River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1900-09-06

sudden emotion.
"You took her to the hop-did you
not?"
1T was by the merest chance" he
answered with gesture that seemed
to indicate: what else was to do?"
There was silence for a little. Then
he looked up suddenly, and said:
Il was surprised not to see you
there"
Dorothy said nothing, but shaded
her eyes from the sun with one small
hand and gazed idly at a climbing
rose at the other end of the veranda.
He had not asked her to go, and a
sort of silly pride forbade her to let
him know that no one else had.
II meant to come here" cambridge
began, after pause, ito tell you
everything. l thought perhaps" he
went on slowly, that you would not
mind-so much. But l heard-some
one told me, that you would be at the
dance with Eggerton. That is the rea-
SON"
The girls heart began to beat, and
look of surprise swept the latest re-
sentiment from her face.
Something in the mans tone, in
the earnestness of his manner, forced
his sincerity upon her, and she half
relented.
But the die was cast, and there was
no going back now. She caught her
breath, and the wave of tenderness
that overwhelmed her for a minute
was quickly crushed down.
Dorothy drew deep breath. There
was a pause. Presently she spoke
mo one asked me to go to the hop"
she said, determined to let him know
everything now. ~ knew you were
there with her, and / thought, of
course, you didn't care about me-"
Her heart was throbbing painfully,
as she went on. unsteadily: "And now
since 1 am going to marry some one
else l don't see the use of talking any
more about it."
81 suppose not" cambridge re-
turned, coldly, reaching for his hat.
"Good-by"
sink. She could not let him go like
that
"Harryl"
He turned back.
Cant we be frfends?"
He gazed at her tixedly for a mo-
ment and an ominous cloud gathered
on his brow.
mo, think not"
A glimmer of disappointment passed
over the girls face.
do you mean," she asked, locking
her hands = 'htly over each other,
while lool hurt surprise appeared
on her face, that we are to be stran-
gers?"
81 mean," he answered, slowly, in a
voice in which pain mingled with pas
sion, that it will be everything, or
nothing. shall always love you, and
l cannot pretend to a friendship which
1 do not feel"
He paused for an instant and looked
straight into the girls eyes. ut is
better" he said, calmly, ito be an
enemy than hypocrlte."
Something in his voice awed her
into silence. The sun had begun to
the mans face, now white and deter
mined-a face that brooked no com
promise.
Suddenly he came close to her and,
stopping, pressed his lips to her white
forehead.
She shot quick glance into his
eyes and the warm color died her face
scarlet.
"It is for the last time" he said,
TREMENDOUSLY, and was gone
There were tears in the girls eyes
the white lids quivered, and her lips
trembled Broken down by the vio-
lence of her emotions, she turned and
| hurried into the room, to be alone
with her misery.
| In a sort of desperation she threw a
| glance toward the table
The letter! 1t had not been posted!
Her breath came in quick, sharp
gasps.
In the moment that followed, she
realized everything and did not hest
| tate.
The next instant she was back on
| the veranda, a deeper color in her
cheeks, and a radiant light in her
eyes.
She cast one sweeping glance at the
retreating figure. cambridge was al
most at the gate, and not so feet
away. coming directly toward him,
handsome and smiling, Adelaide Hunt.
Harry" Dorothy's voice was clear
and firm, and there was a new thrill
in it.
He turned, a little coldly, and
looked back inquiringly.
"You have forgotten something"
He paused for a second, then, under
the potent spell of her voice, retraced
his steps and followed her into the
| library.
She went straight up to the table
and indicated by a gesture the blue
tinted envelope lying there, while the
soft color stole into her checks.
Harry"
She placed one hand TREMENDOUSLY on
his arm, and the eyes lifted to his
were full of meaning
81 might tear it IN Won know"