Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1906-03-09

of us to keep silence any longer"
But still he found a difficulty in pro-
ceedine. May / ask you IA question!
he blurted forth at last.
/ nodded, smiling. He bent so low over
me that his breath stirred my hair and
tickled the back of my neck.
"How-how would you define our--our
relations ?" he said, huskily.
Our relations % | repeated.
Eyes" said he "In what relation
would you say we stood to one another
now?"
II don't know what you mean,' said /,
laughing nervously. "What does 1T mat
| ter? Why?"
He lowered his voice to an irritating
drone. HAS it never struck you that l
stand in a somewhat ambiguous posi-
tion?" he said
| looked at him in frank amazement.
Look here" he said with an air OF
real desperation, don't you think 1t
would be better for us both if | did not
call here any more 2"
"Of course said /. with creditable
hauteur, IF you don't wish to come
But do" he protested.
sThen why talk of not calling any
more - said /.
Can't you see" he said, with help
| less gesture of the hands, "that--that
misconceptions may arise?'
Misconceptions" l repeated, in gen
uine perplexity now.
Yes" he nodded eagerly. "1ou see,
we have been good deal together, you
and ]. Such familiar intercourse be-
tween man and a woman as we have
enjoyed is apt to prove fatal to the peace
| of mind of one-at least-of the parties
concerned"
| Then, indeed / perceived the whole
mean, pitiful vanity of the creature. He
actually thought that was in love with
him. Any spark of conjunction died i'll
| that instant. l felt i could be quite
merciless
II understand-now," l interposed
quickly and can't say how sorry [ am.
Il didn't think. [ have been foolish
blind! I liked you, you see. 1t
has been entirely my fault. | feel that
now absolutely"
mo, no, it was my fault" he cried,
taking my bait ravenously. Il should
have etfaced myself sooner"
raised my melting eyes to his. Il am
gIad-so glad!-you didn't" said l. Il
should have missed many joyous hours if
YOU had Please don't think me heart
less. Pleasant memories are so precious.
| shall always remember our friendship
kindly, for the sake of those hours"
And [ choked back most artistic sob.
"You forgive me, them" he breathed,
catching at my hand and missing it.
/ lifted my head sharply, as if bewil-
dered. Forgive you!" | cried. What
have l to forgiven"
"You are too generous he murmured.
You overpower me!'
Il am deeply sorry" I quavered, "if
[ have caused you pain. TO forgive you
for loving me would be too absurd What
higher honor could you pay me?"
Believe me, / did love you sincerely"
he said. Il cannot help it if have
changed No man is master of his own
heart l."
[ was very effectively amazed, do
you mean," | explained, that you--you
don't care now?"
understood me- That is what l have
been trying to say
hope | looked like Bernhardt as [ re-
piled slowly: Il did not understand
that"
L
painted satin | believe that he was be-
ginning to wonder if, after all, he had
gagged me quite accurately. l knew that
his mind was fumbling helplessly after a
solution of the enigma l presented to him.
When my silence had lasted for what
must have seemed to him an intolerable
while, he spoke again, doubtfully.
II knew you would forgive me-" he
sighed
Then l sprang up, raising radiant eyes
to meet his gaze.
Il am glad!" [ almost shouted. ooh,
you can't tell how glad 1 am!''
"Glad!" he stammered, foolishly.
| casped my hands Il have been
dreading so frightfully to see you," |
said. Il have been miserable in anticipa-
ton of this moment. Think what a
care, after ALL
Then l saw dull anger stirring slug
gishly within him.
Don't you care, either, them" he de-
manded, sullenly.
"Of course not" | cried, in rapture.
II can say that now without fear of
hurting you. Perhaps | did care--a lit
tle--once. Before | met Mr.. Cosnett."
lie SCOW ieu dU me. L GU almost gave
me to understand" he said, frowning
But | interrupted him. "And we were
both mistaken all the time!" / cried
"Oh, what a good job it is-isn't it p
that it doesn't matter a bit, after ALL
And we can still be friends. And you
can congratulate me"
| paused. He had kicked hassock
out of the way and was mumbling unin-
telligibly to himself.
Come" / said, you should be glad,
too"
Il am he answered "Of course
am. Still, | didn't think you were the
sort of girl"
'Fie!' said 1 with provoking playful
ness. I'm our peculiar case reproaches
are surely sword blades without handles
All you can say of me I can say of you,