Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1899-03-10

pale from her illness and with dovelike
eyes.
A soul wave of mutual comprehen-
sion made him feel his coming had beeu
half expected and that she was glad.
When he had made her sit again in the
low armchair and had arranged the silk
pillow at Il comfortable angle for her
head, he sat down beside her and looked
at her earnestly.
Almost better. aren't you?" he said
gladly. Your face is getting back it,
rounded look. and soon you won't get q
single bit Of sympathy"
almost BETTER" Anne echoed, an
excited catch in her voice. 81 assure
you, reposing OH this pillow in sort Of
Cleopatra attitude, I feel quite fraud.
I'd like to have gone for tramp in this
wild rain. Listen TO it. How it signs
and sputters. and then with what q
sweep 1t comes On!'
While the words left her lips she was
thinking that it was strange and trou-
bling to be there alone with David, the
freight on his near face, while beyond
the close curtained windows the storm
called end called to them in vain. She
knew why he had come.
Her intuitive mind leaping to con-
illusions told her that words having no
kinship to farewell were faltering on
his lips. She felt q sudden uneasiness
and excitement. The beating of her
heart was painful.
You'll be gone a month";
cat least q month";" she nodded.
"I'm reveling in the thought Of get
ting back to summer and for the first
time smelling lily field in bloom. The
word Bermuda has an exotic sound to
me. Have you ever been there?''
"No," he said absently, and, leaning
nearer, said earnestly, I'll miss you
so, Anne"
His fingers touched hers, and she met
his eyes. They were grave and domi.
nant.
"And how I've missed you there. last
FIVE weeksv' he went on. II find my
self listening for your step, for memory
plays me cruel tricks. But You are gone.
and have to learn all over the lesson
Of philosophy. I've grown to hate the
place. Just to look at the corner Of the
table where you used to pour coffee for
me makes me blue"
AS he spoke quietly and half confid-
ingly Anne became aware Of q disap.
pointment in herself. He was going to
say more. What had been her dearest
dream was going to intensity itself into
a certainty tonight. and yet she was
aware that if some interruption had
come and David had been forced to
leave her with tho words unsaid she
would have been relieved.
eyes. I've missed you, and I will
miss you." he continued and lifted her
hand to his lips. "Does it matter at all
to you? Does it matter that you are very
dear to me, and I want you always?
Will you be my wife, Anne? Will your"
A sense Of coming triumph filled Da.
vid as he spoke. He was aware he had
not feared failure. During the last year
Anne had so let herself be knitted with
his life it seemed only natural con-
clusion that he was as necessary to her
as she to him. Besides, he had never
failed in anything save his marriage,
and without egotism he did not consider
that this pale and lonely woman whose
affection he had tested could disappoint
him now.
But Anne drew away from him, and
while his hand still held hers wave Of
relief from the deeps of her soul went
over her. She seemed suddenly set free
from chains. David's manner, his gen.
tie, tender words, had left her cold. He
was clear eyed, sensible. happy, but tenn
perate and master Of himself. She felt
no desire to respond to his touch OF
glance. Instead there leaped into her
mind regret that she must deny him
without quite realizing why.
"Anne," he said again, his face anx-
ious now-"Anne, can you-can you
love me? Will you marry me?''
She stood up and turned her head
away, still feeling strange to herself.
When she spoke, she obeyed q new
knowledge. imperative, yet mystifying.
David. she said seriously. II don't
love you that way"
He remained silent until she forced
herself to look fully at him.
"Ah," he said, as If It were the first
breath he had taken since she had re.
piled, sis it so? I had hoped-but nc
matter now"
Anne gazed shrinkingly at his seri.
Gus. composed face and held out hel
hands. He took them and looked ten.
derby at her.
"We'u forget this. Anne" he said.
Her eyes looked frankly and sorrow.
fully into his.
II 60 away tomorrow. Her fingers
held his closely. "Say goodby. and say
1t as if you forgave me-"
"For WHAT My dear Anne, you need
no forgiveness from me-"
1--WE given You some pain. David.
I've disappointed you. I'm sorry"
"You couldn't help it," he said.
"You don't love me. How are you t.
blame for that?'
Her mind grasped at the words eager
ly. 1t was true. She could not help it
She was not to blame.
GOOD night, Anne. hope your hol
iday will do you good, and know /,
will" David said. quite in his usual
tone. Don't fail to let me know wher
You return"
She let him 60 with another hand
shake. and went back to the fire. For q
long time she crouched over the Goals
her face sheltered by her hands. Nora'l
entreaties about preparations for bee
were unheeded.
II want to be alone" she said, push
ing the girl away. Come back by anG
BY"
She sat in the empty room. watching
the fire sink lower. She was cropping in
the dark for an understanding Of hel
own heart and the reasons which had
made her refuse to be David Temples
wife. She had loved him the night he had
sat in this same room and told her Of
Olga. She had continued to love him
miserably, with passion. and had strug
gled to forget him through conflicts Of
regret. In the days when peace had