Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1900-11-01

yotion. tender and sweet. A loVe-lorn
voutb of 16 could not have shown more
inflammation. When Annis and Edna
were both with Tracey he often APP
neared 10 forget the former. or If the
conversation became three-cornered he
would throw into il just the element
that aroused Annis' irratibihty and
GRATED on her sense of fairness Then
| her sharpest sarcasms always fell upon
the Younger girls head. At such times
Tracey was so softly sympathetic with
Edna. SO contrived to set her defense
less innocence over against Annis
harshness as to prompt Edna to little
impertinences and assumptions of his
championship.
Annis could school herself to the
thought that Tracey would never care
for her as she did for him; she could
take him at his word that he had no in
tention of marrying, but she suffered
keenly with disappointment and a.
touch of disgust in seeing the one whose
manly. somewhat serious bearing she
| had learned to admire conducting him
self in a manner SO nearly silly More
over, he evidently took it for granted
that her honest friendship and com
radeship had turned to jealousy and
hostility. and that there was open
rivalry between her and Edna
This was too much. Saying nothing
of her plans, Annis made speedy prepa-
rations for spending the winter in the
south. She chose resort not widely
known and confded its address only toI
a brother in a distant city.
The new surroundings. the agree.
able coterie of fellow guests diverted
Annis' mind and allayed her agita.
ton, So that she began 10 feel sure
that the time Of her going home
would find her healthily Indifferent toI
Tracey Channons doings. One after.
noon she with others was at the lit.
tie railway station idly watching the
newcomers on the down train. She
saw Tracey Channon among them. Be
fore he could see her she stepped be.
hind a pillar and slipped away into
the park At the end of the winding
myrtle path she found a seat. The
old love surged up, pierced through
and through by the sting Of those last
experiences at home. Had he come
knowing she was there? She was
tempted to fly away on the up train
She heard rumbling through the for
est But no, this hour must settle the
matter forever She would not let her
love for a man who had so plainly told
her not 10 count on him assert itself
| while he was so near She ragged
/ against her persistency in making
/ himself so a part OF her life. She tore
/ at the roots of her affection in wrath
/ and shame. Again wave of ecstatic
! love rolled in upon her heart at the
! thought that he was so near; then she
clinched her hands till the tendons
strained for she must 90 back to the
hotel and meet Tracey Cnannon a con
queror Of herself or able to meet him
in the old friendly way.
When the paroXysm had spent it.
/ self Annis felt that she had aged in
the hour. The songs of the birds
seemed TO be in a minor key. The
strong contrast between the patches
of sunshine and the shadows were 10
her typical Of life with Tracey and ex-
istence without him. The sounds of
voices and laughter waited up from gay
boating parties on the river brought
back memories Of happier days She
looked beyond them to the dim, gray
further bank and felt that SO must
she look past happiness to a life as
dun and monotonous as that uninyit-
ing shore. The long swaying moss
banners, usually so soothing and sug-
gestive Of the poetry of motion,
seemed 10 her that day more ike
mourning draperies. fitting accompa-
niment TO this shutting down the cof-
fin lid on happiness and hope, She
saw herself a lonely, heart-weary
woman
A step on the sand and Tracey Chan
non stood at her side, his hand clasp
. ing hers, his face wearing its happiest
expression. the most cordial words on
his lips. Yet she could not compre-
bend a word that he was saving Civ
r ing Annis no time to reply. be talked
, on rather eNcitedly, Gliding her for
, running away from him. exclaiming
, over the beauties Of the park and
. river He suddenly stopped and
/ scanned Annis' face. which she knew
must betray the turmoil within. His
I own voice quavered and his face
/ showed anxiety as he began tenderly
and slowly;
: my dear. I have come an the way
( down here 20 ask that we may he
s more than friends ] have loved you
r truly. fondly for a long time"
y 81 do not understand you. You have
/ said so often that You did not intend
T 70 marry; then-I-poor Edna will be
p heart broken"
i EDNA is engaged 10 a handsome
Z young millionaire. I wanted to find
j. out whether YOU cared for me even a
n little dearest ! was suffering 50.
/, DO want TO marry, and / want you
z I inst won