Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1901-07-24

You wished to see me on an urgent
err2nd?" she said, repeating the pen
ciled words.
Yes" he answered, distantly. This
must be my excuse for troubling you"
holding out the open paper and the
monogramed note.
Her first blank wonder was followed
by flash of comprehension, and-was
it amusement? Hayne bit his lip in
anger, but as she raised her head he
his face.
It am quite at loss to account for
this mystery" he said, formally. "Of
course, I knew that you-I mean 1
wished to assure you that I" He
stopped, feeling that he was bungling
horribly.
''Oh, yes; that goes without saying"
she answered, demurely. "But l am
afraid it is not a mystery to me-"
Not a mystery?" he repeated. 81
can't imagine who"
She smiled. Perhaps you never re-
aGzed what a thorough scapegrace
that brother of mine is? You were al
ways a favorite of Harry's," she went
on, composedly, though her color
came with this first allusion to the old
time, land he has wasted a great deal
of argument since you went away.
Now that you have come back Well,
l suppose he took the opportunity to
play bold game" smiling again. His
diplomacy is rather crude"
Hayne was piqued by her self-pos-
session, and that phrase about wasted
argument ranked. Was she entirely
Indifferent to him? She should not
guess how much he cared for her.
He forced laugh. '"Then the little
comedy may as well end now-since
you don't share your brothers pref
erence-"
The defiant words were never fin
ished. For as he rose she looked up t
him, and he saw that her face was pale
and her lip quivering. The self-pos-
session he resented had been only on
the surface, and had given way under
the strain.
He caught her hands. Doris, you
are not so heartless, after all! You do
care something for me-Doris?"
She looked down at their clasped
hands, and smiled. 1t was answer
enough, and he was quick to seize his
advantage.
How could you let me suffer so
long, Doris?" he said, with not very
reasonable reproach. You knew |
would come if you sent for me. You
might have written"
Il did write-a dozen letters"
81 never got one"
mo, for tore them all up"
You tore them up? And you could
sacrifice me to your pride? Oh,
Doris!"
ut was not pride" she declared. Il
forgave you long ago. But I was
afraid of another such scene. |
thought if you were left to yourself
for awhile, you would see the folly of
it all, and come back in your right
mind. For felt sure you would come
finally, whether l sent for you or n ot, y
smiling.
Eyes; l should have found some pre-
text" he confessed. 81 don't think |
could have stayed away much longer
He gave her hands a tender, tri-
umphant little squeeze. And now
that we have forgiven each other" he
said. magnanimously, I'VE won't say
anything more about Jack Wetherell
will we, Doris?"
Il don't see why we should she
laughed. HE is Mabers exclusive
property. L told you that a month
ago"
Yes; but month ago l was ieal-
Gus fool. Now"
Nov even you can find no excuse
for jealousy! Next week you may
read their engagement in the Calen-
dar."
BLESS the Calendar-and your
brother! Doris" he broke off with a
sudden laugh, 81 told Deering to con
tradict that notice! Now what shall
do? Tell him it was premature dis
closure, but that he can announce the
engagement next week?"
And Hayne laughed again. he pic
tured behring's face at this illogica
| conclusion.