The Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1???-1928, 1907-01-12
NEARLY A HEART
BREAK
BY WALLACE MASON

The river was a stream OF moving
HE Gay voices rang In a silver
challenge across the crowded waters.
Mlngling with them was the sound Of
stringed instruments and minstrel
songs. It was the last day Of the
regatta.
Wen, everything must have its APP
pointed end even the regatta" said
Arnoston little sententiously
The girl who was seated by his side
on the deck of the houseboat Glow
worm looked up at him with strange
light in her deep brown eyes.
Shall You be Sorry She asked in
a sweet. rich voice
Yes, | shah be sorry" he answered
simply Il thought I'd grown alto.
gether tired Of the river. It's about
the tenth year running I've been
here. But my interest in II has re-
yived, ] shall remember this regatta
as long as | live"
Why she asked and she looked
at him musingly.
TN 40 now, Miss Basset I've al
ways had everything I've wanted as
long as | can remember. | have tried
most things, and had become a little
weary Of them all. And then all at
once It was just as If | had walked
out of gloom into eternal sunshine
These last three days are the most
ga
THAT sounds as if you were in
love" she said smiling
ut is love" he said "and It is you
| love"
There was sudden silence between
them. She did not move. but her at
titude became little rigid, her smile
died.
q cannot marry you, she said at
last.
Il care for YOU as have never
cared for any other woman"
"My refusal viii pain you, then |
am glad, because it is my wish to
pain YOU
Arneston gazed at her in blank
amazement.
Eight years ago had friend
whom | loved as ! should have loved
my mother had she lived She met a
man here who made her love him.
She loved him as only such a woman
could love She kept back no reserve
Of love. That woman's name Is Agnes
Reid
The girl paused and looked at her
companion closely.
The man did not speak She fan
cied he had started that was all
at pleased this man to win her love
that he might cast 1t back at her,
He gave her up--iilted her She came
home to us-my father and me--her
old friends. ! knew nothing Of this
man or his name until after she died,
told me all
"And who was he?"
She leaned forward her eyes wero
blazing in the darkness
THAT man was yourself Those let.
ters were signed by YOU. It was you
WHO kllltN luis woman,
81 see.
The words were spoken duly. with
out any feeling whatever
when | first met you" she con
finued. Il saw--a woman can always
tell--that ! attracted YOU ] resolved
to do all in my power to make you
care for me seriously I wanted you
to say what YOU have said tonight.
that YOU loved me that might tell .
you this story. and give you that as
my answer.
"a kind Of revenge? Well. at any
rate, Miss Basset YOU have made me
go through a severe quarter Of an
hour As for my dcfense--well. ] will /.
not trouble with that"
He raised his hat and turned away !
Miss Basset watched him until the
swallowed his form up.
II dom feel at all as I expected"
She said TO herself in dlsmay. Il
bought should glow with satisfac
loo What a weak fool ] am. III
hadn't told myself ali day long and
lalt the night what cause had TO
,ate him. ! should have loved him"
Every body noticed how quiet and
lale Miss Basset was at supper. and
many wondered what had become Of
,neston When She reached her own
ituc bedroom in the GloV-worm she
ound a letter waiting her.
Two or three newspaper cuttings .
uttered out OF IT, She read the brief
tote.
You viii see that the lnclosed cat.
ings eXonerate me from the brutality
on were good enough TO place TO ny
redit ] should have undeceiyed you
It the time but it was plain 10 NE
hat yuu had merely pretended 10 Ike
le-Wheu I hoped that you-weu
different
Where Women Really Ruled