The Bellefontaine Republican. [volume] (Bellefontaine, Logan County, Ohio) 1855-1905, 1900-01-09

They might have been brother and
sister or cousins accustomed to each
others society every day in the year.
Certainly they did not act like lovers.
They walked carefully, the man mine
ingly, on either side of the dusty lane,
each keeping close to the border of the
grass.
81 think said the woman, that it is
the very wisest thing we can do"
The man started-he glanced covertly
at her, then turned his face very de-
liberately to her as he replied: 81 will
not say you are wrong But have you
reached this conclusion suddenly,
within the past hour. or did you arrive
at it last night?"
Last Might"
"Then you doubtless thought Of ev-
erything in connection with-with'-
"Our quarrel?" she looked straight at
him. Her face was not disturbed In
the least that he could see; she seemed,
indeed, to be unusually self possessed.
Yes"
81 apprehended as much" The man
braced himself with an effort; it re-
quired an effort 81 made due provision
for this interview"
"a case Of telepathy." She laughed.
Her laugh was the same-there was
not have laughed naturally if his life
| had been at stake. You mean you
have brought my letters?"
EYES,"
81 brought yours with me, Carroll" !"
She uttered his name just as she al
| ways uttered 1t. At that moment he
could not trust himself to utter her
name. He would exhibit feeling-he
knew it. And to think-this was the
woman he could have sworn sympa-
/ thized with him as no other person in
the wide world sympathized with him
in his work and aims. Yes, it was well
that they had made the discovery in
time.
She handed him small, dainty look
ing package; he reached her larger
and by no means as neat a package;
he observed the difference himself
Then he inferred that his feelings were
much the deepest; she had been al
pains to make hers attractive; he had
1
he tied his. He felt as if his heart was
bound up-going from his in that little
package.
"Now that It is all over, Clara"-ii
required an effort to call her by thai
name-"win you tell me my chief Of
fense? am not Indifferent; like the
good opinion of my fellows-that is
while l preserve my self respectful
ways. OF course, l do not fancy the
idea of going through the world in {
way that would subject me to tn,
criticism Of any sensible man o.
woman"
"Well, am rather glad you ask that
1t disabuses me of one impression
Now that everything is over betweel
us l will be entirely frank with you
Indeed, it is due to you to say that d,
not-no, I am quite sure have neve
met a man whose manners, whose es
innate Of himself Judging from hi
manners and general bearing), are NOR
perfect or commendable than yours"
"You have taken a load from m
shoulders positively you have-Clara.
"How about my manners" She he'll
her head a trife higher; her parasol q
that moment was detected; he coul
just see the lower part of her face; he
chin seemed a little redder-or was
Imagination?
"Why, what on earth do you mean
81 asked you very simple question
But 1t does not make any difference"
"Your manners
"Did you not say last night that
was too demonstrative-when Mis-
Challoner tainted and her dog wa
trampled by Mr.. TrescottY'
You must have wholly misundel
}. stood
"Well, perhaps I was mistaken ther
But do you recall your words-your e,
/ act words-when was introduced I
your friend, Mr.. Grinnell?"
81 do not. Now do recall it. l ma
have said l thought you unlike you
self. Somehow you seemed, for I'll
first time, precise. But
"Then you persisted in going ava
, and leaving me with him."
miss Machmont beckoned to me
you saw her with her mother"
"That did not occur to me.
). course, you could not have Wake
across the room with me and left n
with them?'
1T was doubtless stupid Of m
but
LET us say no more. 1t is all so u
T. like us to part like children"
"But about Grinnell | did not kno
he was, ah-disagreeable to you. If
- had dreamed"-
do you tell me that you did n
1 know he pursued me two years ago
i the very first year was out2 | ha'
been annoyed by him more than
any other man. ] never liked him
and never will"
Am l to understand that Mr.. Gri
e. nell Is the gentleman that your moth
to referred to last fall when
." please let us not speak of Mr.. Gri
nell any more"
h "But l want to say l only became 9
lQuainted with him a week ago, and'-