The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1900-11-02

II concede the pleasant said,
with a smile that was not intended to
look genuine.
do you mean that we haven't shown
most Of our real selves? That We have
just played play?"
"You know we have" | said with an
air OF frankness. ut has been great
fun. really have enjoyed il immense.
~. But | am not such practical
actor as you. and am getting little
tired OF pretending" He drew his
breath sharply. II occurred TO me that
perhaps he really had cared little.
II do not understand" he said.
"Surely you don't mean-you can't
mean-that you have merely been pre-
tending TO be good friends with me?'
"Of course not / said. lightly.
"We're excellent friends, | hope. But
friendship has certain limits" The
night before he had held my hand ever
so tightly in the dusk. and when we
parted he tried to-he almost--Oh,
well. I'll tell the truth. He kissed me.
us it absolutely impossible for
friendship TO grow" lie touched my
hand, and ! drew it sharply away.
1T depends upon persons and cir
cumstances, of course" replied. cold
| ly.
do you mean" he said. sternly.
that you have no thought for me be-
yond mere friendship? II SO, you are
the most heartless--" / drew myself
up stifly.
Really" I said frigidlv. "you carry
the way too far. Mr.. Chalmers. There
is point at which ii becomes an in
suit"
INSULT" He stood up and lowered
over me. "Insult. That ! love YOU.
That I-oh. | am a fool TO tell you,"
"Fooishness," said. meaningly. lis
pardonable. Some things are not. De-
ceit is one OF them" He looked down
at me for a moment. Then he smiled
a wintry smile.
"Deceit." he agreed "is one Of them.
I do not think | shall ever he deceived
by a woman again"
He looked so angry that il seemed
to me that perhaps. after all. he had
really fallen in love with me n little.
1t was wrong. wicked. inexcusable; but
l was glad. glad, glad. must find out,
l resolved.
Tell me honestly" I demanded. iii
you can drop pretense for once"
"You have no right TO speak 10 me
like that" he interrupted. furously.
Have I not? Have you not known
perfectly well. all along. that you would
never. never be anything more to me
than friend?"
II think" he said. that you are
the" He stopped abruptly II don't
like TO say hard things 10 woman
he stated, after an interval. Then we
were silent.
There was sudden burst of con
versation when the game came to ar
end.
"They will be making up another
set" said. won't you join them?"
He took quick step to the opening
of the tent. Then he turned.
"For Gods sake. Eve" he iriplored
"tell me that 1t isn't your real s. II thai
is speaking this evening. If yor knew
how much l cared for you, il you Un
derstood-"
II understand" said. quietly.
Haven't you down in the bottom o
your heart just one little bit of lov'
for me? When love you so much-m.
dear?"
tried TO say "No." but couldn't
clenched my hands fiercely and hi
my lips to keep from crying out aloud
Oh, he should never. never know! Aft
er few seconds, that seemed an age
the others came to the tent.
"Ah. Miss Eve" said the colonel, .
knew that You were hiding here. but
wouldn't disturb you. Let me intro
duce another Mr.. Robert Chalmers, tn
cousin Of our big friend here" ros
mechanically. "IIe is coming to settl
down here with his wife and-Why
what is the matter. my dear?"
"I-I-feel faint" said, feebly.
dropped back in chair, and everythin
grew misti. Some one ran for water
think. and the two Robert Chalmer
lifted me. chair and all. into the ope
air.
soon recovered. Then they LITE
me back again into the tent. out Q
the cooling breeze. They insisted upo
carrying me. though | knew l coul
have walked. Then | began laughin
and talking. and they went off one b
one. till only Bob-my Bob--was lef'
He sat down on q chair some distanc
from me. and looked out through tn
opening and didn't speak.
thought of several things to sa,
but they didn't seem the right one
2 So waited few minutes for him {
begin, but he didn't. He looked :
lhurt that l felt couldn't wait an
longer.
: 1T is awkward" I remarked. feel
Z ~, "that you and your cousin have tn
! same name"
! at is not unusual with cousins"
answered, indifferently.
MOO, but" l looked at him 81
! pealingly.