The Brandon news. (Brandon, Miss.) 1892-1961, 1907-05-02


achieve it was wild and impossible.
= c. =
I The drawing room Of No. 10 Bev-
ington Gardens, the Bayswater board
Ing house in which Mabel Greenwood
lived, was typical of the other draw
Ing rooms Of the street. 1t was
large room. A grand piano, lucky
bargain, picked up at sale, gave an
air OF luxury. 1t also helped a few
inexpensive rugs in their task of con-
cealing the .shabbiness of the carpet.
Several low wicker shairs and two
standard lamps with large red shades
contributed their requisite touches
to the carefully studied atmosphere
Of the room. The whole was, from
the point of view of Bevington Gar
dens, decidedly successful.
In this room, at IL o'clock on Z
morning in the last week of April,
Mabel Greenwood was sitting waiting
1t was IL o'clock, and at IL O'Clock
Cayley had said in the short letter
she had received by that mornings
post that he would CALL She had no
doubt why he was coming. Neither
had she any doubt about the deter
m1nation in her own mind.
During the last week, which had
succeeded that night Of bitter strug-
gle, during which she had realized
the strength of her love for Cayley
and had at the same time bowed to
its impossibility, she had found no
employment which she could accept.
Now that the week had passed, the
time had come when she would have
to take any offer of honest work that
was made to her. Before her lay
prospect of drudgery for bare liv-
ing. At the end of the week she was
leaving No. 10 Bennington Bardens.
For five years she had lived just
within her means, had made the most
OF life. She had learned enough to
appreciate to the full the bitterness
Of all that she would soon begin to
experience.
During the week that was past her
pleasant friendship with Cayley had
not been broken off. They had spent
several evenings together. He would
soon be going down to Hampshire, he
had urged, and she had permitted
herself a dangerous dalliance in the
paths of Joy. She was going to be
asked to live in those paths forever.
But she would refuse.
When he came into the room she
greeted him with the frank pleasure
Of friendship. But his living pres
ence was difficult to meet, and she
almost trembled.
you are going down to Hampshire
suddenly" she asked. THAT is why
you wrote asking me to be in this
morning?"
AS soon as she had spoken she saw
her mistake. She saw the surprise
in his face.
Would have asked you to leave
your work merely for that?" he said.
For a moment he paused, for a
moment she hesitated, wondering
what reason she could give for hav-
ing concealed her dismissal from
Blackley's from him. Then he spoke
with sudden directness.
I will be plain" he said. ST have
come this morning to ask you to be
my wife. I am not speaking without
thought. Mabel; will you accept my
offer. will you give me something
more than friendship? Will you give
me lover"
He spoke earnestly and it was easy
to see that his love was real.
But, even as he spoke, he saw be-
fore him, instead of the radiant, hap
py girl he had known. girl in whom
the fire Of life seemed to have died.
Archie, she said, there is long
distance - isn't there? - between
friendship and love. We have been
good friends. Don't ask anything
more from me. Oh, don't take it like
that, Archie. You will see afterward
that it is best
His face had grown suddenly old.
You say we have been good
friends" he said. Surely, some
times, In your thoughts, we have been
something more. Come here into
the light. where can see your face,
anu swear TO me LnaC you nave never
thought Of me as anything more than
q friend. Then will co."
In his voice there was doubt. He
caught her hand and sought to lead
her to the window. But she broke
away from him.
Sit down" she said, II have some
thing to tell you.
She sat down in one OF the low
wicker chairs. He remained stand
ing in the window. Speaking quick
". in short, disjointed sentences, she
told Of her dismissal from Blackley's,
Of her poverty, which she had con-
cealed from him because she feared
that he might think she sought his
help. because she could not tolerate
the thought of such help. She told
him the bare truth.
He heard her out. Then he came
and set down in the chair at her
side.
Mabel, have known you for
more more than year." he began.
II love you, honestly and sincerely,
with all my strength. What does it