The Press., 1906-10-17
A MARCH
MISTAKE

COPYRIGHT, loO8. by NJ. M. Cunningham

you 0OWnSI01rS.
Elsie looked up to see her mother in
the door and dropped the warm cloak
she was about to put on. She was q
quiet. gentle girl so unassuming that
her dark prettiness was more unno-
ticed than 1t deserved to be. 1t had
been long since John had come to see
her In the old friendly fashion Of the
time before Rose Isle 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. He has just come home. II
quarrel with Rose Is all that sends him
to you, 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. I shall always be the same to him.
You can't expect man SO deeply In
love as he is with Rose to be regular in
his attention to his girl friends. And
no one could help loving beauty like
Rose. She's good too"
Elsie greeted John as II she had seen
him yesterday and sOothed his evident
IL 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 1 keeping you in? l have
not thought to ask If you were going
anywhere" She smiled and bethought
herself that inaction was not good In
his present mood.
81 was going for a walk and can go
as we'll another time. was going
quite by myself. You know, am new
er afraid"
mo, 1 never knew you to be afraid
from the time we were children at
school until now. l have always liked
you for that. But would you mind let
ting me go with you for the walk
We used to like pushing the wind to-
Rether Shall we goT'
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 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 it hurt and
that he was walking at pace that
would have put less healthy girl than
Elsie utterly out of breath.
1t was a 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 I'M
willing to disturb her companions 81
lent mood and swung gladly beside
him. At length they reached the boat
house and great pile Of rough logs
In a sheltered corner. John stopped
here and proposed resting.
elsie" he said, az must have tire6
you all out. 1 am a selfish brute tt
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 tt
tell you my troubles, but I think
must If you will let me-"
j 0hn Hh6
matter Of fact comrades way tina
made condolences easy.
} "All right, but you must not try II
, help me. No one can do that. sim
: ply need the relief Of words before
settle down to forgetting az fast as
can"
He hesitated. A man ands 1t hare
to confide.
] ''Is 1t about Rosef' She tried t
make it easier for him.
"Elsie, I loved her almost from tn
minute saw her. Everybody mus
know 1t, for didn't hide my prefer
ence, and when want anything unde
the sun 1t Is my way to do my best t
get it. wanted her. Soon mad
her my friend and then-well. though
she loved me, though we had not spc
ken Of It in words. About month ag
I wrote and asked her to marry me.
told her everything man tells the gin
he loves. / asked her to send me
note In answer and added that shout
interpret her failure to do so as re
fusal. though was overconfden
enough not to dream Of such thing.
He looked OF across the river an
drummed his heels against the logs.
"EIsie," he went ON, "she did not sen
me q word! Not one word! And tina
very night she was heartless enough
smile and nod and blush at me at
concert where we were and seemed
think would see her home the sam
as ever! Then the next time we me
she did not even speak,"
"Are you sure she received ttT'
Eyes. sent It by my brother, an
he put It into her own hand. He di
not wait for an answer. She coul
have sent that anyway. Well, then
went away a few weeks. could nc
stand It here, and now that am bac
It Is worse than ever. despise myse
for caring, but hate Norman Cady fo
- being near her. thought II told yol
perhaps Just putting 1t into word
would wear on some Of my anger an
help me forget her. Elsie, be good
me and help me forget her. VIII you 2
The girl touched his arm with b.
aand.
you should go to her and have
aut In words. There may be some mi
lake"
There Is no mistake. She was sir
ply playing with me. Elsie, you we
10 always my comrade, be SO now In tin
\. Of need" Elsie laughed, but 1t hu
her a little.
=. Every well. John, come to me whe
ever you want to. We will talk ar
walk and you shall try to forget.
!. will not fail you"