The Wahpeton times. [volume] (Wahpeton, Richland County, Dakota [N.D.]) 1879-1919, 1908-05-28
Ills Woman, Whole
Existence
By Alma sorlven

1t was six years since they had
parted. Six years!
with pang of self-reproach. he 10.
uected how seldom during those years
PC mad thought of her, and yet how
vivld, now that he saw her again, was
the recollection of their farewell
scene! 1t was at a dance-was it at
this identical house? He could not be
certain about that, but what he could
remember most clearly was the little
nand that had trembled as he pressed
1.-THE eyes, usually so full of laugh.
Ter, that had filled-had she wept, or
was he confusing her with. No. AS
the incident stood out more clearly in
MS memory, he recalled the admira-
ton he had felt for the girls selfcom.
mand.
Poor little girl! How innocently she
>. had shown her preference! What a
brute he had been to play with her
as he had done all through that sea-
son-her first season, too!
For he had never meant anything
serious. She was too ingenue, too
fresh and simple, to meet his fastid.
tous taste for anything but the merest
Irritation.
At the end she had understood. The
night before he sailed for India, when
they babe each other farewell, he had
made no attempt to hide the truth
from her-that it was indeed "fare-
we'll"
How extraordinarily beautiful she
oad grown. and how well she moved!
When he had most admired her he
had never imagined she would grow
to be anything like that. He thought
she was the most beautiful woman he
had ever seen. Her smile was Just q
sWeet-a little graver. perhaps.
He must ind out IL she were mar.
ried.
No! Then she had been faithful.
Did she know that he was back in
England ana was to be here tonight!
Suddenly she raised her eyes-what
glorious eyes they were!-aud, At.
tracted BY his magnetic gaze. they
met his.
She was ten times more lovely than
In the old days.
man? After all, 1t was what most men
came to some time
Was she, he wondered, already 10
GREETING the impulse she had followed
In refusing to recognize him? At any
rate, he would surely be able to per.
suade her to reconsider her decision.
His heart was beating faster than
usual a. he crossed the room. The
music had ceased, and she was talk.
ing. As he approached he could see
the animation in her eyes, the color
rising and falling in her face; and
when he stood before her. the words
she was addressing to her partner
died away on her lips.
Once more her eyes met his az she
stood very still, waiting for him to
speak.
"Are you not going to welcome me
homer" he asked.
There was a slight pause.
"I-am glad to see you again."
The girls voice was very grave.
very gentle.
Can you spare me a dancer" he
asked humbly.
This time there was no hesitation in
her reply:
Il am afraid I have not one left"
1t was intolerable! How could he
talk to her with that puppy listening
to every word? Desperately he
touched her hand as she was moving
away, and spoke low and hurriedly, his
tone full Of reproach:
ut is six years, is It not, since we
have met? II you knew how often-er
how deeply I have regretted. you
would give me an opportunity of ex.
planning"
He waited, GREATNESS, for her reply.
This was the moment that would de-
cide his fate. He could see that
struggle was going on in the girls
mind as again her eyes were drawn
to his. If pride should conquer now,
he knew that he was lost; and with
all his soul he tried to tell her that,
in spite of past treason, she could
trust him.
At last she smiled-a grave little
smile-as she held out her hand to
him.
I'VE shall meet again." she said
softly, "and you may explain every.
thing"
He watched her as she moved away
"a strange new warmth at his heart.
She had forgiven him, and he loved
her. In all the happy years to come
she should learn how deeply he re.
GREETED the suffering he had caused
her.
The ball was over. In her bedroom
the girl was slowly drawing of her
long white gloves. A beautiful dia-
mond ring, given to her only few
days before. fell from her left hand
IN tho 0r,>und