Newport daily independent., 1903-04-16

and told me not to cry. Of course, l cried more than ever-"
 ''Naturally you would"
 Ut made him fancy l was hurt, and he lectured nurse quite severely on the sinfulness of letting her am ory passions rise He told her she ought to be patient with me and win my affection, and govern me by kind ness, not by force. It made me feel good to listen to him, and I know it made me think what bad woman nurse really was"
 "She hadn't word to say for her self?"
 "Qn the contrary, she said great deal. She said l was willful and pas sionate, and everything that was con- tradictory and unmanageable, and there was only one way of dealing with me, and that was by punishing me and making me do as l was told" "'rhe dear old vicar didn't admit that, l hope?"
 ''ITe was angry with her. He said there were more ways than one in which I could be managed. He said was high-spirited and self-willed and obstinate"
 What a dear old friend!"
 He told her l was one of those who could not be driven, but l could very easily be led, and all that was necessary was d little tact"
 q hope it did the nurse good?'
 'Only for q few minutes. As soon T ,,e Ia were out of his sight, she shook her finger at me, and said she didn't care for the vicar, he was an old donkey, and the next time I disobeyed her she would make me remember it"
 What did you say to that?"
 Nothing; but l ran away with Charley at once"
 q knew you would"
 ''I suppose I am naturally perverse. It is always the same-if anybody is anxious that I should do anything, feel natural impulse not to do it; and if anybody does not want me to do it, then somehow l don't want to do anything else. It was this feeling that made me run off with Charley | almost before the nurse had finished speaking"
 Did she punish you again?"
 "She couldn't catch me-"
 q guessed as much. Who ean?'
 He gazed at her meaningly with a wry shake of the head, and she blushed and laughed, as understand ing him.
 Il ought to know he sighed.
 "Now you are going to be silly again.
 No; I've given it up. I've been silly twice, but l am trying to be sensible now"
 You find it difficult?"
 Its not so easy as being silly. l suppose it never is, for anyone. But I've got to persevere-Tve got to make the best of my miserable lot somehow, you know"
 "So very unhappy, is it?'' At present-yes. But I daresay l shall get used to it. When one has been living in the tropics, and is | banished to the North Pole, he feels at first like perishing in the cold; but in time he becomes so thoroughly acclimatized that if ever he were all lowed to return he would certainly die of a sunstroke."
 And are you thinking of going to the North Pole?"
 q am there already" he said. 'l have been there for some weeks, and am beginning to get reconciled to the climate. l am making up my mind to marry and settle down there, and try to forget how happy 1 used to be before l was an exile. You have heard, no doubt?'
 Heard what?'
 "These things generally get about fast enough. l made sure you would have heard"
 "Perhaps I have When you tell me what you are referring to"
 'I thought 1 had. To my marriage, of course"
 She gave him a quick, startled look, but said nothing.
 You had heard?"
 No"
 Her speech and manner had under gone sudden curious constraint; when she spoke, her voice had suct far-off, alien sound, she could scarcely believe it was her own.
 Well, now you have, you don't con gratulate me"
 q do. Of course I do."
 "Thanks-I had hoped"
 That | wouldn't? Why shouldn't 1 congratulate you, as much as any one else, on your happiness?"
 "Because l am not happy" Not? Then why are you"
 "For that very reason-because am not happy. How can l be happy while I am always in suspense, anC hoping after the impossible? If definitely cut myself off from thar happiness, and my last hope of it
 ,l, tn lA f.