The Western news., 1903-08-05

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mine Lived beside each other in the
country for years. We grew up there
played together! When l began to
nope around home after you-that au-
tumn-why it was natural she and
should meet again. We walked and
drove, and played tennis-and rowed
on the river after dinner-or took out
the canoe"
"H-h-huh?"
"Then ! told her about you"
"You did!"
"I'd have gone mad if I hadn't told
someone. She was sorry. She took
my part-she thought"
II suppose she'd object to your call
ing"
Fudge! She's not that kind Of a
girl"
"If she knew that you were here!
Ha, hal"
"Pouf! Now don't try to be funny,
Betty"
Funny! But for her you'd have
come back, that time"
what time?"
"Oh, you know! But she was one
of those clever, mouse-colored girls
l know them"
''Come back! How could I come
back? You returned my letters! Do
you remember? When l saw your
handwriting across the big white en-
velope l was afraid to open it, think.
ing perhaps you had said - Comet
l took it out in the boat one evening
and opened it. She was rowing. My
own letter fell out. I felt horribly
cut up. I-I-my God!-I believe I
cried! She was like sister to me.
Told me it wasn't worth it. l was
going to kill myself! She comforted
me-she advised mel"
"Ah, yes-I see."
"She begged me to promise not to
write to you again-told me to be
man! Then I waited two weeks more,
and l told her 1 would write you
once more and then end it if you
didn't answer. That letter-that let
ter! How could you have"
"What?"
"Again came your writing on the
envelope, and again carried it in
my pocket until I sat with her in
the boat. I said to her: This ends
it! If she has not answered me, l
shall never think of her again-so
help me God! She shall not make
me suffer so!'"
"And you-you-read it,"
"No; she said to me: Yes, you
will write to her. You will go on
forever at that girls feet. You have
no pride. You love her. You will
open it and find your own letter
and-and-weep!' I threw the let
ter across the boat into her lap. You
are mistaken said; you open it
do what you please with it. I'm
through In a minute she had torn
it in two and thrown it over the
side. The envelope opened as it
f1oated on the still water, and then
saw-and she saw-my own writ
ing-my own letter! That was the
end! That night asked her to be
my wife"
"Ah-h-h! That was It! I am SO
glad!"
"Glad! glad! What do you mean?
Glad that you broke my hearth"
She leaned over and put her
hand on his. Her fingers were
trembling and her face was white.
II mean, Club, that on the last
page of the letter you said: Give
me just one chance to see you again!
Write me just one word" Comet" 3"
"Yes-I know it by heart!"
"Well, wrote it, right under your
- S,,~A AhaA
Don't you see? WANTED you to come
back-I-I-"
A silence fell over them. She still
tapped the card against her rings.
Her eyes were full of tears. He
looked away from her, his gaze CROP
ing the wall, his face gray.
He gulped something in his throat.
A piano-organ began to play in the
street outside-a merciful relief from
the stiffness.
you haven't told me, Chub," she
said, 'is-is-she pretty?"
'She's blond, you know" he said;
IT never particularly cared for
blondes. She's-she's a dear girl,
though! IL Good-by. Betty!"
''Good-by, Chub!"
"Good-by!"
"Good-by!"
The hall door shut softly as she
stood listening. There was quick
step over the pavement and the
slam of a cab door. The strains OF
the piano-organ rose magnificently
into the high closing notes of the
'Intermezzo."
She looked into the mirror with
eyes that shone triumphantly through
tears.-Town Topics.
The Conductor scored.