The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1906-06-28

love as he is with Rose 10 bc regular IN
his attention to his girl friends. And
no one could help loving a beauty like
Rose. She's good too
Elsie greeted John MS II she had seen
him yesterday and soothed his evident
ly oyerwrought mood with gentle,
half laughing tact He was tall and
blond, with fine blue eyes which to-
night were clouded, and his face was
n little cureworn. Sometimes he gave
random answers as II he had not heard
what she said. After "A half uneasy
hour of the March twilight he turned
10 her in awkward masculine gratitude
for her patience with him.
ELSIE, am | keeping you inf ! have
not thought TO ask II you were going
anywhere" She smiled and bethought
herself tilat innction was not good Ia
his present mood.
81 was going for n walk and can go
as well another time. 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 90 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 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 ut 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
h. ,...innoI ha. an "a i---.- -ss'
that he was walking Mt Il pace That
would have put less healthy girl than
Elsie utterly out Of breath
IL was raw night, with a sharp
wind. The moon was high and cold,
and the sky was streaked with hying
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 ST.
lent mood and swung gladly beside
him. At length they reached the boat
house and a great pile of rough logs
in a sheltered corner John stopped
here and proposed resting.
ELSIE" he said, 81 must have tired
you all out. ! am selfish brute 10
drag YOU about like this. was trying
to get away from myself by reminding
myself what n stanch friend you have
always been. ! had not intended 10
tell you my troubles, but ! thlnk
must II you will let me"
.'Tell me about IT," she replied In the
matter of fact comrades way that
made condolences easy.
"All right, but you must not Try 10
help me. No one can do that. SID
ply need the relief OF words before
settle down TO forgetting ms fast as
can"
He hesItated A man finds 1t hard
to confde.
ia II about RoseY" She tried TO
make II easier for him.
"ElsIe. | loved her almost from the
minute I saw her. Everybody must
know IT, for | didn't hide my prefer
ence, and when | want anything under
the sun II is my way 10 do my best TO
get II. wanted her. Soon | made
her nv friend and then-well, ] thought
she loved me, though we had not spo'
ken OF II IN words. About n month ago
I wrote and asked her 10 marry me,
told her everything a man tells the glrl
he loves asked her TO send me a
note in answer and added that should
interpret her failure TO do so ny re-
fusal. though | was overconnden'
enough not to dream OF such thlng.
lie looked on across the river and
frummed his heels against the logs,
"EIsie." he went on, "she did not send
me n word, Not one word And that
very night she was heartless enough td
]
concert where we were and seemed tc
think | would see her home the same
as eyerl Then the next time we met
she did not even speak
"Are you sure she received itr'
ayes. sent II by my brother, and
he nut Il into her own hand. He did
not wait for an answer. She c0uld
have sent that anyway. Wei, hen
went away few weeks. ] could no'
stand II here, and now that am back
II IN worse than ever. despise myself
. for caring, but hate Norman Cady foi
. being near her. though, II ] told you
, perhaps Just putting II Into word
would wear on some of my anger hnt
helm me forget her. Elsie, be good 4
me and heip me forget her WIN your
! The girl touched his arm with hc
Z hand.
. you should 20 10 ber and have
/. out IN words. There may be some MI
p take"
a ''Th,re i 40 mistake. She was sin
ply playing with me. Elsie, you wei
always NY comnde, he 80 now 10 TIN
OF need" Esie laughed. but II hui
y her q little
n "yery well. John. come 10 me whei
/" ever you want 10. We viii talk 40
ir walk aud you shall try 70 forget
J. VIII moi fail you.
March WAS gone aud April had ha
tcr last day of grace II WIS the eyei
ing before May day. Elsie, bapi
j. hearted. was waiting on the poreb
:, the twilight John WAS 10 come No
be nsariy always came. They wei