The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1900-06-28
Then Edna Stafford. a fresh young

IOuHu HIS soul dIHHlUy. NE was dlf ue-
votfon, tender and sweet. A love-lorn
youth of 16 could not have shown more
infatuation. When Annis and Edna
were both with Tracey he often ap-
peared to forget the former, or if the
conversation became three-cornered he
would throw into it just the element
that aroused Annis' irratibiEty and
grated on her sense of fairness. Then
her sharpest sarcasms always fell upon
the younger girls head. At such times
Tracey was so softly sympathetic with
Edna, so contrived to set her defense
less innocence over against Annis'
harshness as to prompt Edna to little
impertinences and assumptions of his
championship.
Annis could school herself to the
thought that Tracey would never care
for her as she did for him; she could
take him at his word that he had no in
tention of marrying, but she suffered
keenly with disappointment and a
| touch Of disgust in seeing the one whose
| manly, somewhat serious bearing she
! had learned to admire, conducting him
self in a manner so nearly silly. More
over, he evidently took it for granted
that her honest friendship and COM
radeship had turned to jealousy and
hostility, and that there was open
rivalry between her and Edna
This was too much. Saying nothing
of her plans, Annis made speedy prepa-
rations for spending the winter In the
south. She chose a resort not widely
known and confided its address only to
brother in distant city.
The new surroundings, the agree
able coterie of fellow guests diverted
Annis' mind and allayed her agita-
ton, so that she began to feel sure
| that the time of her going home
would find her healthily Indifferent to
Tracey Channon's doings. One after
noon she with others was at the lit
tie railway station idly watching the
newcomers on the down train. She
saw Tracey Channon among them. Be-
fore he could see her she stepped be-
hind pillar and slipped away into
the park. At the end of the winding
myrtle path she found a seat. The
old love surged up, pierced through
and through by the sting of those last
knowing she was there? She was
tempted to fly away on the up train
she heard rumbling through the for
est. But no, this hour must settle the
matter forever. She would not let her
love for a man who had so plainly tolu
her not to count on him assert itself
while he was so near. She ragged
against her persistency in making
himself so a part of her life. She tore
at the roots of her affection in wrath
and shame. Again wave of ecstatic
love rolled in upon her heart at the
thought that he was so near: then she
clinched her hands till the tendons
strained. for she must go back to the
hotel and meet Tracey Cnannon a con-
queror of herself or able to meet him
in the old friendly way
When the paroxysm had spent it.
self Annis felt that she had aged in
the hour. The songs of the birds
seemed to be in minor key. The
strong contrast between the patches
of sunshine and the shadows were to
her typical of life with Tracey and ex-
istence without him. The sounds of
voices and laughter waited up from gay
boating parties on the river brought
back memories of happier days She
looked beyond them to the dim. gray
further bank and felt that so must
she look past happiness to a life as
dull and monotonous as that uninvit-
ing shore. The long swaying moss
banners, usually so soothing and sug-
gestive of the poetry of motion,
seemed to her that day more like
mourning draperies. fitting accompa-
niment to this shutting down the cof-
fin lid on happiness and hope. She
saw herself lonely, heart-weary
woman
A step on the sand and Tracey Chan
non stood at her side, his hand clasp
ing hers, his face wearing it's happiest
expression, the most cordial words on
his lips. Yet she could not compre-
hend>a word that he was saying. Civ
ing Annis no time to reply. he talked
on rather excitedly, Gliding her for
running away from him, eXclaiming
over the beauties of the park and
river. He suddenly stopped and
scanned Anhis' face, which she knew
must betray the turmoil within. His
own voice quavered and his face
showed anxiety as he began, tenderly
and slowly:
"My dear, I have come all the way
down here to ask that we may be
more than friends. l have loved you
truly fondly, for long time"
az do not understand you You have
said so often that you did not intend
to marry; then-I-poor Edna will be
heartbroken."
Edna is engaged to a handsome
young millionaire. l wanted to find
out whether you cared for me even a
little, dearest, l was suffering so.
do want to marry, and 1 want you,
just you"
"Why couldn't you ask the ques-
ton frankly, as a MANI" Annis began
with half sob, then sprang away
and walked rapidly toward the hotel
Tracey sat in utter perplexity and
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