New-York tribune., 1903-04-16
Aprf1 LOpe.
BY MAUD sTEPNEY RAwsoN.

DO you think you've made terrible mistake?
To his bitter astonishment. she nodded. looking
dSg ~ ne northwest wind cut @ bIeaKiy yd aGd
wood The wind chased away the cold shower: put put
a space he dared not go to her and tempt Fate any
Infinite perpIeRifS he b9d nevdr PIX known m her So
through the iron frosts Of January. through
feting March, her promise. all its flush, had
rnace that IS neTeT 8 o1 na h wa the great
actuaIity in all The scbeming Of tbese weeks the
pivot OF alshis enterprise In her and by her
rev wing 20 the old house on the downs where she
had promised live Her eternal mutabity, her
paes ad al snnE no neF b
side that solemn act of hers. Now he remem
the half frightened look her face. recalling
now now, she had hung the trowel aside, and quite q
her. Should ne take her tragicaly-remnd her of
it with awful importance. compel her now to
b l 1ord 2he was not cnd out mao seen
and ways than ne. II seemed no time for these
The country in this hour lay before them-a cold,
Hf t6 5tretcn dlPPng TO gTag n0e% e n
| So-even so-would his house come TO look and
His spirit Tebeiled He fastened his coat doggediy
a. ana made step toward her In that same instant
shed Ike huge bubble, letting through a food Of
@ & fr c @ enSs Of her her hair adod blowing owl lG0s
the opalescence of the distant the hills.
| with their ribbonhke white roads. her youth and
| This was rather the moment to comfort and CON
hertbt m man b ne WoGd GertalnE cert @ gaGhe @
megts s.g, since said, Approach in her old way?
| the house without a drenchlng?" he said gently.
| i would rather not go to it." she answered very
I.6-S He sSmied.,nervously it is true; still he smiled
| not go back to London like that
you to n 9T taT at the inn perhaps II want
! Il think I understand" he said smiling His
rfs The fc fa0Poy o Sgk e a50qt 1e 9eTe lnoee T96
difference. Comet / been k
/ ing very hard; won't you help to play a little
| 'Tn come" she said. suddenly. because you
That's right
They MOUNTED at a small pace along the cart
| side of the down. Once she slipped her hand
Z am sorry she said. I'm very unhappy. be-
He kissed the hand and then quickly let it fall
the knowledge that while she seemed to bear her
self coldly erect she really watched him covertly
! all the rest Of the way up TO the very door He
Now. then" he Said there's fire of green ash
! for you. You see how well I remembered your
maintenance Of a constant stock of ash wood for
your majesty" he said. he put her into chair.
1T won't matter now" she said, as before, very
Yes it VIII was his smart reioinder, for you'll
| come down and stay with me sometimes, suppose;
though Of course your cousin Miss s9P9y Trent
| She WINGED almost imperceptibly. TO his infinite
| "It's very-kind-of you, she faltered in acute
| ''shali we take off those shoes?" he asked.
| Without waiting for ar answer ne went down
on bis knees and qnlaced them, ..zo-+-
unate they viii never be worn by the wife of gen.
.'Excessiveiv;'' she flung tartIy back him: AN
/ other proof that I wasn't built for the life you
! He put the shoes very carefully, soles outward.
/ TO the blaze the hearth. while the ra In, like an
aggTaya@teo @ LyTanI VINO rerd[Ls csts PPeneed
to the lattices Of newly plaStered rooms overhead
| which had been set open the drying wind. A
! creaking and crash brought the man 70 his feet
/
MY thrashing machine! It's out in the yard
| He dashed out shutting the door close after him
the fire Her toes were ice her fingers blue He
| might have left the thrashing machine little
when the questions Of two lives must be fairly and
squarey pondered and settled She crept stH tur-
wood. her teeth chattering. When the door opened
Daring he said joyously. Tn so sorry to
have gone off like that"
| Then he remembered that danger was in the air.
and his house of love rocking on its fqundatl92ns
f41chlh9 Jt IS onIx raTne last night and is
I costly affair. Are you warmer?
There viii be luncheon soon. My cowman's wife
! she vas sick Of those farrnyard alusions She
stretched out her toes haughtlly TO the oIa1e- 49,,
| Il would like you u see my improvements In the
= would rather wait-tiu we've had talk
"Yes?' His tone Of matter-of-fact surprise was
at once irritating and reasurrlns w naf flo[g i Is
ayes YES that's all" she murmured. resentfuiiy
1t III Is etFf UNI - Eve YOU {uI credit for having
| weighed your words before you spoke "hat more
She rose slowly and PIT hand sgains d,it1 the high
! freDace to steady herself and MAINTAIN dignity
Then you understand that we-I-I- = 49,.
Refuse my hand formally in marriage Is tiAI
Tys70nose so 8" she faltered and collapsed into
the cushions of the inglenook her defiant dignity
| annfhfIated by his compOsure .
He turned away. and walked uI ana GOVT 1 9i 5ile
hail twice his ears buzzins with GonfHSton and dts
trust desperately anxious spIehdioy i aI 70
. e "
his judgment and counsel He almost felt Ihat os 1 a
conn d'Etst he could master her once ana Tor al
! And vet anxiety made him CAUTIOUS he went TO
her and put his hand Oh her shoulder, ~, - +1.
| man - he said Eravelv. as before. 81 cannot, in
the first flush OF ail , ms bs s1+sred You so Those
If vou are good enough at some other tle 70 70 eA
plain them- can 9nt game 9re =; DIace between a
man woman Of sense and educa0n' '69er 60 Xe r.,
| She pulled his hand down from her shouideI IN
Yo2 Gl are 50 good, she said You make it seem
| -"yVh9t has Miss Trent to do with my aHairS-
ne 95 9Skef + Wr Wasrt sobhy, It's ali my fault She's
quite right. I'm not marrying woman; m J I.oI
domestic testrd IKE had fearful quarrel with her
But IT. afterard was glad, because it really helped
me aa 70 stided ffe5 az smile Of fncredunty.
! How did il all begtn? ne asHeq 9o,7- things 7
b,9b+ lace skirt at sale. and she said that as
your wife should rot req%re fa1, tninSS OF '''
"Fow kind of her he exclaiTedr dTIs heavily, 70 me
OF al soIs ~ % odd things il includes She also
5Si4 5est she Sn'"'' ''--' so+r.sr
The disgust in her voice the contrast a Get%ee9 Es
and 3uaac'ortS tSlId him in spite Of his suspense.
Something had warmed his hope (ftls eye h8u a.
2ty TeSSeg 9n 9aT 5e visible from the of this
haH) He burst into merry Iacgl(ieT5 cgi5 Miss Trent
| ~ ran the gustO with Wnlch MISS iie-l-
w@qP % knew sew You'd understand she sighed with re-