Orange County observer. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1880-1918, 1903-09-10
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
NJ AIS e. :"

BY E. L. HAvERFlELp.

9 G love me after ALL"
4 1t was an assertion, made
TCS quite simply and directly
cutting short an involved
and bungling explanation.
Great heavens, Maisie, how did you
know?"
Never mind, it scarcely matters,
dOes it? The fact remains that I do.''
Ihe speaker glanced across a stretch
of water at her feet to where the trees
dropped and kissed their own refec-
lions on the surface of the shadowy
POOL.
+ Il feel such brute, such an unutter-
able cur" her companion exclaimed
miserably; "but you are SO true your
self II can't deceive you I admire
you, respect you beyond words, and
until lately believed that 1 loved you
more than I could ever love anything
else in life-but-'
He stumbled, and sitting down on
the trunk OF a fallen tree, buried his
face in his hands.
"les. go on, DEAR" the girl said,
and rising, she came and knelt beside
him, clasping her hands upon his shoul-
der as if she felt her touch must tell
him how infinitely she understood,
"but now-?''
Now believe it can't have been love
at all. Oh-if she didn't care for me
so awfully in return, believe mo l
would have gone through with it
loving her. -------->--
Hush Maisie cried sharply, ''never
say that: tit hurts.''
He raised his head and looked at
ing.
''Go on" she said, and rested her
head against his sleeve that he might
not watch her face, "go On, dear"
Il don't know what it is about,
Esme; there is nothing of the calm
knowledge of her worth that I had
no, have with you, and yet''-this he
shot out defantly, "she is splendid,
too.'
'You are right, she isl Maisie ac-
quiesced.
u am utterly carried of my feet
by her-I can't think of anything else.
Is it madness, Maisie, or what?'
v 1T is love-" she said gently, ''the
real, true genuine thing-not the-the
simple affection you felt for me-
But I was so proud Of possessing
you," the man continued wonderingly
land Heaven knows why you cared fo1
me-"
He said this vehemently, and she
even smiled
Il am sure Heaven does," she said
"and SO shall we both some day. II
has served its turn, whatever the rea
son. But, dear, don't trv to explain
any more. 1t is enough that I know
and understand. God bless you fol
being so frank with me: you might
have left me to find out, but you are
too honest. Thank God we did no
discover it too late. Don't stay now
See, am going to give you back yo17l
ring at once and have done with it
1ts-it's a little babyish, Bob, but
but you will get new one for her
wont you-and-not too like it,"
Her smile was positively radian
now, and she rose and stretched OIL
both hands toward him, her little hal
hoop Of diamonds held in the left. H.
had never seen her lock so lovely be
fore. and it had strange effect upol
him; it almost wrung his heart. I
was unlike the vivid beauty Of Esme
it seemed more something below th
surface shining forth.
He stood up unsteadily and dumb,
took the ring; for one instant he hesi
tated, then flung it into the depths o
the silent pool.
Sacred to my memory" Maisie sal
Simply, "thank you, from my heart.
is strange, but that makes me conten
Goodbye
The man took her hands impetuousl!
as if he had much that lie would sa!
but she checked his words with
glance.
Remember, when we chance to NEE
1t will be all right. I shall always (
thinking God bless you BOTH Goo'
bye, dear"
She turned, and ran lightly up tt
woodland path; at the bend he sa
the glimmer of her white dress disa
pearlng in the twilight.
It's difficult, all the same" he sal
sitting down with heavy sigh;
snail feel brute to the end of II
Gays, and as to meeting her-ba
what 4 fool I've been. How could