entrust you with on important secret
He waited. looked gravely at him,
and did not answer.
81 feel sure that I can trust you."
YES" / replied simply, you can
trust me-"
IT~ L.