The Elbert County tribune., 1909-09-16

things. said she severely: II always
told you how careless you were"
I'm afraid you were right" ad-
mitted; but didn't mean to be-"
"Oh. one never means to be, of
course. Don't urge that as an ex-
cuse."
The fault is not all mine." I e1-
tenuated.
She laughed.
Whom are you trying to put IT
on?" she asked
But ! did not reply. and presently
she inquired more kindly:
Was what you lost Of much vaIue?"
"Of the greatest value"
"Pshaw. that's too bad Have you
tried to recover IT." And now a
friendly interest warmed her tones
Its no use" said hopelessly.
But | should think you'd try. at
least" she urged.
looked at her speculatively.
II wish dared" sIghed.
How queer! Why don't you dare?"
There are several reasons"
She faced me accusingly.
Are you talking in epigram?" she
suddenly demanded. You know how
hate It,"
Not at ALL / protested; but, you
see. this didn't really belong to me-
never possessed it. ] hoped that some
day 1t would be mine. and now | have
lost the hope of It. Do you see what
l mean?'
She put her chin in her palm and
stared into the fire.
THAT is so different-so altogether
different" she said.
But quite as hard to bear" I in.
sisted. 1T is no easier to lose the
hope of thing than to lose the thing
itself"
Perhaps not she admitted
thoughtfuIIy; but we have all had
great many losses of that kind
Il never had loss like this re
piled seriously, and | arose to punch
the fire and change the subject.
Barbara. however, was both sympa
thetic and interested, and also, +
think. she considered this safe and
comfortable topic and she wished to
avoid others that might not prove
SO. So she said:
II can't see why you have given up
all hope OF getting this thing that you
want. You say you dare not make an
other try at it. But l don't under
stand. Is 1t some sort of chairman
ship, and has 1t been given to some
one else?"
1T is not a craftsmanship" 1 an
swered her; but, yes, it has been
given to some one else"
Quite irrevocably?"
81 am afraid So
I'm so sorry for you"
Thank you. | need your SYM
pathy.'
Then 1t meant a great deal to
you?"
She turned In her chair quite sud
denly and looked at me, the question
in her eyes. At the moment the fire
began to flame and crackle, falling
full on my unwilling face, and her
eyes, meeting mine. comprehended in
spite of me, wavered, and dropped.
OH" she breathed very softly. "oh,
why did you-did you do it?"
He isn't much of man who goes
about whimpering. is her / asked,
tTyiuS " bHiilc uul ldhiu6 d QlSLual
failure of 1t. IF the fire had only
smouldered a minute longer you need
never have known. Don't remember
it, and don't let 1t make any difference
in your-your happiness"
DON'T" she cried She put her
face down on the arm of the chair and
left 1t there a minute, while | stood
looking helplessly down at her. Pres
emily she lifted her head and looked
at me with eyes filled with scorn.
81 hate myself when l think of what
you must think of me-" she flashed.
Can you think one kindly thing?D
Not one" said l. but thousand"
Her smile wavered through tears,
and she put out her hand to me- She
ought not-it was a dangerous mo-
Inent: 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 it, and | took it.
(To BE coNTINUED0