Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1905-07-13

may never meet again.
Slowly she puts forth her hand and
lays it in his.
He holds it, presses it with con-
yulsve grasp, his face white and
haggard, and with an irresistible i'm
pulse raises it to his lips; but with a
shuider she draws it from him. and
covering her face with it, turns away.
He stands a moment looking at her,
as a man might look who sees the
one great good Of his life fading from
his sight; then, with gesture of in
finite grief and despair, he springs in
to the saddle and rides away.
May does not break into a passion of
tears.
She hears the sound of his horses
boots growing less distinct each mo-
ment-knows that she has let him go
when a word might have held him;
knows that he has said is last farewell,
and that by her silence she has re-
linQushed him to her rival-but she
cannot weep.
She simply leans upon the gate and
looks at the stars twinkling family in
the sky, and listens with a benumbed
sense of some swiftly-vanished delight
to the nightingale that pours out its
plaiGtive song above her head. How
long she stands communing with the
echo Of the fierce, despairing voice,
calling up the memory of his pale, hag-
gard face, she knows not.
A step BEND her arouses her;
voice says at her side:
is that you, Miss Dalton?"
She turns with faint smile-it is
Graham Gordon. the vicar.
II wondered whom it could be-" he
says, and his voice betrays his pleas
ure at the recognition. What are
you doing-star-gaz
Yes" she says, with a smile of self
mGckery. Il am stargazing!"
And she thinks OF the star that has
fallen from her view forever,
Something in he voice strikes upon
his ear, that has grown sensitive to
her every tone.
1T is rather late" he says, looking
at her anXiously. ut does not do to
trust these spring evenings too i'm
plicitly You should have a wrap
about your throat"
Il do not feel cold" she says; but a
faint little shudder passes through
CT. Is it late? | promised to
meet Carrie in the Manor Field--she
has gone up to te Hall"
met her scampering up the vii
lage half an hour ago." he says. She
said she had missed YOU"
Half an hour ago." she echoes
can they have been talking half an
hour!-"I did not know it was so late
-I-have been thinking"
He looks down at her as she walks
at his side
Thinking" he says, in u low voice.
Sometimes | have an iLea---you will
not be offended?"
She looks up at him. striving to col
lec her thoughts, and give him her
offended! No, why should | be-"
II don't know | am always fear
full that | may offend you. was go
ing to say that | am afraid you think
too much"
she smiles
One cannot help ones thoughts"
she says. slowly
But you should not give way 10
them" he responded. Sometimes when
| am looking at YOU | fancy that-that
your thoughts are not too happy. Is
that SOP"
His voice drops almost to a muir
mm as he looks at her. and his eyes
seek hers with a tender usefulness
May laughs, not bitterly, but YEARLY
One cannot direct ones thoughts"
she says IF ore could" And she
stops.
He does not press her to fill up the
pause. hut he touches her arm in a
reverential fashion.
"Wili YOU put your handkerchief
around yonr neok?" he says. 1T is
coloer than you think"
Sne laughs, put she oheyS him.
You would almost make me believe
that | am delicate" she says, where.
as am quite ridlculously strong"
Are you?" he questions. q am not
quite so sure of that; have seen YOU
look anything but strong at times"
ooh, YOU arc quite wrong" she re-
torts. 1T is Carrie who is delicate, II
either of us; have to take care of
her. lied she a shawl on when you
met herr"
He mods with a smile.
fes. Your shawl; l recognized it In
a moment"
Another woman would have noticed
the significance of the little admission,
hut May smiles innocently and blindly.
They pass out of the lane and under
the shadow of some trees, and May
stumbles slightly in the sudden dark
ness.
viii YOU take my ARM" he says;
and he takes her hand and draws it to
his side
How soon the twilight fades " she