The Somerset reporter., 1899-08-31

11O OOl11CI DC
lieve what am about to BAY. You are
too young yet to know what is best for
your own welfare.
1t seemed an odd way to talk, as 1
was at least two years her senior but
reflected that she WAS distraught-that
she was fighting against her own happi-
ness.
~ think" said l. II know what is
best for me, young as l may be. When
my fate comes along
"That time is not yet, of oourse?" said
she.
Oh, anxious, despairing heart
mo" | cried, and shuddered in
dread expectation of some tragic sign
from her. But she was strangely calm.
1t almost seemed to me that light of
relief leaped into her eyes-the relief
of the tortured soul at hearing sentence
OF death
A great silence fell on us. She muged
looking at me with strange intentness
mir. Wroughtnight, " she said, Il
have a mind to be honest with you.
have a strong prejudice in favor of hon
est dealing. My honesty may cost me
your good opinion, but l don't mind
that. / mean that | have enough faith
in your good sense to believe that you
won't think Inc unwomanly and i'm
modest in 81 ying what l propose to
say"
rose in great agitation.
Miss Marsh. = l said, "pause, re-
feet Lon't speak yet. You may save
US both much pain. y
Nonsense % she said sharply.
was surprised and little atfronted.
81 beg your pardon, said |, Go
on. "
She f1uttered her fan nervously.
81 am afraid, g" she said, I'VE don I
quite understand one another. At least,
think l understand, but you don't" 3"
moistened my dry lips. go on,"
said again breathlessly.
Mrs. Cheedle has told you something
about me:"
"No"
"Mr Cheedle, then? Somebody"
eyes, " said l.
"What have they told you?"
IL cannot repeat it. Miss Marsh,
let me implore you to say no more. Let
us go back. .
"No, " she replied. 81 will tell you
what they said. They told you that /
am-am in love with you:'
"They were mistaken ~ cried, still
willing to spare her.
Eyes, they were," she responded
calmly
gasped and leaned back in my chair.
"They told me, said she, that you
were in love with me. -
A bitterness of humiliation flooded
my soul
81 have no doubt they meant well, "
said she.
"Oh, there is no doubt of thatl" !
agreed sourly,
perhaps they thought they might
make a match between us that way
Young married couples are always the
busiest matchmakers. And really, do
you know, | think they showed some
huON lGtlSG VI pOOI uubuIb III III Is
instance at any rate"
She smiled. | felt too sick to smile,
81 am sorry" she said, "if you feel
at all hurt by this revelation of truth. y
Then | saw the absurdity Of my posi-
ton and summoned my sense of humor
to the rescue 1t was not possible to re
main insensible of Miss Marsh mag
nifcent command of her own dignity
Il was a fool, " said l.
81, too, " said she "But it does not
matter now it is all over does it? And,
anyway, nobody will know. We shall!
both keep the secret inviolate, dare say,
for oar honor's sake "
81 &m afraid you must think me
rather conceited ass, Miss Marsh. 3"
Don't 5e silly" said she. ''Y on
thought as did. "
But with less reason, " said |. bow
ing.
She looked reproachfully at me.
Il have been sincere with you, Mr..
Wroughtnight. "
"That is why | pay you compliments.
want to restore the balance of things.
1--WE seem to understand one another
now. | think we might be friends, -
said she.
She gave me her hand, and l clasped
it warmly. But whenever | recall that
absurd interview my very body bushes.
Edwin Pugh il New York World.