The Dolores star., 1909-09-17
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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 value ?"
"Of the greatest value
"Pshaw! that's too bad. Have you
tried to recover it," And now a
friendly interest warmed her tones.
IT'S no use," said I hopelessly.
But l should think you'd try. at
least" she urged.
I looked at her speculatively.
Il wish dared" 1 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
l 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 I have
lost the hope Of 1t. Do you see what
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" in
sisted. 1T is no easier to lose the
hope Of thing than to lose the thing
itself"
Perhaps not" she admitted
thoughtfully; but we have all had
great many losses of that kind"
Il never had a 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:
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 ut 1t. But & don't under.
stand. Is It some sort Of . chairman
ship. and has 1t been given to some
one else?"
1T is not chairmanship." l an
swered her; but. yes. 1t has been
given to some one else"
Quite irrevocably?"
Il am afraid so."
I'm SO sorry for you"
Thank you. l need your sym.
pathy."
Then 1t meant q 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 flame and crackle, falling
full on my unwilling face, and her
eyes. meeting mine. comprehended in
spite Of me. wavered. and dropped.
Obi" 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 to smile but making a dismal
failure Of 1t. IF the IRE had only
smouldered minute longer you need
never have known. Don't remember
1t, and don't let it 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.
Il hate myself when l think of what
you must think of me-" she flashed.
Can you think one kindly thing?"
Not one," said /, but a thousand"
Her smile wavered through tears,
and she put out her hand to me. She
ought not-it was dangerous mo-
ment: 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 1t. and took 1t.
Then you won't-you won't-oh,
will you" she cried chaotically.
Il won't" declared Its all right.
Why, Barbara. bless you. you knew
that. didn't your
She nodded slowly. "Of course
there never was-oh, why do you
make me say such things?-there
never was anything be
tween us, Mr.. Twining. You don't
care for me. really, am sure. You
never told me SO, and"
mo. I never told you so." re-
peated. Il was waiting
Don't" she begged. But, you see.
l didn't know. And. oh. It couldn't
have"
stopped and touched her hair with
my lips.
Never mind" said I; tell me about
who has been to see you. l want to
know everything. you know"
She lifted me grateful glance.
"Mrs. Tyson Potter was here" she
said. and new. stinging smile
touched her lips. "She came to say,
pleasantly unpleasant things. She told
me quite frankly that 1t was wise
thing for poor girl like me to marry