New-York tribune., 1903-02-15

ieels at first like perishing in the cold: but in
n tlne ne becomes SO thoroughly acclimatized
tnat II ever he were allowed to return he would
certainly die Of a sunstroke"
Pole?" ee ~ N ~
he gazed at her reproachfully.
am there already" he said. "I have been
~ lnele LOT some weeks, and am beginning to get
resoseileo sos 10 the climate. 1 am making up my
-, ,,iifo 10 marry and settle down there. and try
10 forgee how happy 1 used to be before 1
an eNle. You have heard. no doubt?'
Heard What?'
These things generally get about fast enough.
L made sure you would have heard"
Perhaps L have. When you tell me what you
are referring to-
Il thought had. To my t. rriage of course"
notl :1g.
You had heard?"
Her speech and manner had undergone a sud
| oen curious constraint; when she spoke her
voice had such a far-on alien sound She could
scarcely believe it was her own
Wen, now you have, you don't congratulate
me-
Il do. Of course do"
"Thanks-I had hoped"-
That wouldn't? Whv shouldn't I congratu-
Iate you. as much as any one else, on your hap
Because am not happy"
Not? Then why you o.
For that very reason-because I not
happy. How can L be happy while 1 al
ways in suspense and hoping after the impos-
sible? If definitely cut myself off from that
IL, i
to settle down into some sort of resigned peace
fulness. you see- L can't hope for more than
that now. There time when 1 hoped-but
you know what
She remained silent. clasping and unclasping
her hands on her lap in dreamy bewilderment.
When 1 first told you that / loved you,
Netta"-all trace of gayety and indifference
seemed 10 have fallen from him. and left him
pathetically ennobled ny an intense earnestness
and you laughed at me- and sent
away
II did not laugh at you'-
She fired resentfully, though the tears she was
keeping back were singing under her eyelids.
When you sent away" he continued, sor-
rowfully, I thought my heart was broken /
didn't want to live 1 felt that the whole world
was empty, without you. For days and days
was unspeakably wretched, and them
She bit her lip ane kept her eyes turned from
him. angry with herself for being taken
awares and overcome by his unexpected news,
and touched by the pathos of his confession.
Then L began to hope again he went on,
''and by and by l fooled myself into fancying
you had changed, ana one day 1 came to you
I had come before. And you sent me
away you had sent me before. II came to
you again in the same way 1 feel that in the
same way, you would only send me away again;
so what am to do?"
She did not answer him.
Il thought to myself, must die out of my old
life and begin When you're past
hope, the wisest thing is TO give up hoping;
then you're past despair: Once might have
been happy; l shall have to be satisfied
if l am not miserable. never leave off low
ing you, Meta, but L shall not make myself
nuisance TO you" -
You have-you have never made yourself
a.
Her voice f1uttered in her throat and she dis
creetly let if die there sooner than it should
falter and die her lips, and so betray her
heart to him.
you will forget me, doubt, but shall re-
member YOU always" He glanced toward her.
She was not looking at him, but an 1ndehna BILE
something IN her subdued expression in her
very attitude thrilled him through with an
ecstatic consciousness and assurance that
brought him instantly to his rect with treIn-
ulous cry of "Netta!'
She rose startled. and made confused little
movement as if she would have evaded him and
escaped from his sight before her set-restralnt
was broken down altogether. -
But there was no escape for her. He causne
her ImpulsiveIy in his arms and drew her, after
a Faint futile resistance close and closer to him.
"Only tell me 1 have misunderstood you' ne
n1eaded: AZ have been too inpatient
SNo. IL is too late" she faltered. ashamed OF
her strange weakness and clasping her hands
over her face to hide it from him, since she
could not free herself from his OBTAINING EN-
at isn't too late, Netta," he insisted, drawing
her head down on his breast so that her lace
was hidden there. II love you more than ever,
and If you love ne only ever SO little no" can
1t be too late?
How can you te-her'-
ct have told heri" he laughed e1citedly. II
Won are not angry with me, she won't De- III
VOW love me she will love me- II you Will
marry me-
Meta waited
''I shall marry herr ,,.
And in a flash she saw through his deceit
"Dont look up, dear" he said, keeping one
arm resolutely about her and laying a hanu