The Afro-American advance. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1899-19??, 1900-07-07

AGAH III hit
thine will prove" said. slowly. 81
doubt IL She"
',she does,' said Maisie.
Has she told you SOP
'Yes."
frowned. "You have not told her
about the letter. She shook her
head Then I never wi. It Is use
less your asking me to do So
81 do not ask you to. / am not
brave enough" She buried her face.
Il want them to think well Of me" she
cried. piteonsly. "when-when-I-'=
''0h, Maisie, don'tl" Inc tears were
In my eyes.
But you viii be good 10 her? You
will make ID up-won { you? lou need
not tell her about me-oniy say that
yon are sorry and want to be friends.
Then You can be engaged again. and
-aud-some day" Her lips quivered
Marry herr She nodded. But II
/ no longer care for her2 II | know
that I can never love her as | could
loye2 My dear little playfellow and
friend, am not half so fond of Lucy
as arm Of you"
"Ahl" She looked at me with big,
deep eyes. II am only child. There
are different kinds Of fondness, dear
Fred" The wistfuI affection in the
childs face touched me to the heart,
and | kissed her frail hands.
Get better. little one, and see"
said, brokenly. Then we sat In silence
for long time. holding hands.
II am getting sleepy. Fred" she
murmured. kiss me" | kissed her
several times, and she went smilingly
10 sleep, with her cheek against my
arm and her hand in my hand. Mrs.
Bormer came In. but ! sat motionless
for an hour, tin the child's grasp re-
Taxed. and / could draw myself away
without awaking her
II shall come tomorrow morning"
whispered. Her mother nodded con-
STRANGELY, and / went out on tiptoe.
Lucy met me at the bottom OF the
stairs.
II have something TO tell you" she
said, III you will spare me minute. ="
| bowed and followed her into the
empty dining. room. She sank into an
armchair by the Preside. and l stood
by the mantelpiece. looking down up
on her II seemed strange 70 be so
near 10 her and So Indifferent 20 the
| fact. For one thing was clear to me
that II had ever really loved Lucy
| Dormcr, | loved her no longer We
were quite unsuited 10 one another.
aud II | married her IL would mere
| ~ be useless sacrifice of two lives.
II treated you badly" she said, alb
ruptly. | raised my eyebrows. After
Maisies confession there seemed no
reason for the admission.
There were things" | said. slowly
''that needed explanation"
"some things are beyond explana-
ton"
Perhaps they are better left so"
zone can ask forgiveness There
was faint note OF entreaty in her
voice fidgeted impatlently with a
little ornament on the mantcl shelf
II asked for forgiveness she would
| give more.
"lf one desires forgiveness, ! said,
at length. II sounded brutal. but It
might avoid worse things.
"Ohl" she cried. ~ do"
"Youl" said. with astonishment.
"Youi What have TO forgive you2'
She toyed with her handkerchief
~ thought Malsie would tell you.
The child was always fond of you."
SO she knew
"Malnie has told me-" said. grave
III, Lucy, II Is right to be- frank
have discovered that my little play
fellow, child as she Il. has the best
love that | can ever give 10 anyone. Z"
She looked nj me In surprise. Then
she laughed scornfully
~ see" she said "Nou want an ex-
euse You might invent one without
taking my poor little sisters name In
vain"
at Is no excuse said. firmly. We
looked at enc another for minute In
/ silence.
"rhen," she said, ~ did not hurt
| you. | am glad" She stamped her
foot passionately "No, no. am not.
am sorry--sorry, do you hear?" l
shrugged my shoulders
There is no more 10 say2" aug-
| gcsted.
| "No more 20 say" abe echoed faint.
| Is. walked to the door. "Fredr' she
cried, abruptly, II must say t. Listen
IN me. II YOU viii not forgive"
| "ForgiveT | asked. what have
To forg,ves" She looked AT me in APP
parent bewilderment,
''Do sou not know that never told
my people OF your explauation2 That
let all the blame rest on you9"
My letterl" cried. 1My letter -
"1he letter you sent 10 Maisie?"
''She gave II to your
"of course she gave II to me-" said
Lucy, opening her eyes wide, "Why
notT | ought to have known. My
brave little girl
"Maisie told me that khe never gave
you the letter. Lucy, that all the
blame was hers" walked Co the win
dow aud looked out for time in al
lenee. broken by Iuoy's sohs
"She told YOU that just to screen
me" she said, hrukenly
! "NeS" could NOT saw more for the
moment, Presently walked back TO
the Gre. God bless bert" said, soft
~, "Let us say no more about il. Lucy,
and be friends for her sake"
Lucy wiped her eyes aud looked inee
the FIRE. Then she spoke with her eyes