The Washington weekly post., 1900-04-24
THE END OF THE STORY.
2, JULIA TRUTTT BISHOP.

=. "a 7eeued out OF the WINDOW 10 see
rrera coming Twenty times she had
- her beautiful robe up and down
't---or7 and had looked at her reflection
-. -aU mirror. turning her pretty
- and posing with a childish delight
".sTpl-t az H.. Kitty, Think OF it, she
- --.es 90 the white cat, watching her
- Law surprise from the rug. He has
- nav TWO years-dear old, honest,
s.-ofs loving BOb,-and ] was so poor
- be went away-sO wretchedly poor
cd hsrd-vorking In that awful school.
n. Do sIV-4vs saw me in shirt waists
s-s skirts. Kitten, I never had whole
t-,ss-,eysr, And now look at thls!-and
Nv beautiful. beautiful homeland money
enough % make any number of people
ts,ry was almost sorry that he had
---vr rich. Kittycat; but what does IL
r,s-fer. He liked me when I was poor
md that is the test, after all. How glad
he'll be,-h0W very glad
And the thought Of IL had set her mus
i-e so that she did not even hear the bell
,5sD he raug-did not know that he was
Coming until he was standing at the door,
bio and strong and sunburned, and hold
ing out his hands.
she few 20 him then, forgetting the
nretty home and the dress and all the
rest Of II. There was such a flame in her
checks. such a shining delight in her
ewes that he might have been pardoned
II he had kissed her. Her face was up
lifted. there was a tremulous smile on her
lips lie might so easily have kissed her,
for Old-times sake IL for nothing else.
and because they had been companions
and chums In poverty and misfortune.
But he did not. He held her away from
him with both hands, instead, and looked
over her with astonished scrutiny.
Jupiter Nell,-but you have come outr'
be cried. If l had met you anywhere
else. wouldn't have known you-on my
word, / Wouldn't-especialIy in that dress.
! never saw you wear anything like that"
be added, IpOlogCtically.
Well OF course notw she replied. gayly.
giving him d seat near the fire, and bring
ing her own chair opposite. Fancy an
gnderteacher al Nine. Tullys wearing
crepe de chine! But, oh. isn't it pretty,
Pob' Isn't everything pretty. And weren't
you glad?'
Wasn't IT, cried the man. cordially. 1T
Vas just like a story. you know. Do you
remember how we used 10 pretend you
and ] we're living story. and that every
thing that happened was part of it?"
brighter color had famed up into the
girls face. Bob paused a little while TO
admire il, and 10 recall slowly that in the
old schOol-teachirg days she had been a
little pale.
When il turned around that had TO go
OIt TO the mines, you know" he went on.
2euially, I'VE talked il over-dO you re-
-
While we laughed because we were only
10 a story. and the story was bound to
come out right, and no matter how bad
things looked. | was dead sure to come
back IN a year or two with loads of
money"
Just as you have" murmured the girl
She had turned her chair around little
and was looking at the fire.
Weren't we foolish youngsters?" he ask
r5 with honest amusement. II suppose
- lad 10 have a lot OF fun to keep us
nom losing heart with all that confound-
sl poverty and hard times. But 1t was
iou that got it up-you mustn't forget
hat Ia never have thought Of 1t my
self"
TO pass away the time" said the girl,
softly. with the freight making flick
aring slsam in her eyes.
Oh OF course" he responded, heartily,
The only part Of II that originated was
hat was to come back rich, and after
that YOU wouldn't have 10 teach, or to
have any more hard times-and-all that
you know"
Her hands were in her lap and she did
rot stir; but insensibly, her fingers tight
en,d over one another 10 keep from
J.. "a
Looking al her with amused "reminiscences
H. bis eyes
Il don't know when I'd ever thought of
our story before" he went on, until
Your letter came six months ago telling
about Your uncle Waldemar's death, and
how thn home. the fortune and everything
had come To yoJ. 1t AL flashed over me
then, and / said to myself That's part OF
the story" Say. Nell. you and / are con-
U.1uJing "a pretty interesting little serial
10 the world. don't you Think"
Ni-h wrench she brought herself TO
laise her eyes fron the fire and look at
him steadily. II there was a film of mois-
ture over them h. did not notice 1t.
We have both had great good fortune,
Hat,' she said I'VE never dreamed Of
al ,hrS quite 50 grand as this. even in
i.AsaA % lilt With servants
ana a chaperuuc-nO one doubted that
could take cd.c Of myself as long rs l /
vas poor, but now ii is quite different. !
AND Lomc-think OF me with any kim |
'. d .am.. / had lived in rented houses
.i Hs Tie. and very poor ones at that. /
ana here an my own mistress"
and taJG reminds me-you haven't /
A."!3 the best Of my fortune yet" cried /
"a h.
--'-' l1 'ae piece Of news that would /
peas, -eE h.sg. he was feeling for some /
'..- n bis breast nocket. and he drew
.".'a prrscnIly-a photograph of a 4
....... t'Hg.sA face, aud a pert upward |
%. . ,a. ot-n.
ia're .hc is," he said. smiling and
E With pride and pleasure be /.
'. OBJ. Jaa- Her father is president 4
p. ... ..aIauy. and she and her mother /
.'.A aEt -cre most Of the fall on u I
$50 ru .t4."
- -..a fhr photograph with steady .
- #. Hgztc a. IL for long time-so .
. ar' ac greW tiTed Of waiting. and 4
Nin ais jubiaut explanation.
600 .nrs- III living al the mines" /
1870. Savc SCI out my interests {
$685.. -.-.g arg all coming en- In a week .
We .... a.l "c ere 10 be married next 4
.gI aye 10 be FIRST bridesmaid.
aayr told her all about You. You'll
'..'l H..,ve that al nrSi she was iu-
'...a .1 Dee Jealous"
...'. s.Ay little girl said Nell, laugh
-- i..y at o.. idea.
hats that 1 TOD her. l. she
$3.50 ' nov you. / said she'd never
'"'' ..p.rer feeling Of Iha- sort But
.. -.. tate, she over II now. / am 70
10 gel @ home somewhere near
...s Ha..e ye- can bc with her most OF
'7 -UH.ess yuu'll come and 1--we with
- Aa-. which v",id be tie most delight
..- .t.-- boo the world she's such q child
..- ...W. md che must have company
n. o. . tine"
."' ....l az iast slowly ard painfully.
..' .- DEE Ihot graph down On the Ia
10. flame had died down o. the grate
-. s glow had suddenly slipped from
Fl. ie- h'Te 90 kind 10 think Of II, Bob"
- '4.- wiki d smile or her paIlid Eps
, sI9" that would be lovely.
~. '.'' have dr. AIMED Of anything better
-... Iui-1.1u't ! tell y0uy ac,