The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-05-20
made no doubt.

made no doubt.
AS the theater emptied. he managed to
reach Mrs. Hildyard's side.
II thought you were going TO Covent
Garden" she said.
so | was,. he said, IF you had been
able to go. I came where l could see
you
IF you were SO anxious to see me"
she said you might have called
I'm coming to see you tomorrow morn
Ing" he said.
You speak as though you had decided
about II long ago
so ! did. l decided three days ago"
why tomorrow particularly"
For an unimportant reason he said.
but IL pleased my conscience. Good
night" He nodded to Havers and Col.
Oliver and slipped away.
The next morning he called on Mrs.
Hildyard. He assured himself that he
was perfectly cool-and so he was until
his hand was on the knocker; then he
went to pieces. The collapse was so un-
expected that he incontinently thought
of flight. That, however, being impos-
sible. he had to stife his nervousness be-
tween the front door and the drawing
room. This he did by the uncommon
plan of drifting into recklessness.
II can't keep it in any longer" he
burted out. IT love you. II you tell me
to go away. I'll go, and-and-I want you
to marry me. l know IL seems absurd.
I've nothing to give you except my love.
I shall never do anything great. or make
a name for you. I'm not in the least
clever; but If you'll only take me for
what I am Tlr'-- He broke off. There
was a most becoming moisture In Mrs.
Hildyards eyes; her voice had tremu-
lous softness that made Emerton sud
denly look up.
II don't want you to do anything great
or make a name for me. Do you think
I should love you any better II l did?
will marry you-as you are"
She rose as she spoke, and Emerton
sprang up with little, joyful cry. and
had her in his arms before he could
speak a word. His victory had been so
easy that It dazed him. To possess the
desired of his heart was almost too rich
a conquest, and Mrs. Hildyard's cheek
was wet, wet with the happiest tears
Last night" Emerton said, little
later, as they sat hand in hand like chill
dren, 'as I was watching you, | thought
what a horrible thing It would be TO lose
you-to know that you would never come
any nearer to me-"
You mustn't think about such things
any more. Here is Col. Oliver. Tell him
all about it,
Later in the day Emerton met Havers.
The later was rather downcast, but he
welcomed the other quite cordially.
Emerton told him that he was engaged
to Mrs. Hiidyard.
IL expected It," Havers said II pro-
posed to her myself last night and was
refused 1t was at the end of the second
act"
Poor old chap Emerton said I'm
sorry"
II shall get over It," Havers said.
little YEARLY.
II gave you fair chance, didn't IT,
asked Emerton eagerly. Il never saw
her after that afternoon last week. I
guessed how things were going, and l
made up my mind to wait until today.
If you had won last night
But i didn't. Thank you, though, for
doing what you did. 1t was generous of
you. Not many men would have done
1T. would have done the same by you.
] ask you TO believe that although the
chance never came"
II do believe it," They shook hands
and parted, Havers to cure his hurt as
best he might and Emerton to walk on
air. But the more Emerton thought of
his defeated rival the more he liked him,
and the conviction grew that he was a
better man than himself. Charles Ken
nett Burrow In The Sketch.