The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1904-10-15

u her place was d noble. cfear-mindet
woman, whose friendship he cherished
and which he would preserve at the risk
Of being triie untruthful.
During the next year the letters con.
I tinued, and the new Dora grew upon hin
| daily. Once he honestly wrote: Il pre-
| fer your friendship 70 the love OF any
other woman" And again: You are
such friend. What would it be TO be
loved by you'll" Not once did the thought
come to him to try again for her love
Impossible!
! And her letters grew more sweet1y
confidential. She told him as she would
| brother, about the proposals she re-
| ceiyed. And he. like brother, advised
| her to think well and do nothing hastily.
/ Of one sutton he wrote: 81 think he will
| win if he manages his campaign prop
erly." And he believed it. for he had.
all along, had a suspicion that
this old friend was the one who
had stood in his light. Ben
son was not Jealous; he was nightly
concerned, though, about the possible
effect Of aer engagement on their friend
ship. He did not zee how be could exist
without her letters. But the sutton did
not win.
When the third year was nearing an
end, Dora's letters became strange
mixture of irritation and tenderness.
Was she well? Was she happy? Did
teaching wear on ner nerves? He asked
these questions again and again. and
she answered: Z am weary of this
dull town, and I'm so lonesome some
times. don't see why you will not come
to see me-"
AT last there came Gay when Benson
rose from reading one OF her letters and
paced his room neryously. Il know it"
he said. e2uitantly. Il know it! She
may never love me. but she can never
love another man SO long as We are such
friends. And he was happy.
He could not tell at what moment
the thought first came to him that per-
haps she might vet learn to love him.
seen him in three years, but still the
thought would creep into his heart,
and with It came terror. It could not be.
He WouldB't let her. for he was un-
worthy. Once, he thought OF the but
terfiy Dora's love would have made him
insanely happy for hours. but now
Queen Dora must not lower herself by
loving him. II was glory enough to De
her friend
So he refused again and again to visit
her. At last, his suspicion became al
most a certainty, and then he told her
frankly of it, and of his own utter nn-
worthiness. And she answered as
frankly Perhaps what you say is true.
/ cannot tell unless / see you. Won't
you Gomez But he could not bring
himself to the point of risking all in one
interview If he overcame the feeling
of unwoRthiness, and went to beg for her
love. what if she couldn't love him. He
ard and a laggard in love.
Then: Il shall be going through
your town next Thursday on my way to
Chicago. # 90 not see you at the sta
ton, shall never forgive you.'
And SO he was to see her again after
three years. A new terror came upon
him. He dreaded to find her the same
childish girl-Woman who had fiuttered
her flmy laces and faded away. Yet
that was the vision that gazed at him
innocently wherever he turned his eyes
No, no." he muttered, s. do not love
you. I love the Dora of the letters
cannot pc civil to you. | want to sea
Yours sincerely, Dora Hartly.' love
Your own true friend, Dora. -
How little!" he gasped, as he first |
caught sighS of her. He had forgotten
how small she was, for she was, some
how, quite GALL in her letters. Yes, the
same innocent butterfy.-but different
She booked very little older, but In the |
lines of the prettily odd face were writ |
ten ideals immovable as granite hills. |
fully formed and nobIer than |
his OWE. and thoughts lofty and beau
tiful. He knew suddenly that they were
all there three yeags before, but he. the
sools had loved her for her girIish win
someness alone, and had overlooked en-
tireay the signs Of her true womanly
beauty
"NoW, sir" with the same toss of the
golden head, and the same birdlike
touch OF the fingers Oh lis coat. why
nave yoti been 50 ungallant? Makeyorr
excuses
"Yoa fsew why didn't come" he
said.
81 was willing to risk it. You are not
generous, sir
But your friendship has grown SO
lear to me that couldn't risk marring
Q again"
u told YOU that would risk 1t. Don't
-ou understands Oh, you perverse
riend. You'd better go now, Mr.. Ben
oa. the bell is-ringing
Dora" be cried, will you marry
REFUSED &s1S 0vJM peMEnv