Hutchinson gazette. [volume] (Hutchinson, Kan.) 1895-1902, 1899-12-07

upon his speech; his effort after SELF
restraint was evident
why should I wish to live" I
asked, "Why2 Tell mo why"
John sighed and made no answer. I
went on passlonately--
III the wind blows upon me q little,
II the rain touches me, you are sorry.
YVi are not sorry that my heart is
breaking, II is breaking all day long
always, And you-you do not care"
kitty, think you are mad when
you talk like this
puzzled back my hair, which was
falling loosely about my forehead, and
looked at him with an odd little smile
"A heart-broken half-bitter smile.
II should be happier II died." ]
said. And you-could marry Madame
Arnaud, John"
Johns gray eyes flashed u quick,
startled, scrutinizlng glance at my
face.
THAT is one OF the things, Kitty,
that / cannot allow even you to say"
he returned at last severely,
There was a long silence. 1t was
John who was the first to break It.
He spoke slowly, and his tone was
heavy as he spoke,
"You asked me the other day to let
you leave me-" he said, 81 refused
was wrong-and you were right You
may go, Kitty, ! will not try to keen
you with me-"
was silent. John turned away,
with tired and heavy sigh.
I'VE will talk OF II tomorrow" he
added. TITS too late-we are neither
of us calm enough-to talk tonight
But you shall go, promise"
l think murmured a few lncoherent
words OF thanks as ! turned away,
might gol The privilege, seemed an
empty boon, indeed. ] had no feeling
Of citation, no feeling OF contentment In
having won. Life stretched away
blankly before me, bereft OF every JOY
every hope,
Even now / cannot recall the lonG
hours OF that night with an aching pity
for that old self OF mine who lay sleep
less, fearless the whole night through
and heard the hours strike one by one
and waited In dull, hopeless, unex
pectant way for the dawn to break,
The dawn came at last. The sur
rose slowly above the house tops
red orb in copper colored sky,
dressed YEARLY, and turned with
heavy heart to go down stairs.
My hand was on the handle Of my
door when the door was opened from
outside. Meg came in. At the frs
sight OF her face l stepped forward
quickly and put my arm around her
Her face was deathly white-whit'
even to the lips. Her lips were tremu
lous, and yet they were trying In
pathetic way to laugh at herself and a
meat herself for her emotion, and a
me for my solicitude.
81 ought to faint, Kitty" she said
looking at me with a queer, tremulou
little smile. 1T would be BETTING
and-and romantic, dear"
She pushed away the eau de Cologn
had brought her, and gradually tn
color came back into her cheeks.
"You should have told me he wa
here" she said, after minute, hal
lightly, half reproachfully,
did you see some one, Meg? Wer
you startled? "A friend Of John
came last night to stay. l didn't tel
you"
do you know who he wasY" sh
asked.
mo. / don't know-John didn't tel
me. But he told me that he was com
ing. wish you hadn't seen him, Met
He startled OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES 20
didn't know that any one was stayin
here. Would you mind, Meg, not say
ing to any one that you have see
him?
Meg laughed harshly.
II am not likely to mention 1t, XII
ty," she said drlly, ut is not Otter
dear, that ! boast Of that early es
capade of mine, When l am an oil
woman and very dull l may weave
romance out Of those ices and Low
letters and jam puifs; but am nc
old enough just yet, l shant talk c
1t, dear; don't fear"
Meg, what do you mean? Who wa
1t you saw? Not Arthur st. John|
ITO be continued)