The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-03-09
MELINDA'S SMILE.
tFrom the Pan Nan Magazine.I

till a voice from the footpath brought
back my wandering thoughts win a
rush. raised my head to ma Melinda
"a dazzling vision in blue cloth and
white fuzzy my side. with the same
Irresistible smile, and her face and voice
as fresh and sweet as spring ITSELF
enough; but somewhere behind her
smile caught a glimpse of anxiety and
Good morning knew that, If I
stopped, the little-very httle-peace or
mind I had gained in my long, lonely
ride would vanish like smoke; but Blue
bell, from long habit, took he matter
upon herself and dropped Ter head to
Craze by the roadside.
Melinda drew a small, bare hand from
her white muff and stroked the sleek
skin. 4 noticed how cunningly the
bunch OF violets nestled ir the soft
brown of her hair and wished that i
was dead.
rs it true2v 1 asked, knowing well
enough that 1t was.
Meiinda's head was stir bent; per-
haps that was why her voice was muf-
fled.
yes she said, at is true
do you care for hin?'' 1 went on,
and at this Melinda raised her head in
dignantly.
you have no right to ask. she said,
with flaming cheeks. II am very
fond OF him indeed
No, I said bitterly, 'I have no right
no right beyond the prom Sc made 50
more questions It must be easy indeed
to be fond of such an income as
LeOnard's -with good looks into the bar
linda
She caught my rein and Biuebell stop
ped afain- She knew me and she knew
Melinda. I had hired her many times be-
fore 1 went away. and we had always,
somehow, met Melinda.
You are very unkind," Melinda said
quickly. 1T isn't the money-at least
not much. You know how hard it is at
r1Tf
I'm sure we couldn't be much worse
off n we were beggars-and mother
grumbling and grumblirg because
Lisette and We're both engaged to poor
people, and Margaret and Mabel both
growing out of their things as fast as
old Nurse makes them, and father wor-
ried awfully with beastly bills"
I glanced at MellRda's tail0r-made
costume with a smile.
She flushed again. Her complexion is
like pink-and-white apple blossom.
It had to have some decent things
when I was engaged" she explained
hurriedly, because of Leonard's rela-
lions and things calling; but they aren't
paid for yet, 50 you needn't smile in that
horrid, unbeieving way And
then" she went on. you went away all
that time in South Africa about those
wretched railways, and everybody said
you would never make any money, and
they said I was selfish and horrid and
cruel, and Lisette would get engaged to
the curate. and Margaret was always
ties and things and Leonard was
always here. kind and nice to everybody,
and always doing generous things, till at
last I got quite fond of MIN.
nature"
Evidently" said T.
+. And then you said you might be
out for years and years more"
1.-TWO years was what l said"
4" And everybody kept bothering
and bothering, and Leonard was so kind
and patient. till / thought and thought,
and made up my mind at last to write
and break it off And / did"
Yes / said quietly, you did.
found your letter waiting for me direct
" got back 1t was a pleasant well
come home The woman at my rooms
knew was coming. 50 she did not for
ward it. There is nothing more to be
said is tnere2'
wait a minute said Melinda
When you were away. I-er-wrote to
..You did" said I-"once a week for
two years. have got all your letters.
They began with vows of eternal con-
stancy and they ended in-thisi'
Her eyes filled with tears They were
almost the color of the violets in her
hat and I wished she would finish what
she had TO say and let me 60.
she said wistfuliy
7 don't want to be rude" I replied,
but that is a leland you know it,
VIII you say what you have to say and
Il want you to send back all my
letters-that is ALL
~Ail2" said
Yes. 4 have sent back yours, and
your ring, and the little turquoise ban
gle with the nugget-and-ohi every
thing you gave me"
why she uli send til m back AZ
an2n 7 asked. They can't be pleasant
reading TO YOU now"
1T isn't that she said; tits because
IF Leonard. He doesn't know we were
engaged. and he has such ridiculous
ideas about broken engagements He
has a sort of theory that ne won't marry
a girl unless he is her frsI love.
You are very foolish There IS not
likely to be much happiness for you in
the future if you begin to deceive MIN
already How can he help knowing we
were engaged2"
There is no reason why he should
said Melinda quickly 7 haven't told
was no telling what might happen
Mabel and Margaret are too anxious for
me to marry him to let that out"
But said I, while have the let
tiers you know they are safe"
Il suppose So she said doubtfully;
"but I should never be quite sure. and
I should be. 50 uneasy always and you
might die or something, and then just
think how dreadful It would be for me
If Leonard found out"
Yes said slowly. But on the
other hand, don't see why you should
expect me to mind that. Why should
I have any consideration for you you
had little enough for met"
''Ohl" cried Melinda, t'you-are never
going TO be 50 cruel III. you can't mean
you"
Yes n replied. Il am. IT,. can. 7 do.
The letters were written to me, and at
the time they were written I believe you
meant what you said All your pretty
protestatioas of faith and constancy
and undying love we're as real then, 1
suppose. to you as. most unhappily, they
seemed to me. They are all can have
now You belong to Leonard will
keep the letters.
Then I saw that Melinda was getting
e-.--a.-.r,.l Sic .a. 20 IL. l.r..-lr,cr r,l.rr