The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1907-07-04
CONSOLATION.
BY Nellie K. Blisse t..

"If it's any consolation to either of
u.s." Harley said, with a glance at the
girl beside him, ''I'hear we've behaved
splendidly."
The girl poked the gravel with the
point of her parasol, and avoided his
eye.
."I wonder" she reflected, slowly,
whether you find it consolation
I'm wondering" he retorted,
whether you do.
But what else," she questioned with
a touch of contempt, could we nave
done?'
It was Harleys turn to poke the
gravel
We'll, the chief point in our favor,
he explained, seems to be that we
didn't mope-in the middle of the sea-
son, with so many anxious hostesses
depending upon the support CT our bril-
liant and successful presence. We
showed pluck. We didn't wear our
mangled and bleeding hearts upon our
sleeves, and retire into a corner to be-
wall our forsaken lot. Every one ad-
mits, with extraordinary generosity,
that we had every right to do sc-but
we didn't. No, we said-in effect
Hang the faithless pair! They're not
worth our tears'-and society is CRATE
full to US accordingly
He paused and looked at her with in
terest. She continued to poke the
gravel.
after ALL" she answered, "mopi2g
wasn't much good, under the clrcum-
stances. They we're married. And
supposing things hadn't gone so far as
that-they didn't want us. They took
their own way out of the difficulty
without consulting u.s., | think 1t
would have been better if they had
given US a chance of .surrenderlng our
rights to them willingly, but that's a
mere detail.'
She fell upon the gravel with re-
newed vigor. Harley watched her.
Would you," he said at last, have
surrendered your-rights-in such e
spirit of self-sacrificing readiness?
81 wasn't Archie Lovell's jailer,"
she retorted, little haughtily. Il was
merely the girl he was engaged to-
Exactly" he rejoined with warmth.
.aThat's what told Angela Coventry
I mean, of course, Mrs. Lowell. They
might at least have given us the chance
of being generous"
"They chose" she said coldly, ito
consider US their jaileTs. They chose
to make a violent escape from cur
our custody. They ASSUMED bolts and
bars. 1 always used to think elop-
ments so romantic-in books. That
was because I never considered the
feelings of the people left behind.
Now" she added, with a laugh, I've
been left behind myself know what
it feels like"
1T isn't" Harley suggested, 1.-The
most gratifying of sensations
1T isn't, And our only consolation,
she declared with irony, lis to be told
that we've behaved splendidly-we
haven't moped!"
The gravel flew before the tip OF
her parasol, Harley looked thoughtful
" at the ruin she was making.
1T hasn't" he admitted presentely,
t"been my only consolation. l had an
other consolation, too
What was that?" she inquired with
interest.
"Well-if you want to know-it was
the fact that you were taking it so
pluckily. If it hadn't been for your
example'-there was the ghost OF
twinkle in his eye-"I almost think
should have been tempted to NOPE.
Think of that"
my example,"
"Precisely. You carried it off so
well that I had to play up. We were
both in the same dilemma-we were
both cast for the ignominous role of
The Forsaken. And imagined, ratu-
rally, that it would be worse for you
He cast sharp glance at her. She
looked fxedly at the gravel
'Tt was worse for you-naturaily,
he repeated, with emphasis.
81 don't see exactly why" she said,
in a low voice. GO on
And l felt myself responsible, too,
in a way. felt that if had been able
to hold Angela, you wouldn't have lost
Archie. But I wasn't able. II she
ever cared for me, wasn't able to
make her keep on caring. There
was something wrong somewhere,
wasn't there?"
He paused for an answer. She shook
her head.
II don't believe" she said, with
sudden frankness, that she was half
good enough for you-l never. did.
That's odd," he said with a laugh,
because I've always doubted whether
Archie was half good enough for you
IL -, IL