Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1900-07-26
MONICA.
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. ~

) OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES ~
Although the little village Of Older
was beginning to look bright with tn,
green OF early spring, down here BY
the cove all was gray, sands, rocks
sky, even the water had the same
dreary tint. Not CLEAN of color, ex
cept that of crimson shall, which
the girl, sitting on ledge Of q rock
had wrapped around her.
Laurence Dare, coming along tn,
road which ran along above the beach
saw the patch OF red and paused.
"That's Monica" he muttered.
At sight Of her Dare's heart had civ.
en- a great throb Of joy. 1t was SO
long, SO long since he had seen her
He made few long strides and stood
beside her.
Monica" he said softly.
! The girl turned her head with 4
quick movement.
There was displeased tone in her
voice and her brows came together in
q frown as she regarded him. He pu.
out his hand.
"Are you not going to shake hands
with me Monica; 1t is SO long since !
have seen your"
The girl gave him her hand with Z
reluctant air, Withdrawing 1t quickly
from his warm grasp, and turning her
face seward again.
Monica, you are cruel; you have
not let me see you once this long win
ter. have been down from the city
so often, and tried to get to see you,
but each time that | called you had
just gone out l feel sure that you
saw me coming and went away pur-
posely. Last night it was the same
thing; but chance has been good to
me this time; ! missed my train this
morning, and so ] have caught you;
you had no opportunity to avoid me-"
The girl made no answer.
He went on: Last summer you
gave me faint hope that in time you
would listen to me. What have you
to say to me now; have you not
thought Of me all these long months?"
She turned around to him, her eyes
full Of tears.
II was wrong to let You think you
might hope, Laurence, for can't d
might hope, Laurence, for I can't do
az you wish, Don't you understand?
1t seems wrong for me to listen to
you. Think belong to Allen; ] was to
have been his wife. He was always
talking OF Cousin Laurence; you
seemed Cousin Laurence to me, too
Don't you see2 l belong to Allen, l
can not marry you"
"But Allen 10 not"
She Interrupted him quickly.
"Hush; we don't know; he must be
living"
~ ,nica," he said with great gentle
ness voice, think it is four years;
he was to have returned in ten
months"
II must be faithful to him."
Dare flushed. "This is nonsense,
Monica" he said half angrily. "If Al
len Is living" he went on, "why have
we not heard from him all these years7
Are you going to waste your life in
this little village and give up all chance
of happiness for fancful idea of be-
ing bound to him? And think of me;
I have loved you so long. Come to
me, I shall love you SO much that you
must love me in return; and | swear
that you shall never regret it, Moni-
ca"
VI cant, Laurence"
"Will you spoil both Of our lves?"
u must not listen Laurence. | wish
you did not care for me-"
81 can't help caring for yon. think
] have loved you since the first day !
saw you, and now you are free"
u am not tree.
"Monica, listen
She stood up. 81 must not, Laurence,
Try to forget me, am going home;
do not come"
And before he could stop her she
had darted away.
She went along swiftly until she
knew that she was out of view from
the cove. Her thoughts were in
whlrI, Why should She not yield? She
knew that her happiness would be &C.
,ure with this strong, tender man.
How little he guessed her struggle to
'esist his pleading He thought she
lid not care, In the old days she had
Allen with him, and always
o the formers disadvantage, For af-
er the glamour Of their engagement
he had seen the shallowness and sell
ishness of Aliens nature, and in the
lose relations into which, through
Ter engagement, she was brought
With Aliens cousin Laurence, she had
ecognized the st. & and noble char
cter Of the latter.
And these last years, how the ten
erness of his nature had shown out.
What care he had given to Aliens des-
late mother He had almost filled
he place of her son. Still, at first,
er feeling for him had been only a
trong admiration. In spite of her
ecognition of Aliens weak nature,
ne fascination of his glance and soft
Dice held her captive. But now, When
Hen had gone West on the prospect
lg tour which was to occupy 10
lonths she had promised to be ready ,
marry him upon his return. But
re ten months had passed, and other
Iontbs had grown into years, and he ,
ad not returned. They had had no \
ews Of him after that last letter,
ritten seven months from his de- /
A t,4u ra I uupnan. 1rI a,.,,1a0nI