Hattiesburg daily news. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 1907-1908, 1907-10-04
-. The Daily News Short Story -.

VI tWlCe LIS uVSttSb taught AdScitSA
studying with curious eyes his little
iancee. What was the matter with
them all, wondered Mrs. Rushwell.
Was Lassiter jealous? There could be
nothing serious in the Morris boys at
tentions.
1t was the last night of their stay.
AL day heavy clouds had been piling
up in the west, threatening masses Of
violet. The sun had sunk below the
horizon in sullen blaze of dull red.
The stiffness and the heat were in
tense. Margaret, restless and wea-
ried, had slipped outside, seeking a ref
uge, a breath among the stately pines.
Above her head they murmured in
endless cadence, musical and mysteri-
Gus. But to her troubled mind the tran
quillity of the woods brought no peace.
AS yet the pain was too fresh for ma
lures Arrangement And twisted
through the tangle of her own per-
sistent thoughts ran teasing little
question of Belen's. Before dinner the
girl had come to her room. The ca
mellia-like face was pale; the dusky
eyes had an odd look Of suffering. She
had picked up Margarets silver hand
glass and stood balancing it absently.
"Mr. Townsend, he is a very great
man, is he notY She had put the
question wistfully, and Margaret had
answered yes.
TIT is strange that he can care for
one-one so young, so ignorant. so I'M
trained" faltered the young voice.
do you-do you think he really does
really" The big eyes had searched
Margaret's face with an eager, almost
supplicating intensity.
For moment Margaret's heart had
almost stopped its beating. What
could the child mean? Then she had
forced herself to calmness.
81 know he does" she had an
swered steadily. HE cares very
much"
But the question fingered in Marga-
ret's mind, touched to a poignant sig
nificance by the memory of that small
white face. OF what was the child
thinking? Whence came the hidden
feeling which prompted the query?
Margaret, despite the close atmos-
phere, shivered. Why had Lassiter re-
turned and why, oh, why, had he come
here to destroy, this time forever, the
peace of mind which Margaret had be-
lieved SO secure at last? And this poor
child who loved herI Involuntarily
Margaret wrung her hands. How
hard, how complicated, was life! But.
thank Heaven, tomorrow they would
all separate. After tomorrow she need
see him no more.
1 There was step behind her on the
soft carpet of fallen needles-a quick,
firm tread coming hurriedly down the
path. Margaret turned. 1t was dusky
under the thick sheltering boughs, but
she recognized at once that it was Las
sitter. At sight of the white figure be
fore him the man started.
"Margaretw he calculated sharply
"Margarety' But he caught himself
at once. 81 beg your pardon" he
smiled. "You looked almost like {
ghost there among the trees. l am OF
. my way to the boathouse," explaining
easily. "Belen and young Morris arr
ON the lake, and it looks SO like {
storm"
: Come" she said quickly. 1t hat
grown very dark. The sultry air wal
GREATNESS Not a sigh stirred thu
/, branches above. The slippery, over
grown path was difficult to find, bu
Margaret sped unheedingly on. Tha
: little frail canoe out on the tumblini
:. waters! oh, why was the boathous
l so far? And then all at once gnarlet
e old root thrust boldly out caught he
] foot. She tripped, stumbled, and tn
D next instant she had fallen into Las
; siter's arms.
: 1t was only for one brief fraction 0
time, one half anguished moment, dun
t ing which the man. his stern self con
/ troll shaken, had gathered her close
: Then Margaret broke from him.
d "Belenr' she gasped. The line
t around Lassiter's mouth whitened.
e 81 know" he said. II know" Blu
s despite his effort at self mastery th
K emotion reused was not to be so easil
It leashed The bitterness of years surge
r to the surface.
II Margaret he cried. ooh, Margf
/ ret, why did you send me awayT
I'll didn't know" murmured tn
woman unsteadily. IL thought
didn't care, and then 1t was too late
r you had gone. But-but you are happ
now" she urged. ''Belen"--
At "Belen is a child" said Lassits
o. quietly. when she was left SO alor
k, with only me for guardian there seen
lg ed nothing else to do. shall try
ID, make her good husband. But 70
e, Margaret'-his voice suddenly droppt
er to an unconscious entreaty- "Marg
ct ret
~ Then out Of the gloom voice echos
"a clearly across the water.
So mo, no." It sobbed, and both ms
Se and woman, stopping suddenly, reco
er nized the voice as Belen's. ~.
iii mustn't talk so. I can't marry yo
= al - ~ IL