The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1908-07-15
There are SO few lessons in vlncent.s


life.
Yes" he said, 81 felt like beastly
cad. And / don't see what I've done
to deserve it. OF course, I've held
her hand couple of times"
That bad habit of yours again." l
murmured.
And I've looked at her lot-she's
got the most soul-moving eyes "
know"
didn't know, but 1 nodded. The
boy was very much in earnest,
But l never thought" he went on
u never thought she-she-" He
stopped and the words seemed to stick
in his throat.
Great heaven, man." cried in my
impotence, get it out. What didn't
you think she'd do?"
Il never thought she'd really care
for me-" he muttered, shamefacedly,
and turned his back on me.
What do you mean?" l demanded,
impatiently. He is most exasperating.
why, this" He ceased his restless
walk and stood on the hearth rug, ia
cling me. We'd been out about an
hour this morning, Agatha Fifth and
l, and we'd been getting up into the
billy country, when suddenly we came
out of the woods and saw below US
the grandest stretch of country you
can imagine"
Here he broke on and went into a
rhapsody over the skyline and the
| o~l r0SI
about Utopia and Eden and other
things like that, until he got through
at last and came to the interesting
part They can't help going on like
that, these artist fellows, and Vincent
never losses an opportunity to get in
bit of description.
Well" he continued, II was just
enjoying that view and saying nothing,
when she stopped switching the tops
OF the harebells with her crop and,
turning those warm hazel eyes of hers
on me, she said in a low voice, as If
what she said didn't matter at all. I
love you!'"
WHAT l shouted. she didn't"
She did, asserted Vincent ruefully,
| but with firmness-"She did. Just like
| that, out of a clear sky. Simply folded
her hands and looked at me and told
me she loved me-"
Angels and ministers of grace, de-
!, fend u.s." l calculated. Nothing else
!; seemed adequate. What under the
sun did you do?"
| why, told her simply that / didn't
love her, and couldn't marry her, and
was very sorry, but thought we'd
better get on our horses and go home. !"
quite right, if you don't really
care" l said, but oh, Vincent" as a
thought struck me, Just think, she
might have been the Honorable Agatha
the real and only honorable!"
She was!" said Vincent.
was speeches.. This was the end
Of it, then. l saw the millions taking
unto themselves wings, and my pan
Of milk spilled. The real Honorable
Agatha had been discovered, the
secret was out, but she had avowed
herself as loving Vincent and he had
spurned her. After such perform.
ance there was no chance for either
of us.
How do you know she was?" l
asked, weakly.
She told me so herself" he an
swered.
But after you refused her, l sup
pose?''
"of course" said Vincent, resign
eddy.
But, Wilfred, my boy" cried,
springing up, and knocking off my
glasses in my excitement, couldn't
you change your mind, couldn't
you fix it up? If she really cared !
should think you could"
Though this event would have
proved the deathblow to my own
hopes, still my interest in Vincents
welfare is so genuine that l couldn't
help this anxious expostulation. But
again he misunderstood.
you don't mean that, know
Arch he said. "Of course wouldn't
marry the girl when l really don't
care for her. But wasn't it the deuce
of position to be in?"
"Oh, Wilfred, Wilfred!" ! mourned
twenty HlHlonS rlSll IN your grasp
and you threw them away l wish I'd
had your chance. Your poor father
how disappointed he'd be ii he
knew
He'd be more disappointed in me ii
| had changed my mind and said
would marry her just for the sake OF
the money! said the young man, cross
~, and turning on his heel he left the
room. Vincents getting more quick
tempered every day lately, and he
used to be so good natured I'm sure
1t was only natural and very disinter
ested in me to bewail for him the re-
suit of the unfortunate affair that
morning.
(To be continued.
l