Greene County herald. (Leakesville, Miss.) 1898-current, 1907-07-12

qualms or shyness, and read it
through
You have both been very patient,
she remarked quietly, and as mu>h
as she adored her brother, there
seemed 4 touch of contempt in her
voice Il hope you will be very
happy Under the circumstances 1
suppose you will not delay the we'd
ding
No, I suppose not" he replied,
and his tone was not that of an
ardent lover, but rather implied that,
having waited ten years for his bride.
he would willingly serve the time
again, though not from the same
cause as the patriarch of old.
AS the days passed Harold grew
more and more reluctant to welcome
Elsie, and yet he felt an awful SEN
sation Of shame when he considered
his position.
"Of course want her." he argued
with himself, "only she has been
away SO long, and the thought of
marriage is somewhat embarrassing
10 Sucn an ola DacnelOr.
At last a wire came which, by its
abruptness, took his breath away.
Landed yesterday. Coming to see
you this afternoon. ELSIE"
He put down the telegram with
gasp.
To-day! I thought I should have
been able to meet her! Still, after
all, this is less embarrassing. 1t
would be trying to meet at the docks
or the station"
Cheering himself with this thought,
he hurried from the study.
Marian! Marian!" he called.
But no answer came from his sister.
At last housemaid appeared to say:
PLEASE, sir, Miss Priestleigh has
gone to the West End to shop; she
said she might spend the afternoon
with a friend, and not be home till
late.
What friend?" he asked, eagerly.
"Can l wire?"
mo, sir; she did not leave any adj
dress. You were busy, and she said
sic hOulu uOt QlSLIID you.
Harold always objected to being
disturbed in his mornings work.
There was nothing for it, then, but
to receive her himself. He went back
to his study trying to hammer the
belief into his mind that he wanted
Elsie, wanted her sadly, but his heart
contradicted so loudly that the brain
could not accept the statement.
Heaven help me! l do not feel
that l want her" he confessed at last.
What a cold-blooded villain 1 must
be-"
He took her portrait down from
the shelf and looked at it closely. 1t
was the same sweet face of ten years
before, although the photo had been
quite recently taken.
She is good and loving and pretty,
and she is mine," he whispered, but
his heart throbbed no faster at the
thought. 1t rather sank lower, and
he almost felt faint with loathing of
himself and dread of the interview.
He could eat no lunch, and awaited
his visitor in kind of sick uneasi-
ness. At last the ring came, but to
save his life he could not go out to
meet her. He sat pale and reluctant
till Jane came to say that lady was
waiting in the drawing room. Then,
with an effort, he went down; there
was no further possibility of delay;
and he drew his handkerchief over
his damp brow before entering the
room
Elsie rose and came forward at
once
Harold" she said, sat last I am
back in England
She looked very pale, but no doubt
that was the result Of her grief. Evil
IDENTIFY she did not expect to be kissed,
but he took her hand and murmured
some kind words of welcome.
You have had a great sorrow, +"
he said gently, but l know how
brave you are.
Il am not at all brave" she re-
piled, a little scornfully. Then after
struggling with her emotion for a
moment or two, she continued:
= am glad to see you alone, Har-
old. l feel l have been very, very
wicked; when l wrote to you | did
not know did not dream such a
thing possible. l thought l loved
you too much!"
He looked amazed, and she went
on to explain:
4
"On the voyage 1 met someone
Mr.. Douglas; he was very kind to
me, and before l realized what was
happening, we fell in love. OH I
am ashamed of myself! l will marry
you il you still wish it, Harold, but |
could not add the wrong of deceiving
you to all the rest
She did not look at him, or she
would have seen the relieved express
sion on his face.
Il am humiliated,' she went on
rapidly. = 1t did not enter my mind
that a woman Of my age could fall
violently in lovei | thought the old,
quiet affection | had for you was all
that was left after the glamour of
youth was gone. But love was too
subtle. / did not recognize it till it
was too strong for me-
She looked up, and said piteously,
Can you forgive me?"
There is nothing to forgive" he
said sloWls. Then, with an evident
effort, continued: Il would never
have confessed if you had not told me
this, but I think | am too old and
staid to marry. Much as | appreciat-
| ed your friendship, almost dreaded
/ your coming home.
| She looked at him in amazed de-
light