The Minneapolis journal., 1902-08-07
The Gentleman From Indiana
By BOOTH 4. T.>sRk1vGT0N'
Copyright by Doubleday & Mcclure Co., 1899.

found tho garden path and followed It's dim
length. In the orchard he touched her sleeve
again and led the way.
AS they came out behind the house she de-
tanned him. Stopping short she shook his
hand from her arm. y She spoke in single
breath, as If 1t were all one word:
"Will you tell me why you go? 1t is
| not late. Why do you wish to leave me,
when shall not see you sagatn?'
"The Lord be good to mel" he broke out,
all his long-pent passion of dreams rushing
! to his lips now, that the barrier fell Don't
| you see it is because can't bear to let you
| go? hoped to get away without saying 1t.
| want to be alone. Il want to be with my
| self and try to realize.f.I didn't want to
| make a baggling idiot of unyselt-but am!
! 1t is because I don't want another second Of
| your sweetness to leave an added pain when
| you've gone. 1t is because don't want to
hear your, voice again. to have it haunt me
| in the loneliness you you will leave-but it's
useless, useless! 1 shall hear It always, just
as shall always see your face, just as
have heard your voice and seen your face
| these seven years-ever since I first saw you
| a child at Winter Harbor. I forgot for a
| while; thought it was q girl had made
| up out Of my own heart, but it was you
| you always! The impression thought moth
ing of at the time, just the merest touch on
my heart, light as it was grew and grew
| deeper until it was there forever. You've
known me twenty-four' hours, and under
! stand what you think Of me for speaking to
! you like this. If had known you for years
! and had waited and had the right to speak
and keep your respect, what have I to offer
you? l couldn't even take care of you il
you went mad as I and listened. I've no
excuse for this raving' Yes, 4 have!" 3
He saw her In another second of lightning,
4 sudden, bright one. Her back was turned
to, him; she had taken a few startled steps
from him. r. - = ~. ..\ s. - ~ =
>"Ah, ~ he cried, "you are glad enough, now,
TO me go! I knew IT. II wanted to spare
1 myself that. L tried not to be a hysterical
fool in your eyes, He turned aside: and his
head fell on his breast. >t'God help me-" he
said, what will this place be to me now? ~
l The breeze had risen; it gathered force; 1t
was chill wind, and there rose a wailing on
| the prairie. Drops of rain began to fall
You will not think a question implied in
this" he said, more composedly, and with
an unhappy laugh at himself. IT believe you
will not think me capable Of asking you If
NO. she answered; aI do not love you
| ''Ah! Was it a question, after all? l.
you read me better thanrI do, perhaps-but
if asked, knew the: answer,
She made as if to speak again, but words
refused her. .@.:- :, --g
Il steadily. II thank you, for the charity that
has givens me this little time with you-it will
always-be precious too mel shall always be
your servant His steadiness did not carry
him to the end Of his sentence. "Good by y
She started toward him and stopped. with.
out his seeing her.. She answered nothing
but stretched out her hand to him and ther
let it. fall quickly. ..,,s,... -, 49,. -,
"Good-by'' he said again. II shall go ou