Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1907-04-02
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
CHAPTER XXII.-(Contilued.)
When we left the house the stars were

Look look 20 cried Psyche, lifting
Ethel's hand in delight; 'see, she wears
dew-drops on her fngersr'
At a word from her father Ethel took
the diamond ring off and slipped it on
Psyche's finger.
Its a dew-drop that doesn't fade, and
tkat you can keep forever" said she,
land you shall wear it always, dear, for
my sake"
As Psyche sat by my side in the night
she held up the ring and looked at the
giancing rays wistfully.
Brother" she said. "it does not look
so lovely on Tay hand as it did on hers.
My fingers are not SC smooth and white
as hers"
Working N the sand has spoiled them.
That's all over now
yes, we shall work side By side no
more"
Presently she looked at the ring again.
'0h, it was kind of her to give it to
me-" she said, pressing the ring to her
cheek. "She is all kind and good and
sweet and beautiful You don't know any
one in all the world more beautiful and
good, do you?"
w. IsytHe.
II don't think that there ever will be
one like her. she said in a quiet tone
of conviction.
why, l thought you were going to
be like her." / said lightly hoping to
change the vein of sadness in which her
thoughts seemed to be running. But the
pleasantly was unperceived.
"No," said she, shaking her head grave
~, Il can never be like her. I was silly
and vain to think that. l know better
now. | could never learn all those words,
never sing as she does, for she has been
learning since she was little child-all
the time | have been living in the dark.
shall never be anything but a silent
little creature CT the garden" her voice
trembled. Talk to me, dear-just a lit
tie more, and let me listen as l did in
the cave when you first came to me and
knew nothing. Oh, il was good to know
nothing then; il is dreadful to know so
little now. Ny heart is very full. I can
not speak"
My heart was full also. but / managed
to speak cheeTfully, as l reasoned with
her, showing that our happiness did not
depend upon our excelling all others, or
there could be but one happy person in
the whole world; that no two persons are
alike, but each has some excellence which
the other may lack without being less low
able: and other reasons of like kind.
Whether she followed my argument or
understood it / cannot tell. Perhaps it
was oIly the sound Of my voice she heard
while her thoughts were occupied with
pleasant memories. But she seemed COM
fcrted, now and again smoothing my
shoulder gently with her cheek as she did
when she was happy
l thought | might take advantage of
this mood to prepare her for the coming
change, so l spoke of our visit to the
Chase, and the things we had seen. 1t
pleased her to talk about the green
houses and the gorgeous flowers in them.
But it was so stranger she said, in a
tone of awe.
1t will seem less strange and more
beautiful when you know them better"
Are you going there again?" she ask
ed shyly.
I'VE are going to dine there tomorrow
evening. You will like to go?"
Wherever you go must like to CO."
"You don't dislike Sir Henry?'
I'm glad of that. Do you know he
wants you to live with him always?"
"Why, | couldn't do that :" she exclaim-
ed, laughing. Then, seeing me grave,
her smile went suddenly, and she said,
with an accent of CONSERVATION, You
don't want me to go away from you-you
will not make me go to him.
III not make you do anything, Psyche
that hurts you. You shall live with me
as long as you WILL
"Oh, my brother ~ she excl timed, clasp.
ing my arm to her breast.
Presently l said:
Would You like TO have Ethel always
for a companion and friend?'
II do not understand that. l cannot
live always with her and with you, too.
Not while we live asunder as we do
But if l ask Ethel to live with us and
she says yes?"
"She will never say yes" Psyche said
confidently. Never, never, never %
l laughed, and asked how she could
tell that.
II can tell it by what l feel" she an
swered. When she looks at you anC
you look at hes-when you speak low to
gether, as you did tonight, | could cry
with the pain in my heart Then how
could she bear to see US sitting as we si
now, whispering to each other through r.,
night with no thought for any other? No
no-she could not do that. 1t would b.
too much pain. More than she could
bear. She would rather live alone thar
see that you are my brother ard MOI
hers"
How could tell her that loved Ethe
more than loved her? rose, putin.
of little longer the evil hour.
Psyche rarely came down from hel
room before sunset; we were to dine a
o'clock; but Sir Henry had asked m
10 come in the afternoon as was bid
ding Ethel goodnight, and the mutua
pressure of our hands conveyed the feel
ing with which we looked forward to tina
meeting better than my faltering tongu
expressed.
l went up TO the house at four. an,
after some general conversation, Sir Hen
~ excused himself and went into the Ii
brary, leaving Ethel and me to ourselves
We strolled in the shade of the pin
wood, and there l asked Ethel to be m,
wife, and she came into my arms and
held her there. obfivious of everything
but the GROWING happiness of my life,
why are YOU crying. loyeF' asked
She raised her head nom my breas
and showed me face radiant with hap
piuess.
why should l cry?" she asked.
I was perplsxed. could have swori
that as murmured my love over he
bent head, kissing the waving hair,
heard smothcred sob.
1t was getting dark when we saw 81
Henry in the drive.
II am going over to fetch Psyche-m
other child" he said. gave him the Ike
to the door, content 10 stay with my Low,
Ten minutes. perhaps, had gone b
when SIR Henry appeared again in th