The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1909-08-05
HER SECRET.
She Told 1t Frankly and Was
Glad That She Did.
BY BYRON n. KELLEY.

NllSIllu SAT uoNH DClOlc liz Slt>S
and tool stock Of herself in minute
and critical fashion. When a woman
has reached her twenty-eighth year
she is either at her worst or her best.
ard Virginia was at her best. Her
glass told her that and the faces Of
her friends of her W age who had
faded about her until she was left like
the one perfect flower in Il cluster, con
spicuous by her brightness.
Her little sister had just announced
that Mr.. BRIDGES had driven up in
front OF the house ana was waiting
to take her driving.
But Virginia sat still. She had just
been maxim" a resolution never to go
driving with him again, and here he
was. She clinchcd her hands tight.
Just this once" she pleaded to her
conscience. Her eyes met the longing
one in the glass. Just this once.
and III tell him. will be honest.
His heart shan't break even if mine
does
Sac turned to her sister.
dorothy. dear. tell Mr.. Bridges I'll
he right down." she said gently. Then
she rose aGd put on her hat.
1t did seem so good to be sitting be.
side him u"ain-if 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 ut his face. 1t was
such Il strong, good face. oh. it would
he 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 a 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-"I
love your Then he smiled his swift,
gentle smile. as if 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-you? I will not believe it."
His stern voice braced her.
ooh. but you must-you mustw she
said.
II will not believe 1t. I will not be-
lieve that you do not care for me-
that you have led me on just for pas
time. 1t isn't true, is it. dear?" 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. 81
must know it all. There is some mis-
Virginia"
He released her gently and waited.
Virginia gathered herself together des-
perately.
"Ill tell you everything, Arthur" she
said. 81 promised myself that l would
before this drive was ended. should
have told you before only I could not
somehow. I shall begin at the begin
ming and tell it all, and then you may
think what you please of me-"
ut 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. / always
liked Andrew better than any other
boy; he was so good hearted and gen.
tie. One night when we were walk
ing home from church he asked me to
marry him" Virginia hurried a little.
1T was June. and there was beauti-
full moonlight. l had never dreamed
OF marrying him or anybody then. but
lit lOOheu 81 ItlluSOlue anu uc Sctultu
so much in earnest that l promised
before l thought. Then l 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
engagement a secret.
Just after that Mr.. Hall was taken
with q great desire to go west. He
knew he could do something out there.
I think he had an idea that gold mug
gets could be picked up like acorns.
Anyway he was perfectly crazy to go,
and he went and took Andrew with
him. We wrote back and forth pretty
steadily for awhile. Andrew didn't
like the west very well, and his father
was disappointed, but they would have
to stay there until they had earned
money enough to get back home with.
Well. / don't know-I was in school.
and there were so many things to take
my time that l guess l grew careless