The Rich Hill tribune., 1910-01-06

me- lnANINH NNaNtN on hun NnNlfl NNs
soft hreaghi oter her Could yos
ever b. sure of me7 have. deceived
you % long
You must deceive neither yourself
Hor me nov" said. seriously n
want The truth. whatever that .s ~
honest Don't Try ~ bo Kind 10 me.
You have had 10 make pretense 70
long Think only of yourself bow
waited for her reply. bot Il was
long Ia coming. 20 long that my heart
sank
II am 10 BE- honest. she began.
Il must Tell you tbsl--that--"
~Yes7 Don't be afraid. dear"
"That it would be foolish foolish
for me to-to Try to-to care for yop.
for T."
Don't try 20 80 on. crfed ) SEQ.
! have been a fool 10 expect a."
a little sound OF pain escaped her.
I pulled myself together with an
effort
You mustn't Worry." ] said. dully.
i can't blame ou. heaven lm0Esi
wouldn't have you come 10 me unless
you love me. you know that And
would rather 60 un--alone--than have
you give yourself TO me through pity"
~Oh. yeE. yes" ahe cried
stared into the Ere had
thonght ! was prepared
Presently she began 70 speak again:
Wont you let ne finish. piea3eg T.
] want you 70 understand 70 would
be foolish for he to--ip try TO care
for you. becauEe-because--
"Oh. don't Try 10 ease Il for met I
broke in 4 must learn 70 bear H.
Forgive me for being 90 long getting
myself Ia hand You're not TO blame
yourself. dear. You never gave me
any reason 10 hope but I did. told
myself that ] didn't but ] did-eveu
when ] thought Ankony was goiug 20
carry you OF the next day. I stili
hoped. u seemed TO me that heaven
meant sou shonlaabelong 70 mes and
that J must have you. sBur there.
there. don't look at me like that
and don't"
= am going 20 finish" she said.
resoluteiy. Let me 90 on"
i wish you wouldn't." I urged
She sat down, bending TO the ere ]
could not see her eyes. but q knew
they were misty and the softness q
her voice was indescribahle.
! couldn't try 20 care for You be-
cause-bccause i have been--hars
been fighting for monihs-lto--to quit
caring. oh. why-why wUI'gss be 70
denseT'
Barbara" cried. bending. over
I her.
She put up a futile little hand es-
I tween us. bat I laughed IN the rae
;ure Of the moment and caught her in
I my arms
Wait" she pleaded
Ny waiting is over ! breathed
-Oh. look az me. dear one. and let nae
Z have the testimony of your eyes. I'm
I afraid Of your lips"
"Foolishl- whispered she. nfuhg
{ her eyes 10 mine And then: -sIiui
I Oh. you arc-Tom. Tom, yoH are
crushing my beautiful new gown. aud
b-it DID cost such pile witR.R liz
/ tic hEea,hioss laugh
There viii be plenty o. other
gowns" oxclaimeds "hut neEcr an.
other moment quite like this"'
The IRE did its beat 70 be up % the
/ situation. lt craCklods ln sudden
I uoisy glcc and threw Enchanting shad.
sws over Barbara's mad a. I looked
I down on a. Dams rheumatic old
spaniel. who haunted the library.
awoke from his nap In the corner az
the moment and. coming 20 stretch
himself on the hearth-rug. observed
something unusual going on, and. look.
iuE up iuquiringly. brushed against
/ Barbara's skirts 90 attract her attcn'
ton
The maids light steps passed down
I the han and ! heard the outer door
I open and a mans voice m the ycsu
bule
RS Aycrn." ] said 4 shant "a
much mind having TO give you up ID
him now
Bui De did not seem TO enter into
the moment With her
4 "Oh 81 has been SO hard phe whi6
I pencd "a httle half sob hreRkiuN th1
7 sweetness 81 hoT voice There were
I times when I tsogEht I should never
never bo abl, ,o stand g, ana fel,
/ her sh.ycr in my arms
/ y krOv. my brave unt. whia
prrgd back q know
I She llfiCd hcr head . mumuut lytgI
[ aud looked al me- aud my hear, bow yd
/ beneath thr shining of her eyes and
/ thc Tcmulous beauty of hUr dear fAce
~Rut lt doesn't matter now No,h
ma matters now. shc said. thuNiugly
trnE ENDl