The Rice belt journal. (Welsh, Calcasieu Parish, La.) 1900-19??, 1906-06-08

smiled bravely on.
"Ob, he's a bad bhoy entirely anu
It's the truth I'm telling you. foi
hasn't ne gone and forgotten his oulu
friends. while he's afther courtln the
maid he loves?"
Once she met him in the street ~
was a miserable foggy evening anu
she was coming home from an uhsuc-
cessful visit to an editorial saHctuh'
you've no business to be out IN thl'
fog alone" he said, brusquely
Il am on my way home she Sa'D
coldly.
He said nothing. She rememDere3
that he was always more prone 10 a''
than TO talk. Anyway the next mo-
ment she found herself in caD' WIFI
him beside her.
When he spoke his voice was harSh'
What have you been dong 10 !ou''
self?" he said.
"N.nothing."
81 suppose you are overworking ana
undertaking. It's absurd. You're
tired to death
"My things-haven't had much luck
lately" she said.
"All editors are fools" the energy
Of his tones brought an odd sense OF
comfort to her.
sometimes it's the contributors
y she said. with little laugh,
I Not in your case with firm conVic'
u ton
: I'D bow, only it's so dark.
d She talked on gayly, and then SUD
II denly they were almost there she
g, gave a little breathles gasp: Mars
ton. why haven't you been to see me-
Why didn't he answer? Oh, why
had she said it? Yet it didn't seem
e. much to do for old friendships sake.
h a couldn't" he said, quietly,
it The unhealthy close weather hau
changed, there was frost in the morn
ings now.
o. "It is bitterly cold out, Mind you
to mt YOUR thick things on" said Marian
ny one morning as she hurried away
II Soon after Sheila slipped into ne
er thick coat obediently. Marston hat
re once approved of it; he had saia TIT
on manliness of 1t on her was delightful.
I'd She put her hand absently into on
on Of the pockets. and drew out an enVe
IT? lone. Looking down at it the Dream
ry- ness in her eyes slowly gave plac
70 bewildered wonder. 1t was az
ou. dressed in her own writing to Marslo
ny. Hughes. .... ,....
- Slowly with cold fingers that tren
!. bled and fumbled aggravatingly' 81
nm opened the envelope and took out u
sheet of paper inside.
q Dear Marston," she read "how, do'
,ent a young man propose at all!
" Suddenly she gave little strange
do sort Of cry-a sob and laugh mlnsi'
This in It. She sat down suddenly on u
=. nearest chair; she trembled so tn
y the sheet of note-paper shook IN II
hand Then with a rush the JOY al
80. color came back to her face; she 70
: 80 unsteadily and, going across TO Il
writing.table. she unlocked a draw
,,or and taking from it a piece OF no
sia naper scrawled over with thick smud
aao writing. went back to her chair a
vour read it through sEa
r in 1ts htie, sic r. 9
,nt,, all mine" She gave little happy S
laugh and, leaning back, rested
~ cheek against the paper.
. Then she dashed off an incoher
:, a, note: ~,
II oil az want to see you at once. Or
81 am so sorry. Please come, Marsto
'Ne'' do come at once.
d see He came about half-past three
~--~ .-~'You wanted to see me-" he salt
IN The cold courtesy of his tone ora
tber.. When she answered her VI
n the was as steady as his. SlNH y
81 want to explain something
said. ,..r.s s-g Eu..sE FE.#
eC oh Eyes,"
lhe There was pause.
the I-you see-the editor OF
forse' Crescent'-he-he-I mean | sen
ice ne Mt, short story to him and he liked It,
alter" 'Nu 10 so;d-,'
Ia III She stopped and drew deep Or
- He said-my hero's love-makl
one was not real-and-and-specia
u rain the-the letter he wrote-proposl9
- Across the silence this tim1(
e said. o,,t .b,rtn,v ~.
1 ,HE1 1 81 hope:I helped you there'E'
ue s., w Suddenly her fOrtitude gaset
ui n, A despairing little cry broke l E,,
al ''i. T an r"ob Marston. you're mai -
=, !. 80 -, hard for me! - '''''
inc nau He was beside her in M
I - took her hands in bis.
pr pfoa'pp ! I'm Sorry he said
{ "come and sit down =,
5 , MAJ 10 settled her gent