Willmar tribune., 1909-09-22
HER SECRET,
the Told It Frankly and Was
Glad That She Old.
BY BYRON n. KELLEY.
Copyright. 1909. by Associated Literary

ropyrisht. 1oe. BY Associated Literary
Virginia sat down before the glass
and took stock Of herself In minute
and critical fashion. When Q woman
has reached her twenty.ei year
she Is either at her worst or her best
and Virginia was at her best. Her
glass told her that and the faces Of
her friends Of her own age who had
faded about her until she was left like
the one perfect flower In cluster. con-
spicuous by her brightness.
Her little sister had Just announced
that Mr.. Bridges had driven up in
front Of tho house and was waiting
to take her driving.
But Virginia sat still. She had Just
been making a resolution never to go
driving with him again. and here he
was. She clinched her hands tight.
"Just this once!' she pleaded to her
conscience. Her eyes met the longing
ones in the glass. "Just this once,
and I'll tell him. I will De honest.
His heart shan't break even II mine
does"
She turned to her sister.
Dorothy. dear, tell Mr.. Bridges I'll
be right down, she said gently. Then
she rose and put on her hat.
It did seem 30 good to be sitting be-
side him again-h only It were not
for that miserable thing which she
had promised herself she would make
known to him before the drive was
ended. She looked at his face. 1t was
such a strong, good face. Oh, 1t would
be bitterly hard to tell him!
He seemed to have something on
his mind, too, he was so grave and ST.
lent. And whenever he looked at her
It was with quiet penetration.
Virginia leaned back against the thick
cushion, trying to steady herself. She
did not notice that Plume had stopped
trotting and was walking slowly. But
when hand fell over hers she started
and looked into the eyes Of the man
whose face had come suddenly near
to hers
"Virginia! Dear little girl!'
She knew what must come after
those words, but she could not speak.
''Virginia"-his eyes held hers-"1
love your Then he smiled his swift,
gentle smile, as II her silence had re-
assured him.
That smile seemed to break the spell.
Virginia remembered that she drew
her hand from his and began to say
something wildly, what she did not
know until his changed, white face
stopped her.
virginia, what are you saying!
Promised-you7 will not believe it."
His stern voice braced her.
''Oh. but you must-you mustr' she
said.
II will not believe 1t. I will not be-
neve that you do not care for me-
that you have led me on Just for pas
time. 1t isn't true. Is It. dearr' His
voice had softened again. He put his
arm about her and drew her against
him until her cheek touched his.
'"Tell me all about It," he urged. II
must know it all. There is some mis-.
take somewhere, I am sure. Tell me,
Virginia.
He released her gently and waited.
Virginia gathered herself together des-
perately.
''1'll tell you everything, Arthur" she
said. II promised myself that would
before this drive was ended. I should
have told you before only I could not
somehow. shall begin at the begin
ming and tell 1t all. and then you may
think what you please Of me-"
1T happened ten years ago, when l
was about eighteen and Andrew two
years older. We had known each 9TH
er always. He lived In that little gray
house next to ours until his father got
into some financial difficulty and lost
what property he had. Mr.. Hall new
er could get along somehow. I always
Nked Andrew better than any other
boy; he was 50 good hearted and gen.
tie. One night when we were walk
ing home from church he asked me to
marry him." Virginia hurried q little.
1T was June. and there was beauti-
ful moonlight. had never dreamed
Of marrying him or anybody then, but
he looked so handsome and he seemed
so much in earnest that I promised
before I thought. Then was fright.
ened. because knew my people would
never consent to It. My mother always
said she was afraid Andrew would be
just like his father and never amount
to anything. SO we decided to keep
our engagement a secret.
Just after that Mr.. Hall was taken
with a great desire to 60 west He
knew he could do something out there
think he had an idea that gold mug.
gets could be picked up like acorns.
Anyway he was perfectly crazy to 60
and he went and took Andrew with
him We wrote back and forth pretty
steadily for awhile. Andrew didn't
like the west very we'll. and his father
was disappointed. but they would have
to stay there until they had earned
money enough to get back home with
Well, I don't know-l was In school,
and there were 80 many things to take
my time that l guess grew careless
about writing. and Andrew seemed tc
grow just as careless himself. Be
sides, he and his father were constant
ly on the move. think they must
have Travelled the west over pretty
thoroughly. The last time heard
from Andrew was three years ago
He said he was still trying to get rich
and talked Of going to the Klondike