The Van Buren press., 1900-12-29

| | have been quite blind. But it IL not
the dime; you really gave me that, and
l have right to keep it-for luck!"
"But-I really don't understand"
said Aimee. ITS not the poor little
housewife, | hope?"
mo! but this--which found hidden
within it," and he held out the little
picture of herself
An expression of surprise, followed
by wave of color, overspread her face.
"Oh-I'm very glad you didn't think
NO" he said, seriously. 81 tried at
first to think so, but l simply couldn't,
and So"
81 will tell you how it came to be
there" said Aimee, quickly. 81 had
completely forgotten it, but ! remem-
ber now. l made the little housewife
for Tom when we thought he was 60
ing to the war. And l slipped that
picture in, because he always had liked
1t, and | thought he might come across
II some time and be glad to see it. Then
he didn't go, after all, so l just put it
one side. And when wanted some
thing for you in hurry for my mon
sense tree / thought Of that, though
I'd forgotten all about the picture.
thank you for not Misunderstanding
and for bringing It back to me-"
"But-I want TO keep it," said the
professor, earnestly, "uness-unless
you will give me the original, Aimee,
am | asking the impossible? ! love
you; I cannot NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
you. Aimee"
But her face, her gesture answered
him.
81 am fool to have told you this so
soon" he ended abruptly,
"Oh, professor" said Aimee, very
sorrowfully.
"Forget that / am n professor, and
think of me for once ns Robert Vaughnl
Think CT me as man-and not such an
old man, either, in spite Of u few gray
hairs"
But very unreasonable and foolish
MANI thought Aimee, though wisely
she did not put her thought in words.
The interview ended as such inter-
views usually end. And the professor,
when he went away, carried with him
d heavy heart--and the little photo.
graph Of Amee's lovely face.
II was n strange thing, but Aimee
could not for one moment forget the
professors words; 81 love you. can.
not live -- happily - without youl"
They rang In her ears, and his fnce-
as II had been when he said those
words-haunted her day and night
through all the round OF holiday gay
ctles,which followed, though during
those days she saw him no mere.
She did not desire to see him, yct--un.
consciously at drst-she came to con.
trost him, his manner, his mode Of
speech, with every man she met And
each of these she ranked in proper
tion as they approached or fell be.
low the professors level,
So New Years eve came, and mid.
night found Aimee onG Tom with o
party OF their friends, watching the
old year depart,
Some one had been reciting Tenny.
sons death OF the Old Year" And
the words,
I" lie gave me friend and true, truoqlove,
And the Nw Year viii take ON away"
struck Aimee as ominous. They ech.
oed through her dreams all night, and
they came buck TO her next morning
when she took up the paper and read
Of IN accident which had occurred on
q trolley the night before, In which
Prof Robert Vaughn had been injured
80 seriously that hIs death was mo.
mentarily expected.
Then II was that the truth was re.
vealed to her, and her heart echoed the
professors own words; II love you. |
cannot live-hnppily--without you'll"
The family were so concerned over
the bnd news Of their friend that
Almees face was not noticed.
Nor did II seem strange or unusual
to them when she went out alone 10
the early service nj the church.
Aimee wanted 10 be alone with her
secret and her sorrow. The holy words