The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-07-14

brela while I shake hands with your?
II wouldn't think of troubling YOU"
1 There was n little pause Of horror.
Her face. pink as rosebud from the
damp air. was raised to his, like
/ child's who had been chidden for an
| unknown fault. But Shela was not
a child, 30 she smiled stif little
4 smile and
1T is a nuisance" she agreed ndif-
| fercntly. isn't 1t horrible day?"
i 5HtYes."
There wns pause.
4 Have you been in town long?" sho
asked.
4 about three weeks"
1 Then you have had your fill OF
this damp. close weather." she said.
and. noddng her pretty head, she
| walked on.
4 Marston Hughes stood and watched
! the slim figure disappear into the
gray mist.
4 That night In bed shcin buried her
head deep into her pillow and Oh
she cried IF l were in love a hun-
dred times over would never glva
ur my old friends! Never, never!"
II wonder why Nfarston Hughes
never comes here now" Marian said.
thoughtfully.
Marian was trying at times.
But tho whole face opposite her
smiled bravely on.
oh, he's n bad bhoy entirely, and
It's the truth I'm telling you. For
hasn't he gone and forgotten his ould
friends. while he's afthcr courtn' the
maid he loves?"
Once she met him in the street. It
was miserable foggy evening, and
she was coming home from an unsuc
ccssful visit to editorial sanctum.
!. you've no business to be out in this
fog alone9 he said, brusquely.
y am on my way home," she said,
coldly.
He said nothing. She remembered
!, that he was always more prone to act
, than to talk. Anyway the next mo-
, ment she found herself in cab, with
him beside her.
When he spoke his voice was harsh.
What have you been doing to your
self" he said.
"N-nothing."
Il suppose you are overworking and
intoxicating. It's absurd. You're
My things-haven't had much luck
lately" she said.
AN editors are fools" the energy
OF his tones brought an odd sense OF
comfort to her.
Sometimes It's the contributors"
she said. with little laugh.
viction.
I'D bow, only it's 30 dark"
She talked on gayly. and then SUD
!. denly they We're almost there. She
; gave littlef breathless gasp: Mars
a ton, why haven't you been to see me p.
r Why didn't he answer? Oh why
: !. had she said 1t? Yet It didn't seem
I much to do for old friendships sake.
! i couldn't" he said, quietly.
The unhealthy close weather. had
s changed; there was frost in the morn
ings now.
> TT is bitterly cold out Mind you
!, put your thick things on" said Marian
y ono morning as she hurried away
: Soon after sheila slipped into her
! thick coat obediently Marston had
: once approved of II; he had said the
s nanliness OF 1T on her was delightful.
She put her hand absently into one
y or the pockets. and drew out an en-
It vaiope Looking down at: It the drea mi
d ness IN her eyes eyes slowly gave place
d to bewildered wonder. It was adj
y dressed in her own writing to Marston
g Hughes!
:, Slowly, with cold fingers that trem-
e hled and fumbled aggravatingly, she
opened the envelope and took out the
p sheet OF paper inside.
= Dear Marston." she read. how
= does young man propose at ALL"
:, Suddenly she gave n little strangled
. sort of cry--a sob, and laugh mingled
:, III II. she sat down suddenly on tho
y. nearest chair; she trembled so that
!. the sheet OF note-paper shook in her
hand. Then with a rush the joy and
= color came back to her face; she rose
:. unsteadily and. going across to her
70 writing table. she unlocked drawer
and. taking from 1t piece of note
- paper scrawled over with thick
!, smudgy writing, went back to her
= chair and read it through
20 ITS mine she whispered; "rnine-
all mine She gave a little happy soft
W laugh and. leaning back, rested her
III check against tho paper.
" Then she dashed off an incoherent
note:
!. II want to see you Mt once. Oh. 7
~ am SO sorry. Please come. Marston-
do come at once.
, "a "sHEILA.'
! He came about half-past three.
"a You wanted to see me?" he said
ID The cold courtesy of his tone braced
- her. When she answered her voice
y was as steady as his.
"a II want to explain something" she
~ ~ said.
~ "Yes?"
al There was pause,
- "1--you see--the editor of The
4, Crescent-he-he--I mean sent a
o., short story to him and he liked it, but
-, -he-he said
~ She stopped and drew a deep breath
-. "He said--my heros love ma king
- was not Observation-Disclosures
Ia the--the letter he wrote-propos!ne-
IL Across the silence this time his
~ words cut sharply
!, L hope helped you there"
81 Suddenly her fortitude gave way.
i. despalrins little cry broke from her:
an On, Marstonn. you're making it so
81 hard for met"
"a lie was beside her in moment. He
"a took her hands in his
az I'm sorry he said remorseful,v,
80 come and sit down"
nc lie settled her gently into a chair
on Iut a cushion behind her head. then
en Now tell me- Shela"
80, n1 y wrote to you'll asked you to
80 Write-see. here is the letter."
" ne took IT and read it through, then
glanced back to the date
~ SO on" he said. You didn't pos,
IN this. Why?"
TO Ills face was as white as hers now,