Custer County Republican. (Broken Bow, Neb.) 1882-1921, 1907-05-02

The people VINO nave notnlnB W
forget are the unhappy people" said
Miss Mellor. She set her lips In hard
outline, and pushed her untasted glass
aside.
Miss Mellor had lived at the board
ing house for seven years, and the
major for two. They had only passed
the time of day till this holiday eve
ming. when they had the long dining
roo. to themselves. All the other
boarders had gone to their friends,
and even the landlady was out. So
The Major had taken chair beside
Miss Mellor, and suggested, with his
pleasant smile, that they should make
themselves better acquainted. He was
an attractive man, and goodlooking,
though his hair was streaked with
gray before its time. Miss Mellor had
received his advances with stiffness
that was meant to be polite. She was
tall, thin woman of 35, with some
what severe features; features that
would have been handsome if woman
" graciousness had softened them.
But Miss Mellor had never learnt to
pc gracious.
The Major pondered little over
her retort
Il don't know" he said, slowly. Il
don't know. 1t is good to have things
N ones memory, If you could teach
hem to know their place; but they
pop up at all sorts of times, when you
don't want them. dare say you know
now one feels about these things?"
NO" Miss Mellor stiffened herself
little more. 81 don't. I've nothing
worth forgetting. can only wonder
now it feels to remember"
The Major toyed with some grapes,
with Mournful smile upon his face.
He looked up suddenly.
May tell your" he asked. Miss
Mellor bowed.
IF you are not afraid to tell a
stranger she said.
The Major laughed softly.
There is nothing that l am afraid
to tell" he declared. Nothing that l
am ashamed of. I've had bad luck,
that is all. There's nothing romantic
in the story, either. 1t is interesting
to me only because it is mine; mine,
and might have been somebody else's,
If things had turned out differently.
She was decorating the church when
l first saw her, standing on ladder,
and leaning over with her face among
the ivy. 1t was the ivy round the
Over-mantel that brought back-what
/ want to forget"
Miss Mellor leaned little forward.
Are you sure that you want to for
get?" she inquired
MOO" the Major confessed mo,
don't think would choose to forget.
had only a couple of hundred a year
beside my pay; but she was coun-
try rector's daughter, and hadn't been
brought up to wealth, and l thought
we could manage on it. | never asked
her, fortunately"
Did she like your" Miss Mellor
asked abruptly.
II hoped so. Now l hope she didn't.
It's four years ago. People soon for.
get, you know"
Miss Mellor shook her head.
Il don't know" she contradicted. 81
don't think 1 am one of the happy
people who forget. Are you sure that
she is?"
God grant it," The Majors voice
was trifle husky. II couldn't try to
bind her to broken man."
What broke your"
1T was my-a relative. He didn't
mean any harm, poor boy. 1t was a
matter of eight thousand odd. I had
five thousand, and l got gratuity by
retiring. | borrowed the rest. l had
to pay ruinOus interest. I'm paying
1t still. l got employment of sort;
a drudging clerk in an office. / fill up
my spare time by writing articles on
military subjects. / might even think
myself able to marry, If 1t weren't for
the loan. Be thankful you have no
memories of money-lenders, vampires
who live ON other peoples flesh and
blood"
Miss Mellor's LIP curled.
II thought you were a just man,
Major Parry" she remarked. you
must know that they only claim their
own"
Their own!" The Major raised his
hands. I've been paying rs per cent
for four years, and owe every penny
Of the principal still! always shall,
50 far as | can see. He won't for
get!"
why should ne? You had his
money"
And I've paid it back" the Major
persisted; morally, that is"
In other words, you've paid the in
terest" Miss Mellor shrugged her
shoulders. He Is entitled to it, until
you repay the loan"
But rs per cent" the Major pro.
tested.
You needn't have borrowed from
him, If you didn't like his terms" Miss
Mellor pointed out.