The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1900-08-16

L
each other" But there was such a
pain at my. heart, though / tried to
tell myself that the major was your
employer, and you must be civil to his
niece. There were so many things just
like it. The night | had cold and
asked you to stay with me and not to
60 to the Diapers, and you would not
stay. Others noticed everything and
spoke of it and it hurt my pride.
'Then l went away, and you did not
write for weeks. 1t was only your neg
ligence. l never suspected you of dis.
loyalty, and you did not mean to hurt
me, did you, Arthur"
Her pretty voice was wistful, and he
stirred uneasily, but answered nothing,
and she went swiftly on.
''Then came the time when you were
to come and visit us, and asked you
not to delay, but come Immediately
A few days later heard that you had
stopped along the route to see some one
else. 1t was the last straw. | could
stand no more So | broke with you.
If he neglects me now it will be worse
when we are married. | told myself,
and So all was over between us.
Months passed by, and then came
the time two years ago when accident
threw us together. | yielded to your
love, your charm for me was as great
as ever You asked me to be patient
and to trust you, and | tried. All, why
did you treat me SO? 1t was the same
story of neglect and carelessness: not so
much what you did as what you were.
You did not answer my letter; oh, "A man
who could leave letter like that unan-
swered (and | knew that you received
it) was scarcely man. Your excuse
you had none. You were not busy. 1t
was revenge You wished to humble
my pride because had humbled yours.
SO noble deed, to be revenged upon a
woman The fine scOrn of her voice
cut him like whip cords, and he turned
paler as she went on; My pride is
humbled, indeed but its bitterest hui
initiation comes from the thought that
have loved yon,-you, a man who would
StOOp so low.
Then came ambition. | would make
you sorry. Iwould be famous and force
you to respect me. My pen name, Cloris,
| took because you used to call me by
the old Greek word for Flora, and the
thought of you nerved me to fresh en-
deavor. Fame and fortune have come
to me, gratified ambition, and what do
| care for it all? Does it please your
vanity to think I still love you: Itneed
not. The best of me never loved you,
for it never truly respected your charac-
ter. You are never the best of yourself.
1t is only personal charm you have for
me,a poor kind of love, and | despise
myself for having yielded to it. have
conquered it all. Some day l shall mar
ry good man who loves me. Now, may
! ask you to go, please: l am very
tired"
There were deep lines under the gray
eyes. a pallor on the fair cheek and the
red lips trembled like those of hurt
child.
He made a step toward her, then
paused and threw back his shapely head
detantly.
II have done the world a good turn, ;"
he said clearly. since without me it
might not. perhaps. have known the
writer of so many clever hooks
lie stopped and she passed her hand
YEARLY over her eyes and said simply,
"Goodby."
"Goodby." he answered, adding as he
walked slowly toward the door, "1 ou
cannot say that am not a good loser
Il would far rather see you a good
winner of all the good things of life, y
she answered, land you could be if you
would he your best self, Arthur Her
sweet eyes were very Wistful and earn
est, and for a moment his seemed to
meet them with AN answering CLEAN.
Then he laughed softly.
I'm only a newspaper man. and |
never have time for herolcs,' he said.
You expect too man OF man, Cloris. y
"Do |? Well, perhaps do,-goodby,"
she said wearily. The door closed be
hind him. and she was alone.
She stood quite still for a moment,
buried her face in her hands, and gave
one long. sobbing sigh
'''rhe carriage awaits Mademoiselle, "
said Cecile at the door, and moment
later Miss Urqulart was herself again,
her kindly, pleasant, somewhat cynical
self
Arthur Barrett strolled into the office
of the Morning Post-Herald long after
the forms were locked to say nonchal-
antly that Miss J'rquhart had refused
him and he had no copy.
do you mean to say that she wouldn' t
see you at all?' demanded the irate edi-
tor.
well, not exactly" was the imper-
turbable reply, but the interview was
strangely unsuccessful