The Norfolk weekly news-journal., 1901-03-15


Loves OF Henrietta tomorrow, and he's
asked mother md me to GO"
Tin so glad" said Georgia, hut with
singular want OF enthusiasm.
And Madgc stole n furtlvc look ut
her. and the corners of her mouth
quiyercd.
A month had passed. Onr more
George stood at the same window,
softly humming. She was waiting for
Rex, and her face was very pale. II
was the same face still, but there was
n difference, the difference which
marks every girls face when she be
comes n oma
She had learned her lesson and borne
her punishment In silence.
Today she had ncrvcd herself for n
! supreme effort TINT she might do no
wrong TO the sister who had stepped
into the place she had voluntarily re.
signed.
She had thought love not worth the
sacrifice OF art, and II art without love
had turned to dust and ashes in her
hand who was TO blame hut herself
She was waiting for Rcx-Rcx, who
had fallen such n helpless victim TO
Madgc that he had had scarcely n look
or n word to spare for her the whole
month. II was this that had FIRST
taught her what she had lost and that
had afterward ncrved her to play her
pnrt-for n weeks experience had
taught her that 1t was only n part-of
careless indifference and entire alb
sorption in her art.
When II seemed too hard for her, she
reminded herself stcrnly OF her own
words, 81 am satisfied with my life M
II is"
"rhcy shall never sec ! am not salts.
fed" she said and struggled on.
Today there was Il set, stern look on
her face, for this was TO be the SUI
prcme ordeal, and at present there was
no n to see her. But ms she leaned
her head listlcssly against the window
there came from the hall the sound OF
n familiar whistle, and instantly her
expression changed. A smiling, cx
pcctant face greeted Rex as he entered,
md she scrutinlzed him with playful
anxiety.
"The funeral and wedding marches
are side by side on the piano" she be
gan, with an affected attempt at scrl-
BUSINESS, but I was waiting to choose
between them TIL l have seen your
face" ,,,- ,syArare>
What does my face tell your" he
asked.
She looked at him critically.
THAT the momcntous question Ii to
be asked no later than this evening"
she replied. Good luck attend you"
wrong. Try again"
"ls It possible it is to be postponed
till tomorrow morning." And she held
out her hand with a playful gesture OF
sympathy.
Wrong again. | see l must tell You"
He had seized the hand she had offer
ed and was looking her straight in the
face.
What do you say to the question
having been asked alrcadyY
The last month had wrought many
changes in George. She had, for one
thing, learned to keep her face under
control, and only the slightest trcm-
bling Of the cyelid showed that she
was taken by surprise.
my dear brother to be-" she said. re-
gaining possession Of her hand, 81 con-
slider l have been grossly i'll treated in
having this fact sprung upon me so
suddenly. ! had heard OF n delightful
little book called The Right Word In
the Right Place'-a help to those peo-
pie born devoid OF tact. l was going to
purchase 1t in the assurance that !
should find a paragraph entitled, What
to say to a future brother-in-law,' or
words to that effect, and now you
pounce upon me like this and crush me.
! feel unfit for conversation. You had
better 60" And she turned majestical-
ly away.
II will. Only you must first allow me
to make II remark. You did not ask
what Madge said TO me-" He paused
impressively. she has refused me-"
1t was his trump card, and he was
growing desperate. He took advantage
Of Georges back being still turned to-
ward him, and, creeping softly behind
her, took n glance at her face before
she knew he had moved.
1t was enough.
"Georgie," he cried, hasn't the play
gone far enough? l am tired Of acting,
and l want you, Georgie-I cant tell
you how much l want you!" There was
passionate e%ntreaty in his voice.
What did you mean," she asked
slowly, "by saying you were tired Of
acting? don't understand"
mo; ] know" he answered guilty.
i've got to tell you. Madge and !
have been playing at being lovers dur
Ing the last month. l have even asked
her to marry me-, and she has refused.
1t was b natural climax to the play,
she said, and she told me to do 1t, be
cause nothing else would put you of
your guard. ! had to know whether
You loved me or not" he ended des-
perately.
1T was very cruel" she whispered at
last.
"Ah, George, DON'T" he entreated.
Il thought of that, but, honestly, would
you ever have known you loved me II
we had Onnn nn In ~, III ep