New-York tribune., 1901-02-24

10 mlnd that. Why should have any consider
alton for you?-you had little enough for me-,
OH cried Melinda, you never going TO
De SO cruel you can't mean your
,ettses ua replied pile, II am can do The The
were written believe you meant what you said.
All your pretty protestations of faith and
conStancy and undying love were as real then,
suppose. to you as, most unhappily, they
seemed to me. They ali l have now.
You belong 10 Leonard. l Will keep the
letters
Then 1 that Melinda was getting fright
ened. She was really crying now, and L knew
that immediate flight Was the only thing for
me. With Melinda happy and smiling l could
be stern and unyielding, but / knew too well
The power Of Melinda in tears
Hoodby, i said. in a tone Of gentle meian-
choly. and rode away. leaving her weeping pitt
fully by the roadside
That night | dnod with Melinda's uncle the
rector. and Melinda and her Leonard were there
She had a sweet little voice and relied for
effect on many small tricks OF expression and
Leonard. who bS and bald and Jolly, would
listen to her by the hour with an expression of
fapt ecstasy. She sang the Tin Gee-gee.
which seemed TO ne. under the circumstances.
10 he peculiarly appropriate
Presently. about o'clock. Melinda to go
she had a bad headache. and would be so glad
If dear auntie would excuse her.
Il am awfully tired. Auntie," she said. Il
nope everybody won't think / am very rude.
No. Lenoard you really mustn't come
with me 1t is only a run across the orchard.
and i slip through the side gate in the
kitchen garden and be in the house in five min
uteS''
out her hand Her face almost as white as
her dress. and when took her hand found that
IL Was burning.
Good night" she said and noticed that for
once she had forgotten the Irresistible smile. Il
suppose you won't be going YETI
She spoke in low voice. ana stared. Surely
Il going 10y the gate in the orchard she
went on recklessiy. with her eyes on the ground;
and 4 WAS sDCechlcss
You ought to know it," she said rather sadly.
I could hardly believe my ears. 1t could not
be possible that she meant 10 ask Ia meet
her there. Even Melinda could not behave 50
bered the letters. OF course she only wanted 10
make another attempt TO regain that Iclltale
packet
/ let her hand fall had forgotten for the
9Homent that / holding H. Ii from force
OF habit. 1 suppose
Yes" said, Il ought to know it-I Gid cnce.
But have forgotten il now. Perhaps Leortrd
crewe knows IL better. You might ask him
Again those violet eyes filled with tears.
How can yOu be SD unkind"' she whispered
Good night Then you won't be going for a long
time yet. 4 suppose
Probably not / said calmly; and with last
glance Of wistful appeal Melinda went into the
haii. TO be carefully ciOaked by the devoted
Leonard. l heard his bOisteTOus voice for at
least five minutes begging to be allowed To take
her home: but usual Melinda triunphrd. tor
he came back presently with glum look on his
jolly face.
Melinda seems pretty well knocked up" ne
remarked GlOOmily
-'She hasn't looked at all well the last week
or Two said the rectrr I'm AFRAID fhe ioir
thild has rather tough time az il at home
My heart pricked me Perhaps had been too
harsh Melinda had behaved very badly Ia
she was an inconstant and mercenary little ilirt
hut. all the same loved her better than any
else in the world, and would have done =: y
thing 10 prevent her from being really unhappy
Come and have game of solo," said the
rector.
We played a hand two. but my thoughts
not the game. Was il possible that
Melinda was stin waiting al the gate felt
that at all costs ! must go and SET.
Tin afraid you must excuse me- / said. Il
have letter which simply must go 10y the lo
o'clock post. / will come in again for an hour.
il you will allow me. when / have posted it,"
So / left them. and they settled down happily
TO three handed naD-LeOnaTd liked nap better
than sOlo-and / slipped through the orchard to
There was a little old worn eaten gate in The
lane leading into the kitchen garden 81 Melinda :
home. and this where ! half hoped. half
feared to find her
When I found that she was not there. I was
ashamed 90 own that felt "A little pang Of dis
appointment l had spent many pleasant half
hours with Melinda al that gate. I fclt almost
sentimental an "A tender IartiEp scene in fh"
proper stage manner would haH~ he.-n n ui.
present frame Of mind. iafher pleasant than
otherwise. / tUrae1 " it'll a sigh 20 20 home
1t was too good 10 last / teid m5 self dole
fully. "MelinCa Is the most charming priS"n
in the world, but l ought 10 have inoan that
pretty little mouth % hers frcart WeakL'a=
and Inconsistency. wish had never
gone awaY I was = frol L. trust To her
promises. What M TcenaTy beasts hi
people must be- Poor little thing! No
doubt she had awful lot 10 uut uD with.
supppse l might as well be- generous and burn
those letters . 1t. is all I can 90 for her
nOw ! viii have tragic bonfire of all
my hopes and happiness in the sitting roum
I It,gt