The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1900-05-16
PoIIy's Change of Mind


.'of course" he was saying, eff the
question concerned only you I should
not ask you for more than simple an
swer. but 1 am involved too deeply my
self 70 be sheived lightly, and ! feel
| that I have at least an honest right TO
be answered more lengthily than by q
short No However significant that
word may be, il is at best insufficient
II might be angry with you for what
you have said" she replied
well, yes, but I am willing 10 run the
| risk he said, with a short, mirthless
laugh. 1t had 10 her ears little pa
thetic ring. and she turned and looked
curiousiy at him.
Does it really hurt you so much,
Dicky ?" she asked
'Ah, Polly he broke cut. roughly,
you women little know how singing
even your softest words are sometimes.
And the sting does not always go away
quickly" he added. bitterly.
Poor Dick she said. softly, really
L didn't mean to hurt you so. didn't
know that you cared so much"
He raised his head and looked al her
eagerly, but he saw only pity. and the
drawn. tense look came again over his
face.
ST thought that we were merely good
friends" she continued. Il never dream
ed that you would have been so foolish
We have been such jolly comrades. and
now you have spoiled everything. No,
don't interrupt me- she said, quickly.
You need not get angry. You have, you
know well, spoiled all. We shall never
be on really good terms again. There
will always be a constraint."
Polly" he Interrupted. gravely, do
Won know how Won are hurting me7'
She turned upon him, startled at his
words. Surely the man sitting opposite
her was not her old Dick.
Forgive me-" she said, contritely; II
was needless, deer" She really pitied
him, yet somehow she hardly knew how
to take him as he appeared now.
Poor Dicky,' she said again, II ought
to have seen the drift Of things. but
have been unkind. I Sc, it all now, but
you will forgive? 1t was simply unin-
territorial
Dear Polly" he said. you weren't to
blame. I, not you, was blind. I should
have known that you could never have
cared for such as !. l am unworthy of
you. have always felt, but" he added.
Il chose to dream, chose to play with
fire. and 1 have got the usual punish
ment."
Poor Dicky,' she said, softly. and
even as she spoke a look Of wondrous
pity came into her eyes. All her former
ideals seemed to totter and to be on the
verge of falling.
The other rose unsteadily and held out
his hand. Dear little Polly and MS
voice trembled you We're not to blame.
I think I had better go. 1 am in-good-
by. | shall go away for awhile. / don't
know when I shall return
He remained for an instant waiting
for some answer. but none came. He
tried TO scan her face, but there was a
haze before his eyes and he could see
only the blurred oval outlines Her lip
was Quivering, too. and her eyes were
full of tears, yet he did not see them.
Then he turned and walked mechanically
toward the door, opened it and went out
OF the room.
The other remained standing, looking
apparently at the floor, but in reality
seeing nthing.
Poor Dicky," she murmured, poor
n!cky," and in her eyes a newer light
still shone through the tears Then run
ming swiftly to the door she opened 1t
and called his name.
The sound of her voice startled him,
and he turned and looked wonderingly
at her. The haze seemed suddenly TO
lit from before him, and he noted Tor
the first time the little, tear-stained face
The new light in her eyes stirred him
strangely. The smile that lowered around
her still quivering lips tantalized him,
and at the same time raised a wild hope
in his breast He ;an rather than walk
ed TO her. grasped her hands roughly
and searched her face eagerly. Neither
spoke for a few seconds, and then il
was she who broke the strained silence
You foolish h35." was all she said,
but he un, rs:- T.