The Bellefontaine Republican. [volume] (Bellefontaine, Logan County, Ohio) 1855-1905, 1904-06-17


said sarcastically.
No. all for your happiness" she re-
sponded, airily.
You are very kind" he replied for.
mally.
moment passed in silence. He broke
the pause with a sudden change OF front
How foolishly We have been talking.
Lois. You must not think of going away
and losing your vacation, and the rest
you so much need. on my account Jack
would be awfully disappointed. for you
know you are his fayorite sister. ano
this is your first visit to his home since
his marriage. And Mary, well. know
that she will guess the reason for your
departure, and be as disappointed az
your brother at Tie sudden termination
OF your yisit-on account of her brother
Only this morning she was saying how
she wished that you could stay all win
ter, and how 1t cheered her to have you
here (you know she has not been very
well lately. As for myself. was fool
ish enough to hope that We might get
back to our old friendly footing.
thought that 1t would depend on me,
and that certainly you would not refer
to that-must / say it-unfortunate oc-
currence. You seem determined that !
shall not have the chance to forget, even
If | would, and act as though had COM
mitted crime that was likely to repeat
at every opportunity. One grows used
to disappointment, even though he may
not be able to forget. and while your
hac 81. l,x.x, r,ts ri,
l love you still"
She help up her hands and interrupted
him with an exclamation of well-as-
sumed alarm: Jack, take care, IL you
go on talking that way and looking at
me so, shall surely think that you are
going to propose again"
II promise you that am not, though"
he replied. patiently. Il was just about
to say that even my love for you would
hardly make me lay my heart at your
feet when know 1t would be trampled
upon"
Hasn't IL occurred to you that our
being here and assuming such friendly
relations as you desire might have ten
dency to create false hopes in Mary
mind? / know she used to hope-T be-
lieve she prayed that you and THAT is
that things might turn out differently
Il wouldn't be surprised. for used to
do that myself"
Now. Jack, be careful; you know you
said you wouldn't"
Who said was going to?"
you look that way. l really think
will have to go tomorrow, early. Poor
fellow" she soliloquized, ''he don't know
what his eyes say"
1T won't be necessary for you to &C
tomorrow. ! am going to-day"
You are going to-dayi" she gasped
How many minutes ago did you come
to that decision?"
About ive."
you have been here a week. sup.
pose you are fully rested from the past
three years yacationless work.
! thought Mary said that the doctor OF.
dered a three months rest for you.
must have misunderstood her"
Il don't need any more rest than yor
do" he replied.
She ignored his remark and went on:
Then favorite brothers are not Sc
greatly missed by their sisters when Il
has been only three years since they were
together"
He made no answer.
And of course no one would guess
the real reason for your going so sud
denly" She paused a moment, then II
a different tone said: 81 wonder IL
were to ask II as a special favor to me
| IL you would stay"
only on one condition"
And that is?"
THAT you stay, too"
Her heart was beating in her throat
She knew that she could not keep up thii
acting much longer. Not a day haC
passed In all that long three years sine
she had said NO" to him the last tim,
he had asked her to be his wife that sh'
did not regret that answer. He had gon'
away and she had not seen him sine
| until they met in her brothers hone
| few days ago, and she knew the momen
her eyes first met his that he loved he
still. in spite of the long silence whicl
she herself had commanded. Since theI
her bold bantering was, she felt sure
the only thing that kept him from fall
ing at her feet, literally and figura
lively. She was cruel, she knew it. ant
| had little conscience smitten twang
every time she looked into his eyes ant
knew that 1t was in her power to FL
| them with the old glad, joyous ligh
\ that had been there before she hat
| driven it out. Why should she not us
that power? Why did she violate he
own feelings and pain him so continu
| ously? Now there was a sickening wea
in her heart that she had gone too far
He waited for her answer. She made
quick resolve.
''If l stay will you promise not to pro
pose to me once during the timer"
Yes, promise"
Then won't stay"
He looked at her in amazement. hardl.
daring to believe his ears, then strod
over to her. and standing close to he
demanded:
Lois. what do you mean"
She lifted flushed but happy face an
looked bravely into his questioning eye
and said. II mean just what say. Jack.
And he broke his promise then an
there.-Prairie Farmer.
Colorado as a Rubber State.
/ AS a rubber-producing state Colorad
is making a bid for the attention o
the world. Within the last few month