Little Falls herald. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1889-1950, 1900-03-16
;A:Belated Avow,al
BY Mary c. Hew,,'s,., :.

4@4@se@ae@A@se@Aa e@ae@se@A@,e@e@S
"You know like you, Barbara! I've
always liked you," stammered John
Leighton awkwardly, leaning against
the kitchen window sill and looking in
with shy, embarrassed smile: 1--WE
never seen. my way clear to telling you
SO before-but-but-1' made the last
payment on that old account this morn
ing, Barbara. I can start fair after
this" e 49,.
The woman to whom he spoke stepped
back and returned a cooling 6atirol to
the stove before she answered. :. - i =.
eyes, John, l know you always Rked
me-" she spoke in a hard, resolute tone.
II feel like telling you just once. Jshn,"
went on the voice at the ironing table,
show much you've cared for me in re-
atty. 1t began when l was Is. you re-
member-with plenty of others to choose
from. I was pretty girl in those days,
too, as there's no harm in saying now,
when I'LL the prettiness has faded" John
Leighton's honest eyes rested upon her
in astonishment, but hers were bent upon
her work. "You paid me lots of atten-
ton at first, but you never really said
anything. l kept expecting that you
would through week after week and
month after month, and set my whole
heart upon you, John. Is years ago. It's
a long time to be kept waiting upon un-
certainties, isn't it?
"You needn't look at me so reproach-
fully, either. l understood all along that
your mother had queer turns and wasn't
exactly right in her mind, and everybody
said she was scared almost to death for
fear you'd bring a wife home. But didn't
you know you could trust me to wait,
John, and hold to YOU steady through il
all?
"What did you say? That was Just it
you didn't want to stand between me
and anything better. / showed so many
signs of wanting anything better, didn't
II" She smothered sudden sob. "And
girl has no pride to be hurt, Of course,
when folks keep asking her when it's to
be, and she knows in her own heart that
there is no it, let alone the swhen.'"
She flung a handful of drops at ran
dom across the sleeves of a garment that
she had been drying while she talked.
Her cheeks were scarlet now. her eyes
shining. "You needn't look so ashamed
Of me-" she flashed out excitedly. Il
know you're thinking I'm too bold to live,
but shouldn't be saying all this to you,
John Leighton, if the house wasn't let
and my trunks all packed to go out of it
tomorrow. When this ironing's finished
and I've taken up a little root of myrtle
from the burying ground-I'm through
here. Don't upset that flowerpot, john;
there's no need of jumping round as if
something had stung you, if am
Barbara. aren't you forgetting about
my brother, and the shame''
what did that amount to- anyway7
1t wasn't you that forged the check
besides, ! never can see that it's any
mans duty to put on every yoke that
whole family see 6t to white out for
him. You were foolish to let it 20 that
twas your signature; 5000 is a pretty big
sum for farmer to save up and, pay
out for somebody else, as you have. But
l never cared so much for you IN my life
rs 1 did the night you told nae about it
and when you got through the telling you
took up your hat and went home without
SO much as a geodby."
The man who stood outside the window
had bowed his head. More than one
thread of silver cleaned in his hair as
the sualight fell upon it; his face was
grave and pale Barbara" he began.
with curious choking in his voice, "I've
always
She did not seem to hear him. 81 did
expect you'd speak. John. when father
died and l was left all alone here I can
own it now as honestly as if I'd died,
too. you see. Something has died in ne
lately: my heart, perhaps, or the old
happy feeling, and there's nothing left
but the lonesomeness and the ache"
A sigh that was almost a eroa1 came
from her listener. but he made no at
tempt to speak.
Il used to think there never were two
people any better suited to live together
than we WERE" For the first time her
voice trembled. Were both plucky and
fond OF work; good laugh now and then
suits one of us just as well as it does the
other; we like books, too, and we're
about the only ones in the neighborhood
who realize that there can be a little strip
of the world outside of what's in sight
from Montrose hill. As to dispositions.
I'm quick, l know, but don't hold nv
temper; and you-why, you haven't any
temper to hold"
II don't know about that" John twirl-
ed his straw hat upon his fingers and
made the admission with slow sincerity.
Il can be pretty spunky when l ert
started, but I've always liked you too
much for
''Oh. we'll. it doesn't make any differ
ence now. The end has come at last
both to the wishing and the worrying"
She had dried her wet fingers upon her
apron and stood erect with tightly folded
arms. you've let duty and what you
were foolish enough to call disgrace
stand between us like great iron fence.
You've played at being dumb 50 long
that you are almost dumb in reality at
last: and I'm nothing but homely, dis
agreeable old crosspatch in these days,
whatever may have been once. I'm 20
Ing to live in Springfield after this, out
OF sight Of the old home where used to
be SO happy. When you 60 by here on
your way to the postoffice, perhaps you'll
remember the times we've talked togeth-
e down bX the cinnamon rQsebush in the
garden and forgive me for being 60 hate
full this last morning. It's almost kill
ed me to blame you, John, but somehow
Il can't help it," Her voice yielded
upon the words to sudden storm of
sobs that shook her from head to foot.
~ IL