Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1906-06-28


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'.sie, John Fielding is waiting for
.u downstairs
elsie looked up to see her mother in
,he door and dropped the warm cloak
.hr was about to put ON. She was a
,tliei, gentle girl, So uuassuming that
her dark prettiuess was more unno-
ticed than it deserved to be. 1t had
been long since John had come to see
her IN the old friendly fashion Of the
time before Rose Lisle moved to their
town. The girl gave another touch to
her smooth hair. Her mother stood
watching her and then remarked:
Mrs. Dent told me today that John
and Rose have been out for over
month lie has just come home. If
quarrel wl,h Rose is all that sends him
TO you, | should think that Elsie
wheeled impatiently.
Mother, John ana l have always
been good friends, and | shall not ques-
tion any motive that brings him to see
me. | shall always be the same to him.
You can't expect man 50 deeply in
love as hc is with Lose to be regular in
his attention To his girl friends. And
no one cou.a help loving beauty like
Rose. Shes good too
Elsie greeted John as if She had seen
linn yesterday and soothed his evident
" oyerwrOught mood with Il gentle,
half laughing tact. lie was tall and
blond. with fine blue eyes which to-
night were clouded, and his face was
a little carcworn. Sometimes he gave
random answers as if he had not heard
what She said. After n half uneasy
hour Of the March twilight he turned
a. her in awkward masculine gratitude
tor her patience with him.
Elsie, am l keeping you in? | have
not thought to ask if you were going
anywhere" She smiled and bethought
u.rsclf that inaction was not good in
bis present mood.
Il VAS going for 4 walk and can go
as Hell another time. | was going
s.u.- " myself You know, am new
yr afraid"
NO. | never knew you to be afraid
..Om tie time we We're children at
school until now. | have always liked
YOU for that But would you mind let
ting lie 20 with you for the walk?
We used 10 li.c pushing the wind to-
getuyr. Snail we go:"
Elsie put on her cloak and little red
cap. ana the two young people started
away.
Rose lived not far from them, and as
they passed the house both could not
avoid what they saw. From the broad
front windows the light streamed
brightly. The shades were not drawn.
Rose sat at the piano, and over her III
rapt attention stood Norman Cady.
John almost dragged Elsie past, though
he said nothing He did not know that
he gripped her arm till it hurt and
that hc was walking at pace that
would have put less healthy girl than
Elsie utterly out of breath.
1t was a raw night, with a sharp
wind. The moon was high and cold,
and the sky was streaked with flying
clouds The road was good, and they
walked on and on, out of the town and
along the river road. The girl was I'M
willing to disturb her companions 81
lent mood and swung gladly beside
him At length they reached the boat
house ana Il great pile Of rough logs
in sheltered corner. John stopped
here and proposed resting.
Elsie" lie said, Il must have tired
you all out | am Il selfish brute to
drag YOU about like this | was trying
to get away from myself by reminding
myself what Il stunch friend you have
always been | had not intended to
tell you my troubles, but l think |
must If you will let me"
Tell me about it," she replied ia the
matter of fact comrades way that
made condolences easy.
"All right, but you must not try to
help me. No one can do that. | sim
ply need the relief of words before l
settle down to forgetting as fast as |
can"
lie hesitated \ man finds it hard
to confde.
rs 1t about Rosc:" She tried to
make ii easier for him.
Elsie, | loved her almost from the
minute | saw her Everybody must
know it, for l didn't hide ny prefer
ence, and when want anything under
the sun it Is my way 10 do - h'st 10
get it. | wanted her. soon | mt!"
her my friend and thcn-well, ! thou- i,
she loved ne. though we h.} not s-'p-
ken Of it In words About month ago
| wrote and asked her 10 marry ne, |
told her everything Il man tells the girl
he loves. | asked her to send me Il
note in answer and added that should
Interpret her failure to do 50 as re
fusal. though | was overconiident
enough not to dream of such thing.
lie looked off across the river ana
drummcd his heels against the logs