The Marshall republican., 1909-08-20

"Oh!" she breathed very softly, oh
why did you-did you do IT."
II isn't much of a man who goes |
about whimpering, is heY" l asked, |
trying to smile but making a dismal
failure of 1t. IF the fire had only |
smouldered a minute longer you need
have known. Don't remember
II, and don't let It make any difference !
In your-your happiness"
DON'T" she cried. She put her
face down on the arm of the chair and
left II there a minute. while l stood
looking helplessly down at her. Pres.
emily she lifted her head and looked
at me with eyes filled with scorn.
II hate myself when I think of what
you must think OF me-" she flashed.
Can you think one kindly thing?"
mot one," said I, but a thousand"
Her smile wavered through tears,
and she put out her hand to me. She
ought MOTT was a dangerous mo.
ment: there are times when the hard
est thing in the world is to take the
hand Of the woman you love. But she
didn't know 1t. and / took 1t.
Then you ~won't--you won't-oh,
will you" she cried chaotically.
81 won't" l declared. It's all right.
Why, Barbara, bless you. you knew
that. didn't your"
She nodded slowly. "Of course
there never ,was-oh. why do you
make me say such things?--there
never was anything-anything be.
tween us, Mr.. Twining You don't
are for me-. really, am sure, YOU
never told me SO, and
mo. I never told you So" l re.
peated. II was waiting"
Don't" she begged But, you see,
didn't know. And, oh, 1t couldn't
have"
! stopped and touched her hair with
my lips.
Never mind" said I; tell me about
who has been to see you. I want to
know everything. you know"
She lifted me a grateful glance.
MRS. Tyson Potter was here" she
said, and a new, singing smile
touched her lips. "She came to say
pleasantly unpleasant tnings. h .toi>
me quite frankly that 1t was a wis.
thing for a poor girl like me to marry
rich. You wouldn't"
IL am not a Mrs. Tyson Potter. The
old ~heathen!"
Barbara flashed me a smile.
But it's rather the natural thing
for people to say OF such an engage
ment," she protested a moment later.
"You know It is"
sAyAne,a,a Vk lentk AnI uyhaA ~
you care what they say? Was there
ever a betrothal that was not the sig
nal-gun for a perfect volley of silly
chatter?"
She smoothed q crumpled frill Of
lace.
miss Winstanley has not been
here" she said significantly.
"She's not in town. She left the
day before your engagement was In
nounced. Didn't you know"
mo. Oh, I'm so glad. thought
she d~isapproved. And I'm &C very
fond Of her l couldn't bear"
Nothing Of the sort. She'll write
you the minute she hears, Of course.
She has gone off somewhere with a
sick friend and probably hasn't heard
the news yet"
How comforting you are! It's such
. relief to hear 1t. l couldn't bear to
feel estranged from her. The bishop
was very kind. He sent me those
beautiful roses there" ST.
"Where?" questioned I eagerly.
There on the table. Wasn't II odd
he should have chosen Soleil dor
beauties? Why, where are they?" she
asked, as she turned to look at them,
and 80 to avoid looking at me.
"They are in the south drawing
Room." I replied gravely; I'll go and
get them"
caught the gIimmer In her eyes az
] passed her.
When / came back she was stoop
ing 30 I could not see her face, but
she spoke, softly, ~ have asked Mr.,
Ankony always to send me the palel
roses"
II was the point beyond which
could not keep my head, nor my lips
Barbara" I cried out toolishly.
you know how | dislike remind
ers," she said quietly. "And ours hal
been a pleasant-friendship."
had got hold of myself again.
what did the bishop write you?"
asked.
"oh, a charming little note. He sale
the most beautiful things In It,"
1T 10 a part OF his mission-to sa.
beautiful things"
"And how well he fills It! He q
such a dear"
$50 Mrs. Ankony says ! remarked
'Mrs, Ankony?"
MRS. Jack--wtfen he rides in tn
park with Miss Streeter."
"Oh." and she smiled politely. Hoy
many women smile politely wheI
their husbands relatives are mel
toned
"she Is going to give a dinner 70
me next week; ] hope you are CON
Ing" she said,
ssNn \ Nod tnnv~ht I u,ns,Ia nat %