Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1903-06-26
CHAPTER XIV.

"Did he-I mean did you-ever-
Dulce, will you be very angry with me
If ask you question"
mo, But 1 hope it won't be a dis
agreeable one" says Dulce, glancing at
him; cautiously.
"That is just as you may look at It,"
says Roger, "But l suppose may say
it-after all, we are like brother and Sis
ter, are we not"
"Ye-es. Quite like brother and Sis
ter" says Dulce but somehow this
thought seems to give 10 pleasure.
only we are not, you know" puts In
Roger, rather hastily.
mo, of course we are not" replies she,
with equal haste.
"Well, then, look here"
But even now that he has got so far,
he hesitates agaih, looks earnestly at her,
and pulls his mustache uncertainty, as If
half afraid to go any further.
1t is the afternoon Of the next day,
and as the sun has come out in great
force, and the mildness Of the day al
most resembles spring in its earliest
stages, they are all about the place,
strolling hither and thther, withersoever
| pleasant fancy guides them,
Roger and Dulce, after lingering for
I some time in the winter garden looking
ut the snowdrops, and such poor foster
| babes as have thrust their pallid faces
above the warm earth, that like cruel
| stepmother has driven them too early
from her breast, have moved slowly on
ward, until they find themselves beside
q fountain that used to be fayorite
haunt Of theirs long ago.
Dulce seats herself upon the stonework
that surrounds it; though the water is too
chilly to be pleasant, she toys lightly with
coquettishly now and then, with her eyes
bent thoughtfully upon it, as it sways
calmly to and fro beneath the touch Of
the cold wind that passes over it.
Just now she raises her eyes and fixes
them inQuiringly on Roger.
go on" she says, quietly; "you were
surely going to ark me something. Are
you afraid Of meT'
"a little, | confess"
"You need not be-" She is still looking
at him very earnestly.
"Well, them" says Roger, ms though
nerving himself for struggle-"tell me
this" He leaves where he is standing
and comes closer to her. "Did-did you
ever kiss Cover"
"Never-neverw answers Dulce, grow
ing quite pale.
Il have no right to ask 1t, know that"
says Roger. "But'-desperately-"did
he ever kiss you"
"Never, indeed"
"Honor bright?"
"Honor bright"
IRE quite deep in the water now, and |
think she does not even feel the cold of
it.
"He has been engaged to you for three
months and more, and never wanted to
kiss youw exclaims Roger at last, in q
tone expressive Of great amazement and
greater contempt.
II don't thing / said quite that" re-
turns she, coloring family.
Then was you prevent
cd him?"
81 don't care much about that sort OF
! thing" says Dulce, with little shrug.
Don't you? Then l don't believe Won
care button about him." replies he, with
glad conviction.
THAT is mere surmise Oh sour part.
Different people"-vaguely-"are differ
ent. don't believe If l had any affec-
| ton for a person that mere formal act
ike kissing would increase the feeling"
ooh, wouldn't it, thought says Mr..
| Dare-"there's all you know about it.
You just try it, that's all. | can't say
that | think much Of Cover as a lover"
be says, after q while, touch of scorn
in his voice. $40 be engaged to you for
three whole months and never once kiss
you."
"You were engaged to me for three
whole years." replies his cousin, quietly,
yet with flash from her deep gray eyes
that means much, "and l cannot remem-
Der that you ever cared to kiss me at
ILL.,"
IT don't know what was the matter
with me then" he says. making no Mt
Tempt Mt denial, though there certainly
were one or two occasions he might have
referred to; 81 don't believe"--in a low
tone-I ever knew l was fond Of you
until--until lost YOU"
ooh, you must not talk to me like this"
nntreats she, the tears coming into her
eyes and trembling on her long lashes.
Il suppose not. But this new-found
knowledge is hard to suppress; why did |
not discover it sooner"
Better late than never" says Dulce,
with q poor attempt at lightness. and
rather artificial little laugh, meant to
conceal the sorrow that is consuming her.
Il think you ought to feel gladness in the
thought that you know it at last KnOwl-
edge is power, isn't it?'
Il can feel only SORROW" says Roger,
very sadly. "And | have no power"
Dulce's wretched fingers are getting
absolutely benumbed in the cold water,
yet she seems to feel nothing.
Roger, however, stopping over her, lifts
her silly little hand and dries it very ten
derby, and holds it fast between both his
| own; doubtless only with the intention Of
restoring some heat to it.
1t is quite amazing the length Of time
! it takes to do this.
"Dulcew
"Wel?' She has not looked at him
once during the last FIVE minutes.
IF you are unhappy in your present en-
gagement-and think you are-why not
break with Cover? l spoke to you Of
This Yesterday, and say the same thing