The Republican., 1900-09-13


strengthen her resolution.
Gould you not easily console your
self with Miss Hunt? You seem to
admire her very much She spoke
with some bitterness ana her face
hardened. The girls heart was max
ing its protest, unconsciously, but
surely.
An expression, half of amusement,
came into Bainbridge's face, as he
caught the strange night in her eyes,
but he made no answer, and, in spite
of the girls Indifferent shrug look
of annoyance crossed her face.
A breath of wind heavy with the
fragrance of summer, futtered the
ribbons of her soft gown, as she
turned to him, her eyes black with
sudden emotion.
"You took her to the hop-did you
not ?"
ut was by the merest chance" he
answered with a gesture that seemed
to Indicate: what else was to do?"
There was silence for little. Then
he looked up suddenly, and said:
II was surprised noG to see you
! there"
Dorothy said nothing, but shaded
her eyes from the sun with one small
hand and gazed idly at a climbing
rose at the other end of the veranda.
He had not asked her to go, and
sort of silly pride forbade her to let
him know that no one else had.
Il meant to come here" cambridge
began, after a pause, ito tell you
everything. l thought perhaps" he
went on slowly, that you would not
mind-so much. But | heard-some
one told me, that you would be at the
d-;nce with Eggerton. That is the rea-
SON"
The girls heart began to beat. and
a look of surprise swept the latest re-
sentiment from her face.
Something in the mans tone, in
the earnestness of his manner, forced
his sincerity upon her, and she half
relented.
But the die was cast, and there was
no going back now. She caught her
breath, and the wave of tenderness
that overwhelmed her for a minute
was quickly crushed down.
Dorothy drew deep breath. There
was pause. Presently she spoke.
mo one asked me to go to the hop"
she said, determined to let him know
everything now. '"I knew you were
there with her, and l thought, of
course, you didn't care about me-"
Her heart was throbbing painfully,
as she went on, unsteadily: And now
since | am going to marry some one
else | don't see the use of talking any
more about it."
81 suppose net" Bainbridge re-
turned, coldly, reaching for his hat.
'Good-by."
The careless tone made her heart
sink. She could not let him go like
that.
Harry"
He turned back.
Cant we be friends?"
He gazed at her fixedly for a mo-
ment and an ominous cloud gathered
on his brow.
"No, 1 think not"
A glimmer of disappointment passed
over the girls face.
'Do you mean," she asked, locking
her hands tightly over each other.
while look of hurt surprise appeared
on her face, that we are to be stran-
gers?"
Il mean" he answered, slowly, in a
voice in which pain mingled with pas
sion, that it will be everything, or
nothing. l shall always love you. and
I cannot pretend to friendship which
| do not feel"
He paused for an instant and looked
straight into the girls eyes. "It is
better" he said, calmly, "to be an
enemy than a hypocrte."
Something in his voice awed her
into silence. The sun had begun to
set and great patches of gold fell on
the mans face, now white and de ter
mined-a face that brooked no COM
promise.
Suddenly he came close to her and,
stopping. pressed his lips to her white
forehead
She shot a quick glance into his
eyes and the warm color died her face
scarlet.
SIT is for the last time" he said,
tremuo@ely, and was gone.
There were tears in the girls eyes
the white lids quivered, and her lips
trembled. Broken down by the vio-
lence of her emotions, she turned and
hurried into the room, to be alone
with her misery.
In sort of desperation she threw a
glance toward the table.
The letter! 1t had not been posted!
Her breath came in quick, sharp
gasps.
In the moment that followed, she
realized everything and did not hest
tate.
The next instant she was back on
the veranda, a deeper color in her
checks, and radiant light in her
eyes.
She cast one sweeping glance at the
retreating figure. cambridge was al
most at the gate, and not so feet
away, coming directly toward him,
han nrI c,n;I;pu AJoIo.l-