Norwich bulletin., 1910-10-07
THE. BULLETINS DAILY STORY.
In a PergOla

The long shadows of late afternoon
fell on the level lawns and the sun
set glow filtered through a riot OF
roses and honeysuekle that Wreathed
and twined about the little pergoia-
|, Under its f1owery canopy sat a girl
gazing with unseeing eyes across the
velvet stretches of green. She Was az
lovely as the roses around her. Her
delicate features and the grace OF her
slender, softly-rounded form told of
generations of culture which had pro-
duced this human flower.
In her lap, unheeded, lay a letter.
Her. arms hung Imply by her sides
until a playful breeze tossed the letter
to the ground. With gesture of utter
WEAKNESS she stopped for it, and hold
ing it with trembling fingers read
again the words which already had
burned themselves into her brain
Dearest" it ran, when you read this
you will hate me for a coward and a
| weakling and worse; and God knows
deserve it; but ] am not SO c0Wardly
as to hold you to a promise made when
[ was mad with confidence of success
and fame otherwise I never would
have presumed to ask for your love. /
was so sure that some day / would be
worthy of you, and that you would not
be ashamed to be my wife! But no, it
is not in me--the talent. 1t was all
a wild dream. and tomorrow l go back
to the West-to the plains. Forget me
and, yes-I will say, if it kills me
be happy with-some man who is
worthy of the heaven of winning you
Good-by, dear dear love, and God bless
you for having loved a worthless fail
ura ALEC"
With a sob. the girl slipped to the
floor, flung her arms, on the rustic seat
and buried her face in Them while the
tears flowed in o passionate outburSt.
oh" she thought, how little he
knows "a womans heart! He thinks it
is for what the world will say of him
that I love him. Did he ever really
care very much?" she whispered to
herself. NO mol or he could never
have done thisi His pride is stronger
than his love" For a moment she
Strengthened herself with a passionate
gesture. Il will be proud, too, and
hate himI" Then the slender figure
sank forward again in crumpled little
heap. NO, no." she sobbed; Il love
him, love him!"
The shadows had grown deeper: a
little wind, sweet with the scent of the
roses, gently stirred the soft disor-
dered hair and futtered the fateful
letter from the relaxed fingers. FIX
asleep.
The June moonlight was streaming
into the little summer house when she
awoke with a startled gasp to- find two
arms around her and a DEAR familiar
face pressed close to hers.
For a bewildered moment she forgot
the pain and trouble, conscious only of
feeling of comfort and refuge from
some vague sorrow. Then her eyes
fell on the letter lying white in the
moonlight.
She drew herself from the shelter
ing arms with a dim feeling of going
out again into cold and loneliness
so you have not yet gone away"
she said coldly. Does it seem to you
necessary to say another good -by?''
Elsa. don't!" he pleaded though
heaven knows I deserve your scorn. I
couldn't go, deart I'd have given my
life to have had that wretched letter
back again. When I wrote it I was
desperate. l was convinced that It was
all no use, that I was a downright
fool, a complete failure, and Elsa, you
couldn't marry a failure-you of all
women There was something of awe
and reverence in his look.
Can you forgive me, dear?' He
had her hands again.
She looked up at him with eyes that
could not hide the lovelight in spite
of her efforts to be dignified and to
punish him as he deserved. He lock-
ed very big and capable of doing al
most anything; there WAS strength as
well as impetuosity in the dark face.
She smiled at him half shyly.
You don't look like a failure, Alec"
she said, any anyway, if ! choose to
= she stopped. confused and blush
ing. His arms went around her.
ITO marry a failure" he finished
with little laugh of tender amUse-
ment Il really believe you would do
it, but you won't be allowed to. Listen
dear. Heath & Co. gave me $4,000
commission today, and I'll bet with you
beside me. sweetheart your failure will
be a success yet."-Boston Post.