The Bellefontaine Republican. [volume] (Bellefontaine, Logan County, Ohio) 1855-1905, 1904-05-27
"pick.- she ventured presently.


then. have a confession to make"
II should rather think So" he
sneered. diving into his pocket with
considerable i'll grace. But first" he
held the paper away from her extend
ed fingers for a second. you must
promise me to destroy the infamous
thing-and at once"
Constantine gulped. II promise"
she acquiesced. receiving 1t tremulOus-
ly. Il will burn 1t as soon as l get to
my room"
And the confession-how about
that?" He spoke dryly.
you'll not be angry. dear?"
II don't exactly see how I'm to avoid
that"
"But-but II isn't what you imagine
at all. Dick. Not a bit. OF course I
can understand what you think and
why you think it-but you mustn't-oh.
you mustn't. Let me explain" She
paused, all out OF breath and clung to
him in an agony of entreaty.
He regarded her gravely by the
lights that glimmered softly from the
grounds beyond. Certainly: I am
anxious for an explanation" he re-
piled. stiffiy. Undoubtedly. I should
be more than relieved to have this
mystery cleared up"
Constantine caught her breath in
little choking way. and broke directly
into the subject II found 1.-THE pa
per-" she said. speaking rapidly. ION
the front veranda. after everybody had
gone-this morning. thought was
sure that IL was meant. had been meant
for you and that-and that-it was
written by that detestable little cat.
Cary Fleming. Oh. hate her and I'm
glad. glad. glad she's going away"
And so-you stopped to petty jeal-
ousy-to petty suspicion-to q petty
intention to eavesdrop-to-" He
shrugged and laughed in a cutting lit
tie fashion that sent the blood racing
to Constantina's face and lips. She
shivered piteously in the cool wind
that had suddenly sprung up.
"Oh. Dick" she cried. remorsefully.
81 ought not. know. but 1t was ALI be-
cause loved you so. and l was mad
, half-crazed to think" She burst into
| nervous sobbing.
Couldn't you forgive me?" she
asked after awhile. looking up at him
through tear-bright eyes.
why, as to that, | suppose so.
am only too glad to be assured that II
is nothing worse. You can see for
yourself that | might perfectly well
have believed otherwise. There's one
| provision I wish to make. however.
This subject must not again be al
luded to between us. II must never
be known to anyone that you have mis-
trusted me so grossly. You must never
| doubt me again, Constantine. Do you
agree?"
ITO everything" she answered in q
| low voice. Dear. dearest. I've been a
foolish. unforgivable little fool" she
hurried on. but do want you to say
just once that you forgive me-"
well. then. / forgive you." he re.
cited with an indulgent little laugh.
Constantine lifted her lips to his
suddenly: he bent suddenly and kissed
them.
They passed silently through the low
iron gate. up the wide gravel path and
onto the veranda where the rest were
assembled for the evenings pastimes
She did not stop longer than a min
ute. but hurried up the broad length o.
stairs and gained the shelter of hei
own room She went first to the lont
cheval mirror and stood for some tim'
regarding herself critically: Her eyei
were very. very gray and eloQuentl,
bright. and her cheeks were beautiful
ly pink and fresh. The pile Of hair tina
tumbled picturesquely over her fore
head, stood somewhat awry, but non'
the less golden and splendid. Her hear
was beating tumultuously under th'
fun OF lace above IL; below. the cloud
like ruffies Of her gown hung snagge'
and dripping with dew.
She smiled: then laughed. 1t was
curiously happy little laugh. full of re
lief and gladness and love. Suddenl.
she thought of the paper. She mus
burn Il Immediately: she had promise'
Dick that she would do so. She walke'
over to the open fireplace. A blue an
red mass Of Goals huddled sleepily II
the crate.
Constantine opened her palm slowly
and eyed the crumpled scrap OF pape
with deprecative eyes. II wonder
she unused. unfolding It mechanically
Il wonder who could have written II
anyway-and TO whom IL was written
! No one else came-there. Perhaps
can trace resemblance" Sh
smoothed out the creases with carefu
fingers and read:
. Impossible for me to get to tn
. branch before $3.50. Wait for me-
&C"
An instant her lashes fiickered: tn
paper slipped from her nerveless fin
gers and lay unheeded on the fool
, Minutes passed. Presently. she stopped
quite calmly. and picked IL up and lai
Il on the Goals. She watched II eur
and blacken and sift to ashes. The
she turned away and went downstair
to rejoin her guests.
Ambition.
At ten years old. or somewhat later,
, Tom Smith resolved to be Dictator: