Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1904-07-27
CHANGING SHOT:
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BY G. S. Day.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

nTAKE it, please. 1t does not be
1 long to me now. What it stooC
Tor is over between U.s."
The engagement ring he had give1
her two weeks before spa>kled in thu
pink palm of the little hand out
stretched toward him.
L have a good mind TO pick 70,
up and carry you off bodily, this min.
ute, you provoking little creature" he
said angrily. mo, l wont take il
back. You may throw it in the river
take it down to the spot where We
spent so many happy hours, deludine
ourselves, this summer"
She smiled little-she was carrying
the scene through bravely-and carA4
near enough to put the ling ir his
hand.
please, Alan, don't be cross, aud dc
take it. Don't you think We will both
be glad sometime that we found gu,
Our mistake in time?"
Her GOODNESS only made him more
angry. Passionate and imlulsive, he
realized keenly that she could see that
ne was white with rage and despair.
He hated himself for his lack of self
control; he almost hated her, for the
moment, for calmness
Il haven't found that dill 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
Eacre.
THE gardener will be crUas," 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, can not. was mistaken
II do not love you-sometimes l do
not even like you. You would rather
know the truth than have me let it
60 on day after day, and deceive you;
would you not? l am so sorry; we
must always be friends"
''F'riends!" He made a motion as if
to hurl the tiny ring with it's spark
ling stone into the shrubbery. Then,
with a sudden realization of the hope
iessness 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, a wish that he would
turn and come back, and taking her
In Ills arms in spite of struggle or pro-
test, kiss away all her resolution
against him md his love.
"Alan!" Softly, wistfully, she spoke
his name. He did not hear or turn or
stop.
II wonder if 1 ought If 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. am afraid I was cruel"
In the path lay one of the flowers he
had beheaded. She stopped and picked
it 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.
''To think she could be so cruel, the
dainty little witch. I 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.
Z have half notion to do what I
Baid-go back and carry her of
The sweet, saucy face looked out of
It's smoky halo, with innocent, provok-
1ng|v steady gaze.
''But-she certainly meant it. If
ehe doesn't love me-doesn't even like
me sometimes-well,1 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
me this COMPOUNDED knockout. I was
80 sure the whole thing was settled.
Maybe it wouldn't have struck me so
ali of a bean if it had come sooner"
The cigar had gone out and the smoke
cleared away slowly. In his eyes was
D blur which he brushed away savage
" when he realized that it was there,
swearing softly under his breath.
''Thank heaven, don't have to stay
here another day, at any rate. I'll
wire Meredith tonight that I've re-
considered his offer and will be with
him-let me see, I think can make
: Thursday Il ! get OF tomorrow ear