Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1906-07-26

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Elsie, John Fielding is waiting for
you downstairs"
Elsie looked up to see her mother il
the door and dropped the warm cloak
she was about to put on. She was a
quiet, gentle girl, SO unassuming that
her dark prettiness 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
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 a
month. He has just come home If
quarrel with Rose is all that sends him
TO you, l should think that Elsie
wheeled impatiently.
Mother, John and | have always
been good friends, and shall not ques-
ton any motive that brings him to see
me / shall always be the same to him.
You can't expect man SO deeply in
love as lie is with Rose to be regular in
his attention to his girl friends And
no one could help loving beauty Ike
Rose. She's good too"
Elsie greeted John as if she had seen
him yesterday and soothed his evident
" overwrought mood with a gentle,
half laughing tact. He was tall and
blond, with fine blue eyes which to-
night were clouded, and his face was
a little careworn. Sometimes he gave
random answers as if he had not heard
what she said. After a half uneasy
hour Of the March twilight he turned
to her in awkward masculine gratitude
for her patience with him.
elsie, am / keeping you in? have
not thought to ask if you were going
anywhere" She smiled and bethought
herself that inaction was not good in
his present mood.
II was going for Il walk and can go
as well another time. l was going
quite by myself You know, am new
er afraid"
''No, / never knew you to be afraid
from the time we were children at
school until now. / have always liked
you for that But would you mind let
ting me go with you for the walkf
We used to like pushing the wind to-
gether. Shall we go?"
Elsie put On her cloak and little red
cap, and the two young people started
away.
Rose lived not far from them, and AZ
they passed the house both could not
avoid what they saw. From the broad
front windows the light streamed
brightly Tho shades were not drawn.
Bo sat at the piano. and over her in
rapt attention stood Norman Cady.
John almost dragged Elsie past, though
he said nothing He did not know that
he gripped her arm till 1t hurt and
that he was walking ut a pace that
would have put a less healthy girl than
Elsie utterly out Of breath.
1t was d raw Night, with 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 un-
willing to disturb her companions 81
lent mood and swung gladly beside
him. At length they reached tho boat
house and a great pilo OF rough logs
In sheltered corner John stopped
here and proposed resting.
Elsie" he said, 81 must have tired
you all out. / am a selfish brute to
drag you about like this. was trying
TO get away from myself by reminding
myself what a stanch friend you have
always been. / had not intended to
tell you my troubles, but | think I
must If you will let me"
"rell me about II" she replied In the
matter Of fact comrades way that
made condolences easy.
"All right, but ysl must not try to
help me. No one can 10 that. 1 sim
ply need the relief Of words before |
settle down to forgetting as fast as !
can"
He hesitated. \ man finds 1t hard
10 confide.
"ls It about RoseY' She tried TO
make It easier for him.
"Elsie, loved her almost from the
minute / saw her. Everybody must
know IT, for ! didn't hide my prefer
cnce, and when want anything under
the sun IL is my way 10 do my best TO
get II. | wanted her. Soon / made
her my friend and thcn-well, / thought
she loved me, though we had not spo.
ken OF IL In words. About Il month ago
/ wrote and asked her TO marry me. /
told her everything n man tells the girl
be loves. / asked her TO send me n
note IN answer and added that should
Interpret her failure 10 do 80 as II re-
fusal, though ! was ovcrconfident
enough not 10 dream Of such q thing"
He looked Off across the river and
drummed his heels against the logs.
"Elsle." he went on, "shc did not send
me word! Not one word! And that
very night she was heartlcss enough TO
smile and nod and blush at me at IL
concert where we were and seemed to
think | would see her home the same
as everl Then the next time we met
she did not even spcakw
"Arc you sure she received III"
"Ycs. | sent IT by my brother, ana
Se put II lnta her own hand. He did
not wait for an answer. She could
have sent that anyway. Well. then l
went away few weeks. could not
stand IL here, and now that am back
II is worse than ever. despisc myself
for caring, but | hate Norman Cady for
being near her. thought IL l told you,
perhapa just putting II into words
would wear Off some OF my anger and
help mo forget her. Elsie. be good TO
me and help me forget her. VIII your
Tho girl touched his arm with her
hand.
you should go 10 her and have Il
out In words. There may be gone mis-
take"
There 10 no mistake. She was sim
ply playing with me- Elsie, you were
always my comradc, bc 80 now IN time
or need" Elsie laughed. but II hurt
her little.
VERY well, John, come 10 me when
ever you want to- We will talk and
walk and you shall try TO forget.
will not fail you"
March was gone and April had had
her last day Of grace. IL was the even
ing before May day. Elsie, happy
hearted was waiting Oh the porch Ia
the twilight John was 10 come Now