The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1903-08-07
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
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Never mind, II scarcely matters
does it! The fact remains that l do
The speaker glanced across a stretch
of water at her feet to where the trees
drooped and kissed their own re1ec-
tions on the surface OF the shadowy
pool.
II feel such brute, such an unutter-
able cur" her companion exclaimed
miserably; "but you are so true your
self II can't deceive you. / admire
you, respect you beyond words. and
until lately 1 believed that loved you
more than l could ever love anything
else i'm life-but-"
He stumbled, and sitting down on
the trunk Of fallen tree, buried hIs
face in his hands
Yes, go on. dear" the girl said,
and rising. she came and knelt beside
him, clasplng her hands upon his shoul-
der as If she felt her touch must tell
him how infinitely she understood,
''but now"
Now believe it can't have been love
at all. Oh-if she didn't care for me
80 awfully in return, believe me
would have gone through with it
loving her.
Hush" Maisie cried sharply, 'ncver
say that; tit hurts
He raised his head and looked at
her in surprise, not grasplng her mean
ing.
Go on" she said, and rested her
head against his sleeve. that he might
not watch her face, "so on. dear"
II don't know what 1t is about.
Esme; there Is nothing of the calm
knowledge of her worth that had
10, have with you, and yet'-this he
shot ont defiantly, "shc Is splendid,
too"
"You are right she is," Maisic ac.
quiesced.
II am utterly carried off my feet
by her--I can't think OF anything else.
Is Il madness, Malsie, or whatT"
1T Is love-" she said gently. "thc
real. true. genuine thng-not thc-the
simple affection you felt for me"
But l was so proud of possessing
you," the man continued. wonderingly.
"and Heaven knows why you cared for
me-"
He said this vehcmently, and she
even smiled
II am sure Heaven docs" she said,
"and so shall we both some day. II
has served its turn. whatever the rea
son. But. dear. don't trv TO explain
any more. 1t is enough that | know,
and understand. God bless YOU for
heing SO frank with me: you might
have left me 10 find out, but you are
too honest Thank GCl we did not
discover ii too late. Don't stay now.
See. am going TO give you back your
lists a little babylsh. Bob, but
but you will get new one for her,
won't yop-and-not too like it?'
Her smile was positively radiant
now. ana she rose and stretched out
both hands toward him. her little half
hoop OF diamonds held in the left. He
had never seen her lock SO lovely be.
fore. ana it had a strange effect upon
him: il almost wrung his heart. II
was unlike the vivid beauty of ESmc;
ii seemed more something below the
surface shining forth
He slood mp unsteadily and dumbly
took the ring: for one instant he hest
tated. then flung it into the depths Of
the silent poo'
Sacred TO my memory" Maisic said
simply, thank you, from my heart. 1t
is strange. but that makes me content
Goodbye"
The man took her hands impctuously
as IL he had much that he would say,
but she checked his words with q
glance.
Remember when we chance TO meet
ii will be all right. I shall always be
thinking God bless you both. Good
bye, dear"
She turned. and ran lightly up the
woodland path; at the bend he saw
the glimmer of her white dress diSap
pearing in the twilight
''lt's difficult. all the same" he said,
sitting down with a heavy sigh: ~
shall feel a brute TO the end of my
days, and as TO meeting hcr-bah.
what a fool I've been. How could |
make such n mistake? But suppose
~ was d 'dSt VI
she is too much OF an angel for me. and
! believe / was half afraid OF her for
IL. I remember telling her so once"
Next morning when Annette went
in to call her young mistress she came
10 an abrupt standstlll on the thresh
old. for Maisie was not i'm bed. mol
even undressed; she sat at her writing
fohla with hpr head bowpd unon no,
arms, still in the white dress that hat
gllmmercd in the twilight
Gone 10 sleep writing" murmuret
the maid, creeping behind her chail
in awed wonder. well. l nevcr"'
The letter Maisie had been bus,
with had been pushed aside il ran a
follows:
Dearest Nell: l am so sorry yol
have been anxious at not hearing fron
me for so long. but I think did writ
and tell you DIR. Forbes said there wa
no need TO worry. my heart troubl
would decrease steadily with reason
able care. have no excuse for m
silence except that I have been TO
blindly, outrageously happy to do any
thing 30 unselfsh as write letters thi
summer. am quite happy still. bu
4 have awakened to deficiencies, and