Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1902-07-10

Gays De1Ore. 1neSe Gays nau passed.
like dream. In jest and laughter, with
out another thought than the pleasure
of the moment To be sure, she had
suspected how 1t might end, but not
that 1t should happen so soon. And not
till the promised word was spoken did
she awaken out Of her dream.
The drawing room clock licked hard
er than usual that afternoon. and Elsie
kept looking up from her work to no
tice how the hands few. 1t would soon
strike G. But just before the stroke she
cast her embroidery away from her.
sprang up and rushed out without an
swering her mothers astonished ques-
tons.
Only a few steps beyond the garden
she met him. He was punctual to the
minute and beamed with JOY because
she came out to meet him. But when
she passed the gate and proposed to
him to walk little farther he looked
at her in surprise. She did not appear
very anxious to introduce her lover to
her family.
Elsie hastily led the way across the
field and up the hill. She threw herself
down on messy stone under the
spruces, and he stretched himself on
the heather beside her. The stone was
large enough to hold two. but she did
not make room for him.
Are you very sure" she began,
breaking dry twig into tiny bits-"are
you really. really sure that you love
meg'
At first he looked serious. but then
burst out laughing in his bright, jolly
way.
"Sure OF it? But there is surely no
one who has forced me to say itr'
mo. But you don't know me. What
Is it about me you love?'
Everything" He loved the folds of
her dress. he loved the flower she wore
on her breast. and he did not under.
stand that under each question to him
lay a question to herself. What Is 1t
love in him?"
But why should she be the only one
to doubt and worry? And so to disturb
his composure she began to set forth
her faults. she unveiled every mad
trait she had. She was quick tempered
and n scold; she was envious and CO
quettish; she was stupid and ignorant.
She sat and reckoned herself up in
serious voice; she spoke frankly, and
she honestly wished to be believed. But
the smile did not leave his lips nor did
he take his eyes from her face. At
each new confession he simply re-
peated;
Eyes. | knew that before
Finally the blood rushed to her head
1t annoyed her to find she could not
convince him. He sat there in the Sc
cure belief that she wished only to
humble herself because of her great
happiness Could he not comprehend
at all that he had done wrong in sur
prising her us he had and that person
cannot be sure OF love so loosely
rooted?
She knew Of a way TO make him un-
derstand, but her tongue seemed tied
when she tried to speak. She sat silent
for fcw minutes struggling between
fright and The desire to have 1t out.
Finally the Cvslrc triumphed.
mo. you 60 net cnow NE" said she.
when | answered you as | did this
morning, 1t was because-well, not
wholly because-but perhaps partly be-
cause because of hardships at home"
There was Il cracking OF twigs. He
had turned on his arm and was gazing
at her without n word. but the color
was gone from his face. She need
worry no longer about his not under
standing
There came over her feeling of un
speakable regret With a few words
she had destroyed something she could
never get back again. And this some
thing, now ii was lost. seemed dearer
to her than all else In the world. She
did not know him we'll She had not
succeeded In getting an answer to the
question what ii was she liked in him,
but the power that first drew her to
him rose now i'm redoubled might The
divine, lncomprehensible mystery she
had tried TO explain, but only succeed
ed i'm slencing, awoke to life within
her again. And now II was too late.
What could have the power to efface
her words?
His voice sounded heavy, and his
eyes looked far away over the broad
meadows visible through the opening
in the trees.
"Then it would be best for you to re-
consider" he continued. 81 am bust.
ness man, and my position is not firmly
secured. One day there may be money.
another debts. and upon one kind OF
hardship others follow"
The messy stone stood empty. She
had slipped down on the heather beside
him. And she took his hand ard hid
her eyes in it.
at makes no difference to me. no diff.
ference at all. II I have to bear hard.
ships with YOU" she said softly.
His eyes came back from the far
fields. II was only cloud that had
passed over the sun.
lie understood now that the little
bird he had wished to charm for him.