The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1907-08-07

to my face as though you liked me-
when you were alone-and behind
my back make fun of me, c~aricatura
me, criticise my clothes, my walk
my way of speaking and laughing?"
He spoke with quiet bitterness.
She nodded emphatically. "Often.
Most of it's in the diary" ;
"I-heard."
you heard?" Her look was ques-
tioning. Il think you ought to tell
me something, if only one thing, that
you heard"
He was silent.
"It's only fair" she urged.
He looked up desperately. "Well.
didn't you, for instance, say that I
| reminded you of Matthew Arnold's
definition of the Athanasian Creed
Learned science, with a strong dash
of temper'?"
She laughed a little. I'D forgot
ten, but 1 do believe I did" She
turned the leaves of the diary rapid
ly. Eyes, here it is: March 18-
Emily resumed cross-examination.
! Wanted to know if I didn't consider
his scientific learning colossal, un-
paralleled, etc. Quoted Arnold OF
the Athanasian Creed to her. Shock
satisfactory"
He was looking at her with startled
eyes. "The date" he breathed;
what date did you say?"
She referred to the diary. March
49,"
"But-that was before we were
engaged"
"Oh, yes"
"But-Emily-"
"Ah, 1 sometimes thought
Their eyes met. DON'T" she said
breathlessly. Il see, I see."
He began to see, 100.
81 have always wondered" she
unused, why you didn't understand,
even if you had read every word of
the diary. I felt so sure you would
see it was all in self-defense. Could
a girl bear to let people think she
cared for a man before he had spok-
en-? There were girls who did it,
her momentary hesitation revealed
to him as clearly as words that Emily
had been one of them, and he red
dened-''but-but that only sent me
flying to the other extreme. When
people tried to-to pump me about
you. 1 said anything-laughed,
Knocked, mimicked, caricatured-in
sheer terror lest any n should dis
cover how much I cared"
He nodded. II never knew" he
said slowly. IT vas told thought
all the things that came to my ears
were said by you after we were en-
gagged"
"Mark!" she said; and her voice
quivered.
He "a walking restlessly up and
down. "Our insane pride!" he
groaned. eff only We had spoken
asked questions"
YES" she agreed TREMENDOUSLY;
and through both their minds passed
a flash of wonder that Emily could
have proved so good a judge of char
acter, should have calculated on just
that proud silence with which they
had met catastrophe. And yet-she
must have been in some doubt, or
why had she removed Allison's only
proof, the diary?
Suddenly Alison arose. IT must
go, Mark. I acted on a sudden i'm
pulse in coming, and my impulses
are always wrong" Her smile was
very sad.
mot this one" he urged, eagerly.
"Alison, not this one! You are in
town? shall see you again."
She answered his unspoken
thought. "Ah, Mark, has life led
you to expect such miraces?"
"Alison!" he implored, you'll for
give me-some day."
Forgiven" She turned away with
a sigh. TT would have been hard,
wouldn't it," she unused, "if I had
married five years ago."
He caught his breath. Allison!
You didn't"
She shook her head. "No, I didn't;
that would have been only hard"
She turned toward the door. Really,
I must go, or 1 shall miss the train"
His voice was heavy with disap-
pointment. Then you aren't on a
visit in town."
She stood still. "a visit in town."
she echoed, and her lips were white.
"Oh, no." Suddenly she swayed to-
ward him. "Help me, Mark" she
breathed piteously.
He bent and kissed her hands.
my dear! My sweet" He stopped
with a hoarse cry. allison, you said
you-" He pointed to one of her
hands.
ut was five years ago." she gasped.
"Oh,' Mark, if it had been, I think
I could have forgiven her"
His eyes questioned her passion
ately. With a little cry she released
her hands and stumbled to the door.
Don't go, Alison" he implored.
She shook her head. Il must.
Don't you understands" She turned
for ar instant. Didn't 1 tell you it
wasn't a visit?" Her voice broke.
Mark! Mark! Don't look at me!
There are no miracles! It's a honey
moon."-The Sketch.