The Montgomery tribune. (Montgomery City, Mo.) 1892-1910, 1903-03-06
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And poor Isabel! She had thrown
herself on her bed and lay, her face
white and drawn with suffering. her
eyes full of anguish. II the girls had
seer her thcn-their proud. bright.
beautiful lady. Amy had stirred
strange chords in her being. How
she had suffered once from ba.hful-
ness-not her own, but another's.
She had known beyond all doubt that
he loved her, yet he had never spok-
en-. And .tung at last by her pride.
she had cut oil the friendship be-
tween them and left him; and yet she
could not forget him. Other men
had loved her, but their love was 10
different. Surely no woman had ever
been surrounded with an affection go
deep, 50 manly. 30 true, so ll-embrac-
ing US his love had been. Now II was
over.
Amy haunted her strangely. Some
thing about the girl's eyes, her hon
csty, her sen.c of honor, appealed to
Miss Charters. yet something el.cr re-
PEELED her. She lay mu>ing on her
bed till supper timc-the last meal
she would take with her pupils.
On her way to the dining-room he
passed through the large hall. which
was decorated forthe morning great
occasion. The graduates were clus-
tered about the platform. putting a
few last blossoms into water, straight
ening the white ribbons, adjusting
the fern, and palms. Mi.s Charter.
stopped to admire. Amy stood near
and shrank a little from her teacher.
Isabel took one blossom which had
fallen on the platform in her slender
hand.
"Whitc swcetpeas," she laid alb.
scntly. smelling the flowers. They
are my favorite nowcrs.' And ,he
passed on. wondering what else would
happen to remind her Of the past.
For he had known her love for the
blossom. and had kept her room
sweet with them in their %blo..oming
time. How he had noted all her dain.
ty tastcs.
The girls had a little dance that
nightamong themselves. The teach
ers sat apart and commented, the
younger one joining occasionally in
the fun. The graduates were n win
some bevy Of maidcns, fair. fresh and
pleasant to look upon; but the belle
of the evening was. they decided, l.a-
bel Charters. In her simple white
dress she vas exquisite. Yet close
observer might have noted the pal.
lor OF her checks and n certain Ian
guor in her movements,
When she reached her room that
night, Isabel found that good fairic.
had been before her. Many remem-
brances had been sent TO the girl.
that evening, and they were leaving
as many with the teachers. from
whom they were about TO part. Miss
Charters was, Of course, the favor
tie. There were pieces Of jewelry
from the richest girls, silver trinkets
from the poorer ones, and, what was
Of most value TO her. exquisite bits Of
handwork from those to whom every
dollar meant a sacrifice; n handkcr'
chief in drawn work, a "Honiton'
collar. a crocheted cloud Her
eyes filled with tears. Then she mo-
iiccd II large white boy-a florists
box-which she had not seen.
A. she raised the cover n delicious
perfume filled the room. She drew
out a large bunch of white sweet peas
tied with satin ribbon.
AT first her heart gave a wild leap.
lie must have sent il. Who else had
the right to speak to her in these
flowers? Then her enthusiasm fad
ed. After all, it was probably one Of
the girl. There va no card. She
examined the white ribbon and gave
a low cry. On n Of them hung a
ring.
A slender %circlet of pearls with a
quaint design che would have known
anywhere. For it was his. II had