Los Angeles herald., 1908-03-22

Ing down LnrOuBn Tue LTt0S anu ASoIAh6 iO'AAoJ
upon her.
should have Jagged; instead, hurried for
ward:-and clasping her outstretched hands as
she rose to meet me, II found myseif deVourine
them with kisses. L could not help 1t.
1t was for the last time, told myself, and my
heart sunk like lead.
When released her hands she raised them 10
my shoulders, and turning me around SO that
faced the moonlight looked steadily into my eyes,
without saying word. The mute misery in them
for by this time 1 had pulled myself together
must have appealed to the tenderest chords Oh her
nature for her eyes filled with tears.
"Oh, Sweetheart, Sweetheart, how could you!
were her first words to me. Not single line
have had since the meager little note In whicn
you told me of your great grief Not line III
answer to my letter" =
81 wrote you many letters, dear Dorothy; !
81 never received one.'
"No destroyed them"
DESTROYED them? l don't understand. Come
sit closer to me-" making room beside ner on tne
rustic seat, "You seem so far away, after-aItes
I've been so far away; and for so long
almost a year," l answered, taking my old
place beside her. l could not do otherwise.
'rThat is better Now tell me all about 1t, for
have felt very much hurt / felt somehow that
Won were putting me away from you; Withholding
the condolences you have always given me; even
when little boy Why did you destroy the let
ters?" slipping her hand into mine
sWhy? Dear Dorothy, did not SEND them De-
cause-forgive me, dearest; because l knew that
everything between us must end sooner or la!er;
Why prolong the agony? Why keep you IN mind
less longngs for you kept alive by ceaseess watch
ing and waiting for your letters? thought 1t
best for you, dear Dorothy"
"You thought to do me kindness? See what it
has done for me-" holding out TO me ner slender
hand. a.,
"You have been ill.," asked alarmed,-"and
did not let me know it?"
"Why should 1? did not suppose you cared"
mot care;-I not care? All, Dorothy, my sweet
Dorothy you can not look in my eyes and deceive
me; you knew that my life and soul were bound
UP in you. That II anything happened to you IL
would mean death to me; and yet"
She placed her fingers upon my lips, and the
sentence was never finished. That kissed tnem
goes without saying;-and she did not Withdraw
them.
siipped my arm about her waist and drew her
close to me- The kindly moon hid her face be-
hind a passing cloud. strongly tempted to
kiss the lips so mine, but did not had not
lost my head entirely.
"This is better, much better; / can be sure now
that you are not scheming to escape me- -,
"You know, Sweetheart, that | would not will
ingly escape you my only thought is to allow you
to rid yourself of me,-in the least painful man
ner of course You see, dear, everything is al
tered. l walked by the old home as | came mere.
1t is empty, dark, shut up. 1t made my neart
sick Why should such things pe! Ieit very
rebellious and depressed.
you should not have come that way. When
saw it, today, l turned and went all around the
square, to keep from passing.
Sweet Dorothy"-pressing her closer 10 me-
How long have we known each other!
"Ask Nanny Chloe; she introduced u.s. nave
been told.'
Are YOU not sorry that she did?"
Are you sorry? Because if you are, am also.
Sweetheart; You know, you have known al
ways that love you. am glad OF every day that
I have known you; of every hour that l nave
loved you. 1t is only you that am tnlhkhs oi'
I would spare you pain"
"If that is your purpose, dear Percy you are
going about it in the wrong way you Hs Mis1huel u