Clarke courier. [volume] (Berryville, Va.) 1869-1997, 1900-10-24
"She does" said Maisie.
"Has she told you sor'
"XoSp


head "rhen never will. IL Is use
less your asking me TO do so.'
IL do not ask you to. am not brave
enough" She buried her face. 81
| want them 90 think well OF me-" she
cried pitcously, "when-when r.
"Oh. Maisie, don't The tears were
In my eyes.
"But you will be good TO her? You
will make IL up-won't your You need
not tell her about me-only say that
you are sorry and want to be friends
Then you can be engaged again. and
-and-some day Her lips CULVER
ed.
Marry herr She nodded But II
1 no longer care for herr IL know
that 1 can never love her as could
lover My dear little playfellow and
friend, l am not half No fond OF Lucy
as | am OF you"
"Ah"' She looked at me with big,
deep eyes. Il am only "A child There
are different kinds OF fondness. dear
Fred" The wistful affection I'm the
child's face touched me 10 the heart.
and l kissed her frail hands
Get better. little one. aud see" I
said brokenly. Then we sat In ST.
lence for long time. holding hands.
II am getting sleepy. Fred" she
murmured kiss me-" l kissed her
several times. and she went smilingly
TO sleep. with her cheek against my
arm and her hand In my hand. Mrs.
Dormer came In. but I sat motIonless
Tor an hour. till the child's grasp re-
laxed, and l could draw myself away
without waking her.
Il shall come tomorrow morning"
1 whispered. Her mother nodded con.
suainedly, and I went out OH tiptoA
Lucy met me at the bottom OF the
stairs
have something 10 tell YOU" she
said. IF You Will spare IA. Il min
ute. ! bowed and followed her into
the empty dining room. She sank into
IN armchair 10y the fireside. and I
STOOD by the mantelpieC-e. looking down
upon her. IL seemed strange TO be so
near TO her and 80 Indifferent to the
tact For one thing was clcnr to me
that II l had every really loved Lucy
Dormer, loved her no longer. We
We're quite unsuited 20 one another.
and II l married her il would merely
be useless sacrifice Of two lives.
81 treated you badly" she said ab-
ruptiy. I raised my eyebrows. After
Maisie's confession there seemed no
reason for the admission.
There were things" | said ..that
needed explanation"
Some things are beyond explana-
ton"
Perhaps they are better left So"
Zone can ask forgiveness" There
was a faint note OF entreaty In her
voice. ! fidgeted impatiently with a
little ornament on the mantelshelf. II
l asked for forgiveness she would give
more.
IF one desires forgiveness" i said,
at length. 1t sounded brutal. but II
might avoid worse things.
"Ohr' she cried. Il do
Your said with astonishment.
You! What have 1 TO forgive your
She toyed with her handkerchief.
Il thought Maisie would tell you.
The child was always so fond OF you"
SO she knew.
"Maisie has told me-" said gravely.
Lucy, IL is right TO be frank. I have
discovered that my little playfeIlow.
child as she is, has the best love that
L can ever give TO any one" She look
ed at me in surprise Then she laugh
ed scornfuliy
81 see" she said. "You want an ex-
cuse. You might invent one without
taking my poor little sisters name In
vain"
'It Is no excuse" said firmly. We
looked at one another for q minute IN
silence.
Then" she said. 81 did not hurt
you. 1 am glad" She stamped her
foot passionately. mo. no. am not.
/ am sorry-sorry, do you hearr' I
shrugged my shoulders.
There Is no more To sayr" I sug-
gested
No more to say" she echoed family.
/ walked to the door "Fredr' she
cried abruptly. 'I must say it. Listen
to me II you will not forgive"
"Forgivew ] asked. What have
to forgive" She looked at me In ap-
parent bewilderment.
do you not know that never told
my people OF your explanation: that I
let all the blame rest ON your
my letter. cried. my letter.
''The letter you sent to MaisieT'
"She gave II TO your
"Of course she gave II to me-" said
Lucy. opening her eyes wide. why
notr ! ought to have known My
brave little girl!
'Maisie told me that she never gave
you the letter. Lucy: that all the blame
was hers" l walked to the window
and looked out for q time In silence.
broken by Lucy's sobs.
She told you-that-just to-screen
me-" she said brokenly.
yes" l could not say more for the
moment. Presently walked back TO
the fire. God bless herr said softly. |
Let us say no more about Ii. Lucy, |
and be friends for her sake"
Lucy wiped her eyes and looked into |
the fire. Then she spoke with her eyes |
a%s<ted from me.
WkeA we quarreled. II waa ouAg |
what had for some time Intended"
Your reasonY' j asked mocha Eieal-
ly. did not really care.
'Some one else was a better match.
IL did not like him 80 we'll" bow
cd II was imn,a farial s.y l-D.yy ,ha<