The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1905-02-01

What do you mean by sitting on the
very edge OF place like that" Jack
questioned angrily. Suppose the bank
crumbledI"
She looked ut him, wtstfully Mt first,
and then her glance turned wrathfu MS
she saw nothing but anger in his face.
II was all right until you came and
frightened me-"
Il whistlcd to let you know | was
coming and you answered." he retort-
ed
Il 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. Il fol
lowed you because l wanted to talk 10
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 nj her feet and searched plot
of clover for lucky omen She took
Off her white duck hat and let the wind
rutlle her thick, fair hair He looked
up Mt her meditatIvely.
You have more freckles this year
than you had last" he announced.
Yes" she agreed, and 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 course did" But her heart beat
furiously as she thought of the night
before
Il supposed you had" he said. Il
only wanted to make sure" lie 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 We're rather twaddly," she nd
mitted; Eat least the ones | had. But
they're burned"
Again he felt in his pocket. She saw
the gesture and mlslnterpreted IT,
Light it If you like" she said
Light it? All, yes" said he, drawing
the pipe from quite another pocket.
She watched him fill 1t, frowning lit
tie Mt the tobacco pouch. which WIS
one she had given him. lie leaned over
to strike Il match.
Your bald spot IS certainly much
larger than it was last year" she re-
marked critically.
"IIow observing you are9' he drawled
| Then he turned suddenly.
"Will you love me when I'm bald?"
he sang
"As much as | do now" she an.
swered meaningly.
Not as much rs you did last nlght?"
he queried
Last night" she echoed, the blood
rising to her face. What ARE you talk
ing about lie turned again and took
II letter from his coat pocket holding
IL up where she could see the address
in his writing, Miss Ethel Hcrrlot."
Her heart beat wildly The envelope
was Worn and old looking. lie drew
out the sheets of thin paper. There
were blisters - fresh bisters = upon
them.
Ethel sat paralyzed. The tears rollet
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 pitylngly
How did you escape the danes p
Then he heard sob from Ethel lie
turned. He saw the tears, and mental
ly he called himself cad. He had
never seen Ethel cry before.
Ethel" lie said, I'm brute, but l
don't mean to be. | came out here to
tell you that | love you better than
ever and to own up TINT | was wrong
and 10 ask you to take me back to your
favor Ethel" he had her in his arms
now, ethel, dear, you do love me,
don't your
Take 1t out on Tlm dear, for 1t was
his fault. He brought the letter and
dropped 1t nt my feet And then |
knew that you had been doing just
what I've done nearly every night for
year. reading over the old letters
Ethel, aren't you glad-a lttlc-that
Tim found the letter."
And Ethe's answer, though mufied,
seemed TO satisfy him. They went
slowly home