The Colfax chronicle., 1904-10-22

In her place was noble, clear-mindcd
| woman, whose friendship he cherished,
and which he would preserve at the risk
Of being q trifie untruthful
n.ring the next year the letters con-
tinued. and the new Dora grew upon him
daily. Once he honestly wrote: II pre-
fer your friendship to the love Of any
other woman" And again: you are
such friend! What would 1t 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 sweetly
confidential She told him as she would
a brother, about the proposals she re-
ceived. And he. like brother, advised
her to think well and do nothing hastily.
OF one suitor he wrote: Il think hewill
win if he manages his campaign prop
erly." And he believed it. for he had,
all along, had q 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 her engagement on their friend
ship. He did not see how he could exist
without her letters. But the suitor did
not win.
When the third year was nearing an
end, Dora's letters became a strange
mixture of irritation and tenderness.
Was she well? Was she happy? Did
teaching wear on her nerves? He asked
these questions again and again, and
she answered: Il am weary of this
dull town. and I'm so lonesome some
times. Idon't see why you will not come
to see me-"
At last there came day when Benson
rose from reading one of her letters and
paced his room nervously: 'Tknow it,"
he said, exultantly. II 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 yet learn to love him.
Impossible, of course. for she had not
seen him in three years, but still the
thought would creep into his heart.
and with 1t came terror. It could not be.
He wouldn't let her, for he was un-
worthy. Once. he thought OF the bu.-
terfly Dora's love would have made him
insanely happy for hours, but now
Queen Dora must not lower herself by
loving him. 1t was glory enough to oe
her friend.
So he refused again and again to visit
her. At last, his suspicion became al
most certainty, and then he told her
frankly of 1t, and Of his own utter un-
worthiness. And she answered as
frankly Perhaps what you say is true.
I cannot tell unless I see you. Won't
you Gomez But he could not bring
himself to the point of risking all in one
Interview. II he overcame the feeling
Of unworthiness, and went to beg for her
love, what il she couldn't love him! He
confessed to her that he was rank COW.
ard and laggard in love.
Then: II shall be going through
your town next Thursday on my way to
Chicago. If do not see you at the sta
tion, shall never forgive you"
And so he was to see her again aftel
three years. A new terror came upon
him. He dreaded to find her the same
childish girl-woman who had fiuttered
her filmy laces and faded away. Yet
that was the vision that gazed at him
innocently wherever he turned his eyes,
mo. no." he muttered, II do not love
you. love the Dora Of the letters. !
cannot be civil to you. l want to sea
Yours sincerely, Dora Hartly.' love
Your own true friend, Dora
How little!" he gasped, as he first
caught sight Of her. He had forgotten
how small she was, for she was, some
how. quite tall In her letters Yes, the |
same innocent butterfy-but different. |
She looked very little older, but in the |
lines of the prettily odd face were writ
ten ideals immovable as granite hills,
principles fully formed and nobler than |
his own, and thoughts lofty and beau
tiful. He knew suddenly that they were
all there three years before. but he, the
DOL, had loved her for her girlish win
someness alone. and had overlooked en-
tirely the signs Of her true womanly
beauty
Now, SIR" with the same toss of this
golden head, and the same birdlike
Eouch Of the fingers on ais coat. "Why
nave you been SO ungsllant? Make your
you know why I.didn't come, /" he
said.
Il was willing to risk IT. You are not
generous, sir"
But your friendship has grown "a
lear to me that couldn't risk marrire
t again."
I told you that | would risk It. Don't
'ou understand? Oh, you perverse
riend. You'd better go now, Mr.. Ben
on. the bell is-ringing."
Dora" he cried. "will you marry
ne?"
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