El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1910-09-30
The Herald's
Daily Short Story

explain matters" he thought, cor it
will look beastly rude And later in
the day he presented himself al the
neat little house on the cliff, surprised
to see a fly at the door laden with
boxes
she can't have gone, after ALL he
thought. She had waited for him,
then, putting off her departure till the
last possible train But he was wrong,
for the girl who met him at the thresh-
hold was Daphne, and her start of sur
prise was very genuine.
Maud never mentioned that you.
were down here, Mr.. Graham said
Daphne. I'VE were afraid from her
only letter that she was having a very
dull holiday Didn't you see herr"
Yes, / saw your sister," ne replied,
after long pause. and 1 dor't think
she had such dull holiday, after all.
1 have really come to explain why L
did not see her off today"
He had never met Mrs Spencer, but
the moment he was introduced she
he had lost and the immense love
that existed between Daphne and the
invalid touched him deeply and made
him silent
We'll, we shall see whether the
Confession air will not bring the roses
back to your cheeks" were his part
ing words to Daphne as he took his
leave, and ne added to himself: 1T
won't be my fault if you don't have as
good a time and a better than your
sister had, you little angel of mercy"
The moon was rising and the soft
breeze brought the distant strains of
music from the bandstand under the
shelters yonder to their ears.
A few folk paced the ietty cOuDleS
mostly-the bulk of the visitors were
herded round the band, and Douglas
and Daphne seated in one of the Co
sizes" out of the wind, watched the
steady glow on the point across the
bay from the Lowestoft lighthouse.
81 don't know what your mother
would do without you, Miss Spencer,
he said, breaking a long spell Of ST.
lencea "and yet. suppose you were to
marry; how them"
1T is so very improbable that such
a thing could ever happen that I have
never thought about it," she replied,
but 1 would not leave her for the
best man in the world %
Suppose" he said, that one who is
not by any means the best man in the.
world were to say to you that life has
become impossible to him without your
presence, and that, far from making
trary, you could be more with her than
you are at present, what would your
answer be, Daphne? Oh, little girl.
think before you make reply for l
am that man, and / want you for my
wife more truly than words can tell
He turned his face away with an
effort and looked across the waste of
waters with a drawn grimness that
showed the struggle that was going
on in a strong mans heart.
Won't you try to care for me, ever
so little?" he cried unconsclously,
checking the words that. trem5led on
his lips.
IF you only knew" she whispered,
how 1 have been trying not to care
for you ever since the first day you
came to the office, l think you would |
understand" and her little hand crept
into his own, with gentle, tender |
pressure that stirred him to the very !
depths of his soul.
A" My darling, my darlingi" he whis- !
eered passionately, straining her to
him. Il can't explain itI''
We'll, 1 hope you are brown enough" |
was Maud's greeting to her sister.
Yes, one gets brown on the water"
said Daphne, bending over her table.
And pray who took you on the wa |
ter, I should like to know?" laughed |
Maud. with palpable sheer, and then,
sight of a well known signet |
ling on the third finger of her sis
-ers left hand. she gripped her wrist |
ike vice.
Where did you ger\ that?" she de-
handed. That's Mr. Grahamsr' And,
Is the truth dawned upon her: You
ion't mean to say"
she does mean to say, thought cri- |
I'd Mile Smith, who was Daphne's con- i
idante, and absolutely dancing with
1elight You shouldn't have robber |
her OF her holiday for reasons that.
iidn't come off. Daphne and Mr.. Ora
lam are going to be married in the