The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1903-09-05
ssBY::<JUST EXCHANGE"

ing the same sweet words after her
she forgot for the moment that they
were not true-or- only so one sidedly
true-in her pleasure in taking her
part in the production of so much ex-
quisite sound.
They sang it to the end-and it was
well done to quite exceptional de-
gree-and then he startled her with his
comment.
He twirled half-round on the piano
stool and put his arms about her waist
| drawing her to him, and he looked into
her eyes, straight into them, with no
shame in his
Sweetheart" he said, "these words
were written for us-for you and me-
See how they fit
My true love hath my heart and have
hers
There never was better bargain driven
Gould anything, written today, suit
US better?'
She did not answer him, except in
directly; with look she tried to hide
ana could not, but perhaps he was
hardly expecting an answer, for he
went on speaking at once, quickly and
earnestly. His words were as old-far
older, indeed, than the words of the old
song, yet they were new on his lips,
new in her ears, and for that simple
reason words that may hardly be writ
ten. They held all his love, his pas
slonate worship for her graciousness
and beauty; they barred his heart as
he gave it to her in exchange for her
heart safe in his keeping. They We're
words such as she had lost hope of
nearing in the bitter sweet month of
their engagement and they filled and
enraptured her, lifted her to heaven.
AND then a strange thought, some
thing unvoiced but strangely pricking
set her on foot again. Past disap-
polntment rang coldly and clearly in
her voice.
How am 1 different today" she
asked, from what 1 was yesterday and
all the other days 2"
You are different" he declared.
Then you-the change is in your"
head, for she hated the necessity to
say it. Your love has come so sud
denly and so late, find it little hard
to believe in. When you asked me to
marry you, you were careful to omit
all mention of it then. We have met a
great many times since, and I have
heard nothing of it. I-oh, it may be
a shameful thing, but 1 have never
been able to hide that 1 care for you
I cannot now! And I would rather you
loved me late than not at all. But
her voice trembled-'T should much
rather you had loved me all the time"
Il have loved you all the time!" he
cried. Before heaven I swear it,"
Then he waited for her very natural
question.
why were you so careful to hide
it, them"
IT will tell you," he said; "but first
Will you tell me you forgive me for the
pain you have had through me?
never thought it would pain you SOL
hi,,1r
that in the least realized what it must
be to you until today, when 1 heard
you sing those old words with so much
forlorn pity and sadness in your dear
voice. Say You forgive me first" and
he put his arms closer and closer
around her and his lips on hers 1t was
rather unfair, rather extortionate-the
act OF tyrant, perhaps; but, then, it
must be conceded that she would have
forgiven him anyhow, and with less
pleasure in the act.
You know,"ghe began, that you
have good deal Of money"
'fYes'}a she admitted
But you have not known that, as 1t
happens, l have some, too; as much as
yours and not 1nconsiderable amount
over. Now, I'll tell you how it was,
and must tell you, also, that my love
Tor you was really as sudden growth
as II 1t had sprung into being today,
for loved you the first time l met YOU.
just with all my heart as do now. But
l happened to hear that your friends
were very much afraid of your being
caught and carried off by some needy
fortune hunter for your beauty and
your money, and I also felt, for my own
part about you, that although YOU
might be so caught-because did not
believe you capable of DENYING love
when 1t came to you-yet that you
would be very hardly caught, that the
prize would be only to the strong and
swift, and so--and So"
And so you played the fortune hunt
er to try me? So nothing would suit
you but you must win my love against
my will ?"
yes" he said. "But 1 see now it was
a sorry trick-a cowardly thing to do"
L have forgiven YOU" she whisper
ed; and added, quickly, But why did
you keep 1t up SO long?"
AT first I was enamored of the
game" he owned. II have never been
| able to take much pride in wealth 1
simply inherited, that others worked
and toiled for, and you were the first
| thing 1 could feel 1 had desired and
gained for myself, just because 1 am a
man and not because I am a man
rather better off than many. And, then,
don't you think that lately YOU have
!
break silence kept so long? That YOU
nave been on the defensive to a degree
that has often driven me away with
out confessing, although 1 have even
| come to you prepared with all my sim
| as well as my love, to lay at your feet {?
But when heard you singing Of that
exchange of hearts SO dolefulIy and
sadly and heard in your voice how you
| believed you had given one and re-
ceived next to nothing for it-why, then
L could keep silence no longer"
1 forgive you," she smiled, land that
| must make up for your extra money
so we need not think of either of those
| things any more"
But only of your heart in me and
mine in YOU he whispered by lust
exchange and surely there never was
better bargain driven'?"
ONLY ABOUT WOMEN.