Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1908-01-24

worth anything To .oa-t" uie-N1!
should IL trouble you that know and
am thiakIng % things that concern
yOuf Is II because the confidence =
one sidedi Is IL bcauSe you have
given and I have listened aud given
nothing In return 10 balance the nc-
counti do give inierest-deep inter
est. sympathy IL you ask II; ! give
confidence in return II you desire IT,
what can a girl IKE you need OF
sympathy" he said. smiling
you don't know. you don't Know
II hereilty is a dark vista aud u yon
must stare through Il all y"nr HE.
sword IN hand. always on YOUR suard.
do you think you are the only one:
Are you-oneT' he said incre,lu-
lousy.
Yes" with an involuntary shndder.
mot that way. IL Is easier for inc
think II is. | know Il Is but there
are things TO combat-impulS''S.
recklessness, perhaps somethln" al
most ruthless. What else do not
know, for have never experienced
violent emotions Of any sort-never
even deep emotion.
"You are In love-
YES. thoroughly" she added. with
conviction. "but not violently. =
She hesitated. stopped short. leaning
forward, peer,ng at him through the
dusk. and, "Mr. Siward. are yon
laughingy" She rose, aud he stood Mp
Instantly.
There was lightning In her dark eyes
now: In his something that glimmered
and danced. she watched 1t. fascinat-
ed. Then of a sudden the storm broke.
and they were both laughing convul-
siyely, face 10 face, there under The
stars.
Mr.. Slward," she breathed, Il don't
know what am laughing at. do your
You-you infer that | am either not
I'm love or Incapable of It or too igno,
rant of II TO know what I'm talking
about That. Mr.. Siward, is what you
have done to me tonight"
lin sorry
"Are your
IL ought TO be anyway" he said.
Ii was unfortunate. An utterly In
excusable laughter seemed TO bewitch
them, lowering always close TO his lips
and hers.
How can you laugh.' she said
"How dare you! don't care for you
nearly as violently as did. Mr.. 81.
ward. A friendship between us would
not be at all good for ne. Things pass
too swiftly-too intimately. There Is
too much mockery in you She ceas-
ed suddenly, watching the somber al
teration OF his face, and. Have | hurt
your" she asked pentently.
mo"
Have |, Mr. Siward? did not
mean IT," The attitude. the words,
slackening to trailing sweetness aud
then the moments silence stirred him,
I'm rather ignorant myself of VIC
lent emotion. suspect normal people
are. As for our friendship, we'll do
the best we can for It, no matter what
occurs" he added. thinking of Quar-
rier. and, thinking of him, glanced up
to see him within earshct and moving
straight toward them from the veran
da above.
There was short silence. n tenta
tive civil word from Siward, then
, Miss Lands took command of some
thing that had Il grotesque resem
blance TO u situation. \ few minutes
later they returned slowly to the
house, the girl walking Seremely tie
tween Slward and her prosecuted atii
anced
If your shoes are as wet as m!
skirts and slippers you had better
change. Mr.. Siward." she said. pauS
ing at the foot OF the staircase
SO he took his cOngee, leaving hel
: standing there with Quarter ant
mounted to his room.
In the corridor he passed FCrralI
:. who had finished his business CORE
spondence and was returning to III,
cardroom.
: Here's letter that Grace want.
= you TO see" he said. Read 1t hefor,
you turn In, Stephen"
{ "All right. but III be down later.
=, replied Siward. passing on, the lette
in his hand Entering his room. h,
{ kicked off his wet pumps and fount
dry ones: then moved about. whistin.
gay air from some recent vaudeville
+ the current would carry her.
l. They had stopped on the lawn. ankl,
$ deep IN wet grass. the stars overhra,
sparkling magniicently and In the
r ears the outcrash of the sea
You mean me-" he concluded.
do II"
He looked up into the lovely face
Her eyes were very sweet very clear
/. clear with excitement livery friendly
If Let us sit here on the steps littl
while. will you?' she asked
n So he found a place beside her on
|, step lower, and she leaned forward
r. elbows on knees, rounded white CHI
/. In her palms, the starlight giving he
r. bare arms and shoulders u marble lus
(. ter and tintlng her eyes deepe
3. amethyst.
e And now, innocently untethered. mis-
e sion and all, she laid her heart quit
!. bare-one chapter of 1t. And. like 9th
e. er women errant who believe in tn
r. influence Of their sex individually an,
e collectively, she began wrong by tell
70 ing him Of her engagement perhaps t
e emphasize her pure disinterestednes
d in crusade for principle only.
r So 1t was when she was most elo
d quent, most earnestly inspired-nay
D. In the very midst of plea for sweet
D. ness and light and simple living-tha