Omaha daily bee., 1902-02-23

breast with a sharp little olack Of anger,
Obi oh! Obi" she cried, that is just the
hopelessness Of Il! You will not be serious
even for a moment. l tell you l will not
have your ~cheap-jaok compliments and
Veronica dear'-ings.'
you are making a game Of this also, as
you do of everything said Veronica
Caesar, looking down a little sadly and
Withdrawing her hand.
you say you do not love me-" said the
young man. but do you not think that II
you did, you could make me something diff
ferent from what / ann"
mo. John" Veronica went on, more
slowly, II cannot by willing love you or any
other. Sometimes l think / am not made
to love any man with the love that men
want from women. There are some OF us
like that. Hospital nurses. sisters Of mercy,
matrons Of orphan and rescue homes-these
should be such women as I-women whom
God has made barren Of the love Of woman
and man, but with hearts that overflow with
pity. l do not need to seek any of these
spheres, for l have mine near at hand-in
a father who, true and great-hearted as he
is, must be tended like a baby; a mother
we'll. l will say nothing of my mother-and
a dozen children all younger than myself.
No, John, / will remain engaged to you as
long as you like. but 1 viii never marry
you unless my heart is changed and the very
foundations of my life are torn up"
Vera" said John, gently, laying his hand
on hers, you and I have had both enough
to ty us. Can we not look forward to set
ting up a new HON and make each other
happy there? The thing is worth the
trial, surely"
The girl shook her head, though she
smiled more tenderly than before.
mo-" che said, sadly, 81 would never
make a good wife, but oh, think what ar
aunt I should makel You do not really
want me, either. You would not be happy
with me, John. Our fathers plain
businesslike arrangement was better thar
any pretence Of affection. You.' the younger
son of a great house. were to marry me, thu
eldest daughter OF a man Of weight in tn,
church. You we're to be a minister of tina
church, also. They considered your fitness
for the office as they did whether you ant
I were suited to each other. Why, indeed
should they? Your father would presen
you to the living, at present held by a warm.
Ing pan Of the name OF Aiblins. He couIt
easily enough be provided for through you
fathers money and my fathers influence
All would be for the best. Your fatne,
would give you some additional ALLOWANCE,
and mine would advance your interests II
quarters high and ecclesiastic. So tn,
good children would marry and live happil,
ever after"
you have 1t well by rote, Vera" sal,
John ~Glendonwyn. 81 would that you ha,
1t also by heart"
"of course l know It by rote," cried tn
girl. DO l not have 1t served to me 10
breakfast, dinner and supper? Idly mothe
distracts me with eternal yatter about m
prospects. All, John, she does not kno,
how small chance there is Of her expecta
lions being realized. Only last night sh
was even saying, oh, II only that eldes
son, who (they tell mel is coming hom,
would die-you, Vera, would be the lady {
Castle Cover And she has even arrange
which room she is to have when she come
to live with U.S.
God forbidl" cried John, devoutIy.
"Ah, there again." cried the girl, "yo
guard yourself, you see. You do not Dit
me the humiliation OF having such thing
cast up to me-"
"And what would you have me d,
Veronica" said John Glendonwyn, 1T
easy to say that his and that should b
rlBnted. buL III 1 tell my 1ather that 0u
engagement is at an end, for no reaso
save that we do not suit each other, b
will certainly refuse to present me to tn
parish, even II he does not turn me forevs
from his door. He likes me little enoug
as 1t is-even less than you do"
may, John, that was unkindly said
cried the girl; "and quite unworthy Of yol
l.. like you more than any one in the worl
after my own father. Aye, and would (
! more for you-everything. indeed, exec
| marry you-which would be the create
unkindness I could do to you, not lovir
you"
But I love you, Vera" said the yout
a sudden Hash Of eagerness lighting h
blue eyes; do not let US break the tie no
such as It isl"
"Ah, no, John; you do not love mel" r
peated Vera after BIN, sadly; you are Il
young to know what the word means"
II am older than you by a good ye
and a half" cried John, Indignantly.
THAT may be-by the calendar" she sal
but / dare you to deny that am not 4
times the mar you are. ! could go out al