The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1909-04-29

so fearlessly.'
Tears blinded her. she bent her
head, aud they fell ON the soft. delicate
stuff Of her gown. flashing downward
in the sunlight.
Dear" he said gently, nothing is
altered between us. love you in that
way too"
"D.do you really?" she stammered,
shrinking away from him.
Truly. Nothing is altered. Moth
ing Of the bond between us Is weak
ened ON the contrary. it is strength
ened You cannot understand that
now. But what you are TO believe ANA
always understand is that our friend.
ship must endure"
II want 20 ask you something" she
said. merely to prove that you are Il
little bu illogical. May l?'
lie nodded. smiling.
Gould YOU and care for each other
more than we now do II we were mar
ried?"
II think So" he said.
"Whyy" she demanded. astonished.
Evidently she had expected another
answer
He made no reply, and she lay back
among the cushions considering what
he had said the flush of surprise still
lingering in her cheeks.
How can ! marry you," she asked.
'when | WOULD would not care TO en-.
dure "a caress from any man, even
from you? It-such things-wOuld
] gs flat
Oh, don't look at me that way! Have
hurt you, dear Captain Selwyni
did not mean to- Oh. what has be
come of our happiness? What has be-
come of it?' And she turned, full
length in the swing, and hid her face
In the silken pillows.
He looked down at her, slowly real
izing that II was child he still was
dealing with-a child with n child's in
nocence, repelled by the graver phase
of love. unresponsive TO the deeper
emotions. bewildered by the glimpse
of the mature role his attitude had
compelled her to accept. That she al
ready had reached that milestone and
for a moment had turned involuntarily
|
ready behind her frightened her.
Thinking perhaps Of his own years
and of what lay behind him, he sighed
and looked out over the waste of moor
land where the Atlantic was battering
the sands of Surf point. Then his pa
tient gaze shifted to the east, and he
saw the surface Of Sky pond, blue as
the eyes Of the girl who lay crouching
In the cushioned corner of the swing
ing seat small hands clinched over
the handkerchief, limp bit of stuff
damp with her tears.
"There Is one thing" he said, "that
we mustn't do-cry about 1t, must we,
Eileen"
moo"
He was silent, and presently she
said, 1.-THE reason of Tiny crying
is b-b-because don't wish you to be
unhappy"
But dear, dear little girl, am not"
Really
mo, indeed. Why should be? You
do love me, don't you"
You know | do"
But not In that way"
"N-no; not in that way. / w-wish
did"
A thrill passed through him. After
a moment he relaxed and leaned for
ward, his chin resting on his clinched
hands. "Then let us go back to the
old footing, Eileen"
"Can we?"
"Yes, we can, and we wlll-back to
the old footing when nothing of deeper
sentiment disturbed us. You know
how 1t is. A man who is locked up in
paradise is never satisfied until he
can climb the wall and look over
Now l have climbed and looked, and
now | climb back into the garden OF
your dear friendship, very glad to be
there again with you-very, very thank
full, dear. VIII you welcome me back 2
She lay quite still a minute, then sal
up straight stretching out both hands
to him, her beautiful, fearless eyes
brilliant as rain washed stars.
Don't 20 away" she said. Don"
ever go away from our garden again"
"No. Eileen"
els II a promise Philip"
Her voice fen eXquisitcly low.
"Yes, a promise, DO you take M
back, Eileenf"
"Yes, ! take you. Take me back, toe
Philip" Her hands tlghtened in his
she looked up at him, faltered. waited
then in a fainter voice. "And-and b
Of g-good courage IL am not yer.
old yet"
An hour later when Nina discovere,
, them there together. Eileen, cured u
among the cushions In the swingin
seat, was reading aloud Evidences 0
, Asiatic Influence on the Symbolism o
Ancient Yucatan," and Selwyn, astrid
chair, chin on his folded arms, wa
, listening with evident rapture.