Clarke courier. [volume] (Berryville, Va.) 1869-1997, 1900-10-24
90 OoSo oeoo oeooooe
By Owen Oliver.

l had vowed never to enter the Dor
mers' house again. but when they sent
word that Malsic Was dying I went
there as fast as n hanson would carry
me. We had always been such friends
the child ana |.
She was propped NJ I'm bed with pil-
lows. and her pretty face was pale and
drawn. hut she smiled when she sa ".
me. l took her wasted hand I'm mine
and kissed her cheek.
i was sure you would come" she
said i'm a faint. pleased voice
"Of course" ] answered: 'of course.
my dear child" She was only IA.
There is no quarrel between you and
me-" We had remained good friends
when the rest or the family cut me
dead.
We never have quarreled." she said.
holding my hand tightly. There is
not much time 10 quarrel now. You
won't Will you. Fred?" shook my
head. A lump I'm my throat kept me
from speaking. Promise me before I
tell you-something"
MY poor little Maisier' cried bro
kenly. Il promise" She had been a
pet OF mine from the days when she
was toddling baby and 1t big. awk-
ward boy.
1T Is very secret" she stated I'm n
slow. farofr voice. My dear. IL is only
for Fred" Her mother shook UP the
pillows and left us alone. but Maisie
seemed unable 10 make up her mind to
speak.
You know / would do anything for
you. little girl" said soothingly. Her
eyes frightened. and she nodded. but
the smile died gradually away
Turn me over n little" she entreat-
ed. and pull the corner of the pillow
over my face. can't tell you II you
look at me-" So turned her very gen
tly. but she still said nothing.
"Well. May?" asked.
You used 10 he fond OF me?"
81 am fond OF you. shall never
have any one to replace you. dear"
Suppose | had done something
dreadful something that hurt your
81 should know that you could not
help it,
Something meanY' Her voice al
most broke.
You couldn't"
'Ah. but suppose hadT'
Then ! said firmly. 81 should know
II was just a slip. like we all make
like l make sometimes. should not
blame you. little one" stroked her
long, silky hair and thought how
should miss her. had never fully
realized before how very fond was OF
my fancifu little friend.
"Will you promise 10 forgive me,
dear Fred?" she asked pleadingly.
''If there Is anything TO forgive"
There is
Then. whatever 1t Is. forgive you.
So you need not tell me now"
81 must" she said resolutely. 1T Is
about you and Lucy-when you quar-
relied" She stopped abruptly.
"YesT Lucy was her elder sister.
We had been engaged.
You wrote her an explanation-a
satisfactory explanation"
Apparently she did not think so.
She never answered the letter that
gave you TO deliver"
she never had IT," said MaIsie. with
a sob
..Maisier'
'T-I kept It" She buried her face
In the pillow. was too astonished for
words, but I kept stroking her hair.
81 read It first. Then burned It"
"But-why?"
Because l was a coward" she sob
bed-"because Lob. Fred. forgive mel
Don't despise me more than you can
help" A light flashed into my mind.
bent over her and kissed her cheek.
. MY little Maisier' ] said tenderly.
"My poor. loving. little girl! You cared
30 much as that for mer'
"I thought. perhaps. IL you didn't
marry Lucy. and we were good fraeR&S
and grew ap-sh. Fred shanR
grow up nowr I put M, arms roun6
her and held her close to me.
'If you get we'll. May" I said. 'and
grow MP. ! shall like you better than
anybody" She laughed family. II
believe l always did" | wiped her
eyes.
'I shan't." she said. ''So-you win
like her again. now, won't your"
1 hesitated. My affection for Lucy
died q natural death. 1t had never
been very deep. Neither. ! fancied.
had hers for ne.
'Time Will prove" I said slowly.
81 doubt if she''-