Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1903-06-26

very furtherest corner Of the lake, stop
somewhat out Of breath and look at each
other triumphantly. Dulce is looking, II
possible, more bonny than usual, Her
blood is aglow and tingling with the ex-
,itement of her exertlon; her hair, with
'ut actually having come undone, is GER
:ainly under less control than it was an
hour ago, and is glinting and changing
rom auburn to brown, and from brown ts
warm yellow, beneath the sad kisses OF
Me wintry sun.
"Where is Cover" asks Roger, at
ength, somewhat abruptly.
"Yes-whereW returns she, in tone
suggestive of the idea that now for the
irst time she has missed him, She says
t quite naturally and without changing
color. The fact is it really is the first
lime she has thought Of him to-day, but
Roger firmly believes she is acting, and
hat she is doing it uncommonly well.
'He hasn't been at the court since yes
.erday-has he" he asks, somewhat i'm
patiently.
"N-o. But l dare say he will turn up
by and by. Why? with quick glance
at him from under her heavy lashes. do
rou want him."
certainly not. don't want him." says
Roger, with exceeding emphasis upon the
2ronoun.
'Then / don't know anybody else who
lOes," finishes Dulce, biting her lips.
"She is regularly piqued because the
fellow hasn't turned up-a lovers quarrel,
I suppose" says Mr.. Dare, savagely, TO
himself, reading wrongly that petulant
movement Of her lips. "Did you ever once
think of me all the time | was awayT" he
asks, presently, in q low tone that dis
tinctly gives her to understand he believes
she didn't. That in fact he would-in his
present frame Of mind-rather believe she
didn't. His voice is growing absolutely
tragic and altogether he is as deplorably
unhappy as any young woman could de-
hrC.
81 WISH" says poor Dulce, her voice
auivering, chat you would not speak TO
me like this now, or-or that you had
spoken like it long ago"
II wish I had, with all my SOUL" says
Roger, fervently. However" with
heavy sigh, "you are engaged to him now,
you know, so suppose there is no use in
talking about it."
"If I do know il, why tell Inc again
about itW says Dulce, reprOachfully, her
eyes full of tears. Just like you to re-
mind me-of--of-my misfortune!'
1t is out. She has been dying to tell
him for the last half hour of this trouble
that has been pressing upon her for
months, of this most distasteful engage
met, and now that she has told him,
though frightened, yet she would hardly
recall her words. Her lashes linger on
her cheeks, and she looks very much as
if she would like to cry but for the dis
grace Of the thing.
"Your misfortune" repeats Roger, IN
strange tone. "Are you not happy,
then? Do you mean 10 tell me he is not
good 10 you%
"He Is too good to me- you must not
think that" exclains she, earnestly. 1T
Is only-that | don't care about his good.
ness--I don't care" desperately, "for any
thing connected with him."
you have made second mistake,
them"
"Not a second" in q very low tone.
"Then let us say you have again
changed your mind"
"No."
"You liked him once" impatiently.
mo"
"You might as we'll say you did like
me-" says Roger, with angry warmth;
"and I know / was actually abhorrent in
your sight"
ooh, no, no." says Dulce, for the third
time, in a tone so low now that he can
hardly hear it; yet he does.
"Dulce! do you know what you are i'm
pying?" asks he, in deep agitation. at
is one of two things now: either that you
never liked Stephen, and always 10y
liked me, or else you are trying to make
fool Of me for the second time. Which
is it?"
"I'm sure, at least, that never liked
Stephen in that way" confesses she,
family.
And do you like me? Dulce, there waa
time" says Roger, after pause. "Then
might have dared to kiss away your
tears, but suppose that time is gone for.
ever"
II suppose So" dismally. Tears are
still wetting the sweet eyes she turns up
10 his.
"Dulcc! let me understand YOU" says
Roger, gra1ely. "You are quite sure you
lon't care for him"
| "Quitc," says Duce, without a Sec
ond's hesitation.
Then ask him to give you up-relcase
you from your promise" says Roger,
brightly.
I'D be afraid" replies Miss Blount
dropping her head.
"Nonsensew says Roger (cf course it
IS not he has to do iO. "Why should you
feel nervous about q thing like that?
You don't want to marry him, therefore
,ay so. Nothing can be simpler
at doesn't sound simple to me-" says
Oulce, dolefully.
Just at this moment a young man,
dressed in gray emerges from the group
Of alders that line the south edge Of the
lake, very near to where Dulce and Roger
are standing.
He is so situated that he is concealed
from view, though quite near enough to
the cousins to hear what they are saying,
The last two sentences have fallen on
his ears; he stands as if spelbound,
and waits eagerly for what may come
next.
"He can't possibly want to marry you
If you don't want to marry him." says
Roger, logically, land you don't" little
! doubtfully still.
Il don't, indeed" says Dulce, with a
sad sigh and shake of her auburn
| head.
At this the young man in the gray suit,
with a bitter curse turns away, and, re-
tracing his steps gets to the other side Of