The Aberdeen Democrat. (Aberdeen, South Dakota) 1???-1909, 1905-03-10

~ 49, oASAA kAC
grassy ledge for NY lille and then sat
down on the brink Of an old stone quar-.
ry. She was swinging her small French
heels and throwing stones into the blue
water far beneath when somebody be-
hind her whistled a we'll known strain.
She answered before she thought and
then started, almost losing her balance,
and clutched at the bank to save her
self. Her face was hot, and she felt
some one seize her from behind, for it
had all happened too quickly for her to
be frightened. Jack dragged her back
and then lifted her to a sitting posture.
She scrambled to her feet and faced
him.
What do you mean by sitting on the
very edge Of a place like that?" Jack
questioned angrily. Suppose the bank
crumbled?'
She looked at him, wistfully at first,
and then her glance turned wrathful rs
she saw nothing but anger in his face.
II was all right until you came and
frightened me-"
II whistled to let you know l was
coming and you answered. he retort-
ed.
II presume your coming to this espe-
cial place was purely accidental. like
your advent in this town." she re-
marked sarcastically.
Not quite he confessed. II fol-
lowed you because l wanted to talk to
you. Sit down and cool off,"
She reflected that this was her first
opportunity to make him sorry, and she
sat down gracefully, while he arranged
himself at her feet and searched a plot
Of clover for a lucky omen. She took
off her white duck hat and let the wind
ruffle her thick. fair hair. He looked
up at her m%editatively.
you have more freckles this year
than you had last" he announced.
Yes she agreed, land more sense
Il imagine your experience has
taught you something" he remarked.
She sat up. This was not teaching
him to be sorry.
Ethel" he asked suddenly, "you
burned all my letters, didn't you?"
"Of IRIS 1 did" But her heart beat
furiously as she thought Of the night
before.
II supposed you had" he said. II
only wanted to make sure" He put his
hand absently to the pocket Of his blue
serge coat. You see, love letters after
there isn't any more love are such ASST.
nine things he explained; "just twad.
die"
Yours were rather twaddly," she ad-
mltted; "at least the ones l had. But
they're burned"
Again he felt in his pocket. She saw
the gesture and misinterpreted it.
Light 1t if you like" she said.
Light it? All, yes" said he, drawing
the pipe from quite another pocket.
She watched him fill it, frowning a lit.
tie ut the tobacco pouch, which was
one she had given him. He leaned ovel
to strike a match.
"Your bald spot is certainly much
larger than it was last year." she re.
marked critically.
"How observing you are!!" he drawled
Then he turned suddenly.
will you love me when I'm bald?'
he sang.
las much as do now" she an,
swered meaningly.
Not as much as you did last nighty'
he queried.
Last night!' she echoed, the blood
rising to her face. "What are you talk.
ing about?" He turned again and took
a letter from his coat pocket, holding
it up where she could see the address
In his writing, Miss Ethel Herriot."
Her heart beat wildly. The envelope
was worn and old looking. He drew
out the sheets of thin paper. There
were blisters - fresh blisters upor
them.
Ethel sat paralyzed. The tears rolled
down her cheeks, and she did not try
to wipe them away. Her fingers dug
into the grass on either side.
Poor old letter." he said pltyingly
How did you escape the 1ames?'
Then he heard a sob from Ethel. He
turned. He saw the tears, and mental
ly he called himself a cad. He had
never seen El0el CRY before.
Ethel" he said, I'm a brute, but
don't mean to be. l came out here tc
tell you that | love you better thar
eve and to own up that was wrong
and 10 ask you to take me back to you
favor. Ethel" he had her in his arms
now. Ethel, dear, you do love me
don't you?"
Take it out on Tim, dear, for it was
his fault. He brought the letter and
dropped 1t at my feet. And then
knew that you had been doing just
what I've done nearly every night fol
a year, reading over the old letters
Ethel, aren't you glad-a little-that
Tim found the letter."
And Ethel's answer, though muf1ed
seemed to satisfy him. They went
slowly home.
There is more catarrh IN this sec
tion of the country. than all diseases
put together, and until the last few