Pike County press. (Milford, Pa.) 1895-1925, 1903-07-10
NHY SEE GIVE HIM UP
Hy BARRY PAIN


mand Il and had not a fine enough
soul to understand It.
For a week you put up with me
willingly enough I thought we we're
friends; now you tell me I bore you
WhyT
"why?7 she echoed; perhaps be-
cause I've put up with you for a week.
Why do you ask questions and botherY
You say that you see that I don't want
you any more-I don't deny It. Then
there's only one decent course for you
to take" She turned back to her
window again. as If the scene were
finished
But IT was not finished. The young
man rose and his face darkenened.
This being Of Importance" he said,
slowly, ~ don't care much about the
deceneies and conventionaiities. I'm
not going to leave you. 1 shall not let
you go until you are once more as
Kind to me as you we're a few weeks
ego-yes, and kinder still"
At this point she lost her temper and
said things that we're not clever nor
suited to her purpose
Very well" he said when a man
wants one thing-and only one thing
in the world. he gets its. l want you,
and you alone. / may have to wait
long, but l sha'n't let go. Try me, and
you will find It So"
That was the man to whom, a week
later she became engaged The en-
gsgement was broken off by mutual
consent some six months afterward
eyes" said the placid old gentleman
Il think you were quite right to give
him up, my DEAR
20, thank you" said the pretty
you would think badly of me l tried
to act for the best Our temperaments
were not suited to each other; mar
rlage would have meant a lifelong
misery My own conscience acquits
me, but / wondered what others would
think, especially you"
Your lmpulsive and impetuous ma
ture should be linked to lis opposite
to gentleness and experience"
Il am quite sure OF it, she said.
Qualities in which he was alto
gether lacking"
Totally" she agreed.
"Ah, mer' sighed the old man.
Pressed to give the reason for that
sigh, he confessed that he was think
ing about himself. His was lonely
life; wealth did not make happiness
he had found that. On whom could he
spend his money and to whom could
he leave It at his death? He could
never hope to win the love Of a wom-
an, old as he was.
''You are not to call yourself old. /"
she cried: Il never think of you as an
old man"
There was a long pause. and when he
spoke again It was to some considera-
Bile purpose. That was the man whom
in the course Of that year she married;
and the more worldly of her friends
were in the habit of remarking to one
another that, all things considered, she
had done extremely well for herself;
so, from that point of view, she had.
III.
After dinner the white-haired old
gentleman dropped asleep in the draw
ing-room. These little infrmities
should be forgiven to old age. But the
girl-who had grown prettier than ever
Looked at her husband with frank
disgust She turned to the handsome
young man at the piano apologetcally.
Hes always like that, you know. l
can understand it when we are alone
no doubt l bore him-but l don't un-
derstand how he can sleep through
such music as that 1t will take away
my sleep for all the night"
mo" said the player, briefly List
en-; will give your sleep back again. "
AS he played, his dark eyes sought
hers and found strange things In them.
Zach knew what was in the others
heart. His eyes looked down again at
the keys. His face wore the look of
endurance. Suddenly he stopped, and
went across the room to the corner
where she was sitting.
why are you crying? What is the
matterT' he asked.
TT is too beautiful and I
am SO unhappy. If you knew what my
life wasF
The white-haired old gentleman was
still sleeping peacefully, but both had
lowered their voices.
Il know" said the musician, "and
you know now that love you"
She bowed her head.
Eyes, you we're sure to know. I must
say goodbye to you, dear. 1t was all
right until you knew. but now
He held out his hands, and she took
it. She was really annoyed with her
husband-that was the extent Of her
sorrow. AS for the musician, he was
merely one more scalp for her waist
belt He played dlvinely, aud he loved
ler; it was something Of a trump. and
5he said goodbye to him very sweetly.
and that was the man whom she
dlled-quite indirectly, Of course. She
ent q twenty-five shilling wreath TO
he funeral; she had won as much al
fridge the night before.-From Black
md White