Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1900-09-14

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strengthen her resolution.
''Could 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 hight 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, f1uttered 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?"
cit was by the merest chance" he
answered with gesture that seemed
to indicate: "What else was / to do?"
There was silence for little. Then
he looked up suddenly, and said:
Il was surprised not 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 a
sort of silly pride forbade her to let
him know that no one else had.
II 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 I heard-some
one told me, that you would be at the
dance 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 a 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 I thought, of
course, you didn't care about me-"
Her heart was throbbing painfully,
as she went on, unsteadily: "And now
since I am going to marry some one
else don't see the use of talking any
more about it,
81 suppose not" cambridge 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 fxedly for a m
ment and an ominous cloud gathere.
on his brow.
"No, I 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?"
81 mean," he answered, slowly, in
voice in which pain mingled with pas
sion, that it will be everything, or
nothing. I shall always love you, aAe
I cannot pretend to friendship which
+ | I do not feel"
He paused for an instant and loeoket
t straight into the girls eyes. ct i
: BETTER" he said, calmly. Ito be al
enemy than a hypocrlte."
+ Something in his voice awed he
into silence. The sun had begun t.
! set and great patches of gold fell OF
: the mans face, now white and deter
, mined-a face that brooked no com
promise.
q Suddenly he came close to her and
: stopping, pressed his lips to her whit
: forehead.
She shot a quick glance into hi
: eyes and the warm color died her fac
scarlet.
4 1T is for the last time," he said
p TREMENDOUSLY, and was gone.
There were tears in the girls eye
the white lids quivered, and her lip
/. trembled. Broken down by the vic
). lence of her emotions, she turned an
: hurried into the room, to be alon
n with her misery.
d In sort of desperation she threw
glance toward the table.
# The letter! 1t had not been posted
IS Her breath came in quick, shar
Y gasps.
In the moment that followed, sh
!? realized everything and did not hes
tate.
t The next instant she was back O
r. the veranda, deeper color in he
i. cheeks, and a radiant light in he
f. eyes.
II She cast one sweeping glance at til