Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1903-08-08
NJ "A is l E."
~ z. L. HAvCRFiELD.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

1O< quite simply ana directly,
cutting short an involved
and bungling explanation.
"Great heavens, Maisie, how did you
knOw?"
Never mind, 1t scarcely matters,
does 1t? The fact remains that do"
The speaker glanced across a stretch
OF water at her feet to where the trees
dropped and kissed their own reflec-
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 IL can't deceive you. l admire
you, respect you beyond words, and
until lately believed that loved you
more than I could ever love anything
else in life-but-"
He stumbled, and sitting down on
the trunk Of fallen tree. buried his
face In his hands.
Eyes, go OH, DEAR" the girl said,
and rising, she came and knelt beside
him, clasping her hands upon his Shout
der as II she felt her touch must tell
him how infinitely she understood,
"but nOw-W
'Now believe it can't have been love
at all. Oh-if she didn't care for me
so awfully In return. believe me l
would have gone through with it
loving her."
"Hush," Maisie cried sharply, "ncver
say that; tit hurts"
He raised his head and looked at
her In surprise, not graspng her mean
ing.
go on" she said, and rested her
head against his sleeve, that lie might
not watch her face, $50 on, dear"
II don't know what 1t Is about
Esme; there Is nothing of the calm
knowledge Of her worth that 1 had
no, have with you, and yet'-this he
shot out deiantly, "she is splendid
too"
"You are right, she u.s." Maisie &C.
quiesced.
II am utterly carried off my feet
by her-I can't think of anything else.
Is 1t madness, Maisie, or what"
1T is love-" she said gently. 1.-THE
real, true. genuine thing-not the-the
simple affection you felt for me-"
But l was so proud Of possessing
you," the man continued, wonderingly.
land Heaven knows why you cared for
me-"
He said this vehemently, and she
even smiled.
II am sure Heaven Does" she said.
"and so shall we both some day. 1t
has served its turn, whatever the rea- |
son. But, dear. don't try to explain |
any more. 1t is enough that know,
and understand. God bless you for |
being so frank with me; you might
have left me TO find out but you are
too honest. Thank God we did not
See. am going to give you back your
ring at once and have done with 1t.
It's-its little babylsh, Bob, but
but you will get new one for her,
won't you-and,-not too like it?"
Her smile was positively radiant
now, and she rose and stretched out
both hands toward him, her little half
hoop Of diamonds held in the left. He
had never seen her lock so lovely be-
fore. and 1t had strange effect upon
him; 1t almost wrung his heart. 1t
was unlike the vivid beauty of Esme;
It seemed more something below the
surface shining forth.
He stood up unsteadily and dumbly
took the ring; for one instant he hest
tated, then flung 1t into the depths of
the silent pool.
<n me- NFof 81
simply, thank you, from my heart. 1t
Is strange. but that makes me content
Goodbye"
The man took her hands impetuously,
as II he had much that he would say
but she checked his words with a
glance.
Remember. when we chance to meet
It will be all right. I shall always be
thinking God bless you BOTH Good
bye. dear"
She turned. and ran lightly up the
woodland path; at the bend he saw
the glimmer Of her white dress disap.
pearing in the twilight
"It's difficult, all the same" he said,
sitting down with heavy sigh; 81
shall feel brute to the end Of my
days, and as to meeting her-baN
what a fool I've been. How could
make such mistake? But SUPPOSE
1t was case Of propinquity! But
she ls too much Of an angel for me, and
I believe was half afraid of her for
1t. remember telling her so once"
Next morning when Annette went
In to call her young mistress she came
to an abrupt standstill on the thresh-
old. for Maisle was not In bed, nor
even undressed; she sat at her writing
table with her head bowed upon her
arms, still In the white dress that had
glimmered in the twilight.
"Gone to sleep writing" murmured
the maid, creeping behind her chair
In awed wonder. "Well, l neverw
The letter Maisie had been busy
with had been pushed aside; 1t ran as
follows:
dearest Nell: L am so sorry you
have been anxious at not hearing from
me for SO long. but think did write
and tell you DR.. Forbes said there was
no need to worry. my heart trouble
would decrease steadily with reason
able care. l have no excuse for my
silence except that l have been toe
blindly. outrageously happy to do any
thing so unselfish as write letters this
summer. ! am quite happy STILL but
have awakened to deficiencies. Nld
desire to do better. Your letter of con-
graduation was very sweet. but. in
deed, indeed you must not think SO
highly Of me. All my life l seem to
have been haunted by reputation for
being good l cannot help knowing,
for 1t has been said to me so often
by those dear ones who have come to
me for help. I hope aud pray that
have been a little use sometimes-onc
never knows, I crave for nothing so