The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1902-08-13

smoke above the town lay like a rib
bon in the breathless air.
WELL" cried Enid, with an almost
pathetic culver in her glad laugh, land
what do you see in my eyes? Shall
l tell you, as you already know?" She
held tight to his hand. Something
which no man has ever stirred in
them. Something which 1 dreaded
would never be stirred in them. Some
thing which years ago would have
made me a very different woman to the
woman am. I love you-amazingly!"
Not for the first time, but more
strongly than ever before during that
apparently uneventful week, Oxford
wished to Heaven he had never left
London-never interfered to save his
friend. Enid had bent down with a
sudden, an almost charming abandon,
and kissed his hand again and again
Il am afraid the roses are nearly
dead now, Enid" said frankie. with
a queer catch in his voice, as he looked
from one to the other.
Mrs. Millom-Praze let Offord's hand
leave hers reluctantly, and looked at
frankie as an aunt might look at her
nephew, or an elder sister at a school
boy brother. And when she spoke
there was touch of tender patronage
and indulgence in her voice. 81 think
Mr.. Oxford wants to speak to you," she
The 1arks song still throbbed above
their heads. The boatman below had
begun to whistle. The smell of the tar
he was putting on the keel of his
dinghy touched the air pleasantly. The
white of Ends dress glinted among
the trees like a sunbeam
frankie watched her with flaming
cheeks. Then he turned fiercely upon
Oxford. Nov, look here" he cried
what does all this mean? It's just
about time you explained why you
came and what you want. Do you hear?
Very likely you fancy 1t hasn't hurt
me to play gooseberry to you and the
have I done? Why has Enid been
looking through my head at meals, and
hanging on your every word? Why.
you might be the man she is going
to marry, and I your loyal friend.
Loyal! Good God! But perhaps
that's your idea of loyalty. You-a
man whose name is famous enough
to dazzle any woman-to measure
yourself against such a kid as I am?
OF course, you can't help loving her.
No man can well help that. I can un-
derstand that. But to come like a
thief and steal my most precious-to
Ito take away from me my life, my
very being-Is that loyalty to friend?
Is it? Is it2 = It's all over with
me. There will be no marriage tomor-
row. She needn't tell me. She loves
you. 1t was only the sweetness of her
heart that persuaded her to try and
love me. Long before the end she
would have loved me, too. I'll make
no scene. I'll slip away. But, oh. Ar
thur, Arthur, what wrong have 1 ever
done to your"
Oxford mastered his voice and looked
down very tenderly at the twitching
white face of the boy. frankie" she
said, "Millom-Praze was my best pal
years ago, as you are now. His life
was ruined, as yours would have been
ruined. I know her life through and
through. You are student Of Brown
ing. Do you remember where these
lines come, and why?-
"And before my friend be wholly hers.
How easy to prove to him, said,
An eagles the game her pride prefers.
Though she snaps at wren instead"
Ryehope's face became suddenly liv-
i'd. He clutched Offord's arm and
peered into his eyes. "They are from
a Light Woman What do you
what do you
Il see that you understand" said
Oxford quietly. Perhaps some day,
dear lad, you will forgive me the means
I took to prove to you her utter worth
lessness."
Ryehope covered his ears with his
hands. Your utter worthlessness,
you mean You are liar;' he shouted,
''as well as thief. I'll not listen. Let
me gO-let me go, tell YOU" He
shook himself away from Offord's
hand, and, like the very boy that he
was, burst out crying and started run