The Rich Hill tribune. (Rich Hill, Mo.) 1903-1911, 1909-11-11

NhfelesH people always tn8@
things said she severely; Il always
told you how careless ION were"
I'm afraid you aers right I a.
mitteds but ] didn't mean 70 be-"
"Oh. one never means 10 be. Of
course. Dent urge that ~ an ex-
cuse."
"The fault Is not All mine" I ss-
tcHnated.
She laughed
Whom ars yon trying TO put q
ong- she asked.
But I did not reply, and presently
she inquired more kindly:
WAS what you lost Of much yaiue3
"of the greatest value.
"Pshawi that's too bad. Have you
tried to recover III" And now a
friendly interest warmed her ioDea
IT'S no use. said I hopoiessiy.
"But ] should think you'd ty. AZ
least" she urged
! looked az her s~pecuiatively.
\ wish I dared" ! sighed.
How Queeri Why don't you dare7"
There are several reasons"
She faced me accusingly.
Are you talking IN epigram7" she
suddenly demanded you know how
I hate II"
Not at an. ] protested; but. you
zee, this didn't really belong & me. /
never possessed t. ] hoped that some
day Il would be mine. and now I have
lost the hope Of IT, Do you see what
I mean?r
She put her chin IN her palm and
stared into the Ere.
"That IS so d~inerent-so altogether
different" she said.
but quite as hard to bear I In
sisted. 1t Is no easier to lose the
hope Of a thing than TO lose the thing
itself"
Perhaps not" she admitted.
th~oughtfully; but we have all had a
great many losses OF that kind
Il never had a loss Ike this" I re-
piled seriously, and l arose to punch
the IRE and change the subject
Barbara, however. was both sympa-
thetic and interested. and also. I
think, she considered this a safe and
comfortable topic and she wished to
avoid others that might not prove
so. SO she said;
Il 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 st. But ! don't under
stand Is II some sort OF a chairman
ship. and has it been given to some
one else?"
1T is not a Craftsmanship" I an
swered her; but yes. It has been
given TO some one else"
quite ir~revocablyf"
Il am afraid so"
I'm so sorry for you"
Thank you. l need your sym
pathy.~
Then it e a great deal To
your"
She turned IN her chair quite sud.
denly and looked at me. the question
in her eyes. At the moment the fire
began TO fame and crackle, falling
full on my unwilling face, and her
eyes, meeting mine. comprehended IN
spite Of me. wavered. and dropped.
"ohl" she breathed very softly. "oh.
why did you-did you do it,"
"He isn't much Of a man who goes
about whimpering. Is he?' / asked
trying 20 smile but making a disma.
failure Of Il. II the IRE had only
smoaldered a minute longer you neet
never have known. Don't remembei
t. aud don't let IL make any differences
In your-your happiness"
DON'T" she cried. She put hei
face down on the arm o. the chair an,
left Il there a minute. while I stoo,
looking helplessly down az her. Pres
entity she lifted her head and locke,
at me with eyes filled with seorn-
{ 4 hate myself when 1 think Of wha
you must think OF me, she flashed
Can you think n kindly thing?"
, "Not enc. said I. but a thousand
Her smile wavered through tears
, and she put out her hand 10 me. Sin
ought not-it was a dangerous me
ment. there are times when the hard
/, est thlrg in the world is TO take III.
, hand OF the oma you love. But shI
didn't know H. and I took H.