Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1902-04-04
The
Only Way

~ HE was not an Ordinary girl, OF
that there could be no mistake.
She was not exactly pretty, although
her face was winning and sweet, but
she had a way with her that was pure
ly original. Even her walk and the
turn of her head seemed different from
that of other girls.
al don't understand her" said her
masculine friends. 81 don't like her."
declared the members of her own sex,
while the matrons of her clique put
their heads together and said that IL
was n pity the girl had such odd little
ways, she was spelling all her chances,
and that n woman with her ideas was
quite n failure as far as matrimony
was concerned.
As for Hugh Dornay, he didn't know
exactly what TO make Of her. She fas-
cinated him. When she was in the
room he was always by her side. He
walked with her, he talked TO her, and
never glanced at another girl when
she was near, yet he never seemed able
to form decided opinion Of her.
One day he told her as much himself.
lie had called on her and found her
alone. He confessed as they sat over
the tea table together that she was
altogether puzzle 90 him.
81 can't make up my mind whether
! like you or not, Miss Withers," he
said "You are such n changeable
girl"
"I am not sure whether that Is alto
gether complimentary" returned the
girl, in low voice. 81 am n good deal
more positive in my regard for you"
"Tndeedi"
Eyes" She looked away for n minute
and then brought her eyes quickly TO
his face, a pink spot burning on each
cheek. eyes. love you"
The young man gasped and nearly
dropped the teacup ne held, in HIS
amazement. Was there ever such n
startling confession? OF the two he
was far the more embarrassed.
"You are surprised" went on the
girl hurriedly. $50 was I. Love Is al
ways n surprise. To me II seems n
kind Of madness while it lasts, some
thing as uncomfortable as II Is mystic
rious. / have never felt like this for
any one before; cannot understand II
myself. You are n very ordinary man,
not very wealthy, not very clever, not
Mt all good looking. and yet ] love you.
It's all very wonderful. isn't it?"
The man stared ut her dumbly, I'M
able 60 say n word.
The girl laughed unsteady.
"It's rather an unusual confession,
"a u. II
too; but you needn't alarm yourself
] don't want TO marry you"
"You don't want to marry me2'
echoed the man in some confusion.
mo" The girl looked away, and her
eyes wanderd TO the window with n
thoughtful, intent expression. 81 al
ways lilsen love-" she said, "to stream
running between two very different
pieces of land connected by n bridge
On the one side everything IL bright
and green and sunny, on the other the
land il gray and barren. Love. the river
runs on either side alike, but once the
bridge is crossed the current seems To
change. From the other bank the sun
shines across and makes IL all seem 30
attractive. We long to go and explore,
and when we do we find ourselves i'm.
prisoned. The bridge we crossed has
gone: IL was only bridge Of illusion,
and there is no getting back TO the
flowers and sunshine, however much
we strive. It's all very disappointing,
isn't it?'
The young man recovered himself
and glanced admiringly across at the
serious little speaker. She was look.
ing quite pretty; the flush had deep
ened on her cheek and her eyes were
soft and moist with feeling. lie for.
got her strange confession, and for
the time was carried away by the pow
err of her fascination. A man, he
thought, with such n companion would
take the sun across with him TO that
other side.
"You let your imagination run away
with you. JOAN" he said, softly, slip.
ping unconsciously into her Christian
name. life Is simple enough n you
only look IL squarely in the face"
There was pause; the girl poured
herself out another cup of tea and sat
stirring IL thoughtfully; the man put
his down UNLISTED on the table, az
II tea drinking was an occupation too
unromantic for the occasion. With q
sudden impulse he got up, and, cross.