Barbour County index., 1904-08-10
A CHANGING SHOT ;
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By c. S. Day.
By c. S. Day.

HTAKE it, please. 1t does not be-
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.
Il have good mind to pick you
up and carry you off bodily, this min
ute, you provoking little creature" he
said angrily. mo, / 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 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 more
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 l did make a
mistake" sulkily. He was switching
the head off some choice blooms bor-
dering the walk. She put out her hand
again and stopped the reckless mas
sacre.
''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!'
"Alan, l can not. l was mistaken
Il do not love you-sometimes 1 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? I am so sorry; we
must always be friends
"Friends!" He made a motion as if
to hurl the tiny ring with it's spark
ling stone into the shrubbery. Then,
with sudden realization of the hope
lessness of it all, he turned from the
girl and strobe away without another
word.
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.
''Alan!" Softly. wistfully, she spoke
his name. He did not hear or turn or
stop.
81 wonder if ought-if I really do
dislike him. He was so angry-he
went off so abruptly-I might have
she did not finish the thought, but, with
eyes which grew little misty, watched
him until he turned corner and was
out of sight
Poor Alan. lam afraid was cruel" "
al IhO PoNAh 10y Vic Vi Tic HOWCIS HO
had beheaded. She stopped and picked
1t up, with touch that was caress.
The next moment it was pressed to
her red lips, and tears were dropping
upon it.
In his den Alan was slowly and pain
fully reviewing the scene, and making
original comments upon it.
s'To think she could be so cruel. the
dainty little witch l wouldn't have
dreamed it. and didn't know anything
could hurt so." He watched the smoke
from his cigar curl lazily about her
picture on his desk.
81 have half a notion to do what |
said-go back and carry her of
forcibly."
The sweet, saucy face looked out of
its smoky halo, with innocent, proVok-
Ingly steady gaze.
'But-she certainly meant It. II
she doesn't love me-doesn't even like
me ometimes-well, suppose it is all
up. Only, I'd like to know why in the
deuce she didn't know how she felt
about it in the first place. and spare
ne this confounded knockout. was