The Lafayette advertiser. [volume] (Vermilionville [i.e. Lafayette], La.) 1865-19??, 1908-08-07

S6o q o QO0 I ike 10 nles
ION her name. That's against you
en."
"MiI2s warsns." he said. with a
erik.
Was she young? And pretty?"
Yes. She was an awfully good it,
lie thing, Lucy. I'm sorry-sorrier
han l can say-about 1t. There was
10 Irritation; only l could see she liked
ne . bit. So l went away. l should
lave been an internal scoundrel IL l
hadn't. She was only Just beginning
% like me; and IL found that l
loved you best. Don't ask any more
questions. there's 4 good girl"
Il won't ask any more questions"
she promised, II you have told me all
that matters. l don't think you have.
JEFF"
Ill tell you," he said. because you
are-you. You have been my pal as
we'll as my sweetheart; and l want to
keep you for both. II l met the love
Hest woman in the world, and you had
grown old and plain-you Couldn't
l should want you. If l fell in love a
hundred times l should come back to
you. I'll tell you, Lucy: but it will
hurt"
You have eased the hurt. You are
very good, as . pal That 10 another
point in your favor"
1T was M evening in the summer
house, was staying with her peo-
pie. 1t was just getting dusk. and We
had been talking sentiment; sentiment
in the abstract, Of course, but-my
hand touched hers accidentally. 1t
was an accident, l think. At any rate.
it wasn't deliberate. She drew her
breath sharply. and-luttered. 1t made
me feel strange. l was very near
kissing her; but ! didn't. She was .
girl who mattered, and-there was
YOU"
You didn't think Of me. then. Jen."
She was very young and innocent
and good. She was quiet all the even
ing. I walked up and down my bed.
room half the night thinking about It.
l thought l was In love with her. Don't
look like that, dear. You know what
you said, Lucy. when l was going
away. II ever you meet some one
you like better don't do me the wrong
of being faithful: and don't apologize.
I've got to be first or nothing. l won't
marry you till I'm sure that l Am. But
l love you, JeR.' Then you kissed me
Of your own accord. You never kissed
me like that before. Lucy. You aren't
demonstrative. dear"
Il feel things" she said, gently.
We'll. l thought Of her; and l
thought of you. and what you said. II
l had loved her best l shouldn't have
come back. 1t was no 9 coming to
you with less than all. You would
have been sure to ind out"
Quite sure" e.
Il almost made up my mind that
did love her best. She was 80 fresh In
my mind. you see; and she showed
when she felt things. l couldn't forget
how she looked In the summer house.
She was . pretty girl. Lucy. But
felt awful when l thought Of hurting
you: and l knew that l loved you, only
l didn't seem to feel it 80 much just
then. You were . long way OF. and
that makes q difference"
1T makes . difference" she agreed.
ito you"
Suddenly I found myself thinking:
I wish l could ask old Lucy about it,
That showed me how I felt to you
how / trusted you. You'd be honest,
II 1t meant your own life."
Il hope 30. I'm not surs Of myself
II 1t meant yours"
II thought how l should always
want you, al my life; and how l
should miss your letters every week;
and l thought that perhaps l only
fancied I loved her best because you
were 20 far away. tried to picture
you waiting. talking. helping people
all the things that are most like you.
! couldn't think OF, you In any man
nsr except whom you kissed me that
highland l told myself that wasn't
you. I wanted you dreadfully. Lucy:
but I wanted her, too"
She sighed. she must have been
very NICE"
Il walked about for hours trying to
lot my thoughts Of you settle it by .
sort OF tus-of.war between you. She
couldn't pull you over. though she was
90 near and you 30 far. I tried to
allow for that. Then I had an idea.
I'd 30 right away for . month; and l
wouldn't hear from her. and / wouldn't
have your letters forwarded-that was
when l told you / was travelling abroad
I wouldn't take either Of your
photographs. even. l made up my
mind that when I came back to Lon
don I'd Just walk up to my mantel-
piece, and look q them both; then ]
should know.
II came back under three weeks.
really. I wanted your letters. though
I wouldn't own to myself It was that.
When l went up to the mantelshelf
her portrait was nearest. l thought
n va the sWeotest. prettiost face that