The Cooperstown courier. (Cooperstown, Griggs Co., N.D.) 1902-1913, 1904-07-21
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By G. S. Day.

IL i AMI ~, PANo0Os ~ OOOS AOI OCs
i long to me now. What it stood
for is over between U.s."
The engagement ring he had given
her two weeks before sparkled in the
pink palm of the little hand out
stretched toward him.
81 have good mind to pick you
up and carry you of bodily, this min
ute, you provoking little creature" he
said angrily. mo, I won't take it
back. You may throw it in the river
take it down to the spot where we
spent so many happy hours, deluding
ourselves, this summer"
She smiled a little-she was carrying
the scene through bravely-and came
near enough to put the ring in his
hand.
please, Alan. don't be cross, and do
take 1t. Don't you think we will both
be glad sometime that We found out
our mistake in time?"
Her GOODNESS only made him moro
angry. Passionate and impulsive, he
realized keenly that she could see that
he was white with rage and despair.
He hated himself for his lack of self
control; he almost hated her, for the
moment, for calmness.
II haven't found that did make
mistake, sulkily. He was switching
the head off some choice blooms Dor
dering the walk. She put out her hand
again an6 stopped the reckless mas
eacre.
'The gardener will be cross" she
said gently. And then, before he could
draw back his hand, she had slipped
the tiny ring into it.
He started as If she had struck him.
Then he turned to her with quivering
lips, and burst into impassioned plead
ing. "
"Alice! Alice! surely, you don't
mean it? You are not going to turn
me off like this! You will not be SO
cruel, dear!'
ttAlan, can not. was mistaken
II do not love you-sometimes I do
not even like you. You would rather
know the truth than have me let It
go on day after day, and deceive you;
would you not? am so sorry; we
must always be friends
"Friends!" He made motion as IL
to hurl the tiny ring with it's spark,
ling stone into the shrubbery. Then,
( with sudden realization of the hope
lessness of 1t all, he turned from the
+ girl and strobe away without another
word.
j. She stood gazing after him a mo-.
ment. In spite of herself there crept
slowly into her perverse little heart,
side by side, with the firm resolve
already there, wish that he would
:. turn and come back, and taking her
in his arms in spite of struggle or pro-
test, kiss away all her resolution
against him and his love.
'saEs "Alan!" Softly, wistfully, she spoke
4 his name. He did not hear or turn or
stop. sk ~ g.
s2A 81 wonder IL I ought If ]. really do
Y dislike him. He was so angry-he
went off SO abruptly might have
I she did not finish the thought, but, with
eyes which grew little misty, watched
him until he turned a corner and was
4 out of sight.
s,37 "Poor Alan. I am afraid was cruel"
4 In the path lay one of the flowers he
had beheaded. She stopped and picked
Z It up, with touch that was caress.
The next moment it was pressed to
her red lips, and tears were dropping
upon it. x8'a .,
s}ss In his den Alan was slowly and pain
/ fully reviewing the scene, and making
n original comments upon 1T.
ITO think. she could be so cruel, the
4 dainty .Attle witch j wouldn't have
!, dreamed 1t, and didn't know anything
could hurt so" He watched the smoke
from his cigar curl lazily about her
h picture on his desk.
Sa II have half notion to do what I
y said-go back and carry her OF
forcibly."
sy The sweet, saucy face looked out of
4 its smoky halo, with innocent, provok-
& ingly- steady gaze. ~.-1s.,4e,sr-
8s "But-she, certainly meant it. II
Y she doesn't love me doesn't, even like
1 me Sometimes suppose it is all
( up. Only. I'd like to know why in the
deuce she didn't know how ska felt
about it in the first place, and spare
me this COMPOUNDED knockout. I was