Marietta daily leader. (Marietta, Ohio) 1895-1906, 1899-11-17
DESTINY OF ROBERTS.
CT I ERE we are at the old willow. What
do you say to coming to anchor for
bitg" he remarked, bringing the

Canadian close in to the bank.
THAT is just what one finds SO impossible
in life-coming to anchor | mean" she said,
dabbling her left hand in the water.
Look here, Di, he jerked out, presently,
"what is the good of beating about the bush?
There's something wrong, and you are wor-
rying yourself about it, and | am going to
make you tell me everything. You used to
tell me everything once, Di, without invi-
tation," he added, with an attempt at rail
lery that was chiefly pathetic.
Don't be duffer, Hugh" she observed.
"Alay | not be sententous now and then
without being forced to explain that / mean
nothing at ally Now, will you please amuse
me? II is a shame to waste an afternoon
like this"
"Of course Il is" he echoed. "You see.
dear. all the gods and the fairest of mortals
meaning your delightful self-seem TO be
conspirng for my happiness; when the gods
behave in this odd kind of way we are told
to distrust them. First Of all, have you
have had you quite fast, since the days when
| robbed orchards, and you, like second
Eve, ate the apples; then have secured two
firsts and a reasonable chance of fellow
ship: lastly, most commendable maiden
aunt sees fit to die and endow me with the
wealth that perishes. 1t is too much, you
know, Di, not doubt of it; the Stacey thing
to happen is for me TO lose you, and thereby
make dust and ashes of all my other pos
sessions"
"Do you know" he recommended present
ly, 81 can't for the lie of me, help feeling
sentimental, and gray, and awfully sorry
for myself, when ] think Cambridge is
over and done with. Look at that bit of
Clare, there, gazing out upon Kings with
such a genial eye; then there is a willow
above us, and the bridge from which one
used to listen to the nightingales, and-and
the Fen sunsets one has seen, and the CHEEKY
life. All gone, Di, forever and forever"
"All gone," she echoed in q voice that was
almost tragic by comparison with the half
flippancy of his.
Staying up here indefinitely as don is
not the same thing" he went on. "The
glamour wears thin, and one slips into for
mula in place of feelings, and acquires un-
canny views Of women. You have met Rob-
erts often lately, haven't you? He is only
just 80, and yet he has settled into his groove
as if he were ITO. As coach he is marvel.
Gus, and | have every admiration for the
way in which he pulled me through, but
butt should have liked to exhibit the
genuine Roberts to you, Di; you would have
been edited, l think. / never met a man
who could so effectually turn his blind eye
TO the good qualities of women"
"Ah," murmured the girl. "Let us go
down the river again" she said, after a
pause. 81 have something to say to you,
Hugh, and it will be easier if we are in mo.
ton"
~ have often wondered what would hap.
pen to Roberts if be met his destiny written
large" he unused audibly. at would knock
him clean out of time, l fancy, should he
lose. That is the worst of these men who
go on in smiling indifference to amatory
dangers; they are pulled up with the horrid
jerk. Don't you think infant vaccination
with love lymph is to be advocated? You
don't take it half as badly in that case"
ooh, Hugh, why will you be $3.50 friv.
olous?' pleaded the girl, something between
amusement and desperation in her voice.
Cant help it, Di, for the life of me; ]
was born so, you know"
II am going to tell you story, Hugh, she
went on with more composure, land you
shall give me your verS on it. Don't
stop; | cant bear to remain still. The story
is about a woman and a man OF whom the
woman was very fond-so fond that she had
promised, almost before she grew up, that
she would marry him. She did not know
that love meant something else, until-.until
she came up to Cambridge one May week.
Hugh, please don't look at me in that way;
it is only story. Well, she met some one
very often, more often than she had right
to do during that week; she did not realize
the end to which they were drifting-she
was merely interested in drawing a grave,
book-hardened man out of his shell; being
rather willful, she could not be confronted
with a solid wall OF ice and not wish to thaw
it,"
The mans face was the color of damp
parchment. Go on" he said as she halted
in the telling.
"She succeeded, Hugh. 1t all came about
on the night of certain college ball, be-
meath an old willow-the same under which
we anchored not long ago. The wall of ice
melted suddenly en- masse, and the rush of
water carried both of them away. 1t was
then that the woman learned the added ele-
ment wslicl converted fondness into love- it
was then that she lost sight of honor and al.
lowed the man to kiss her"
Good God"
She had not dreamed that Hugh would
take it like this. Sorry, very sorry, she ex.
pected him to be, but not anguished. She
had grown up with him, and tragedy always
seems out of place with people who have
become dovetailed into our lives by common.
places.
Hugh, you must not think I-gave you
up" she said, with the silly struggle Of a
sheep that sees the slaughter house door be.
fore it. 81 told him almost at once that
was bound to you, and shall not break my
promise. Only had to confess, because it
would not have been right to conceal it from
you"
They were close in to the left bank of the
river, and step was audible on the path.
way. Both looked up. Both turned their
eyes from the bank to each other, and a
light broke in on Hugh.
That's Roberts, the man who pulled me
through so WELL" he observed, chaotically
Would you like to land, Di"
mo, mol" she cried,
But the canoe was already brought to, and
he had leaped on shore. Mechanically she
took the hand he held out to her; mechanic.
ally she responded to the confused greeting
OF Eustace Roberts, classical coach and
father of unnumbered firsts. One among
the last-born of his offspring seemed to be
somewhat intoxicated this afternoon-per
haps the heat hadbeen too much for him.
You're decent old sort, Roberts, " he re-
marked, hilariously slapping his precentol
on the back, "and I-congratulate you
Should never have expected it. Sly dogs, you
cynical beggars. Don't mind me-enjoy this
kind of thing, you know. Good-by, good-byi
! must be off. No good missing Hail. you see
for the sake of being de trop."
Rnfnra thew cn,.d slnr him hn W. g r,.an n,,I