The Charles Mix new era. (Wagner, Charles Mix County, S.D.) 1???-1911, 1910-01-28

things" said p severely: II always
told you how careless you were"
I'm afraid you were right" / id.
mitted; but ! didn't mean TO be-"
"Oh, one never means TO be, Of
course. Don't urge that - IN ex.
| cusc."s
The fault IL not al mime / ex.
tenuated.
She laughed.
Whom are you trying TO put II
on??' she asked.
But ] did not reply. and presently
she inquired more kindly.
Was what lost Of much value!"
"Of the greatest value.
"Pshaw! that's too bad. Have you
tried to recover III" And now .
friendly interest warmed her tones
It's no use." said ] hopelessly.
But ! should think you'd try, ct
least" she urged.
looked At her speculatively.
Il wish dared" l 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
| hate IT,"
Not at ALL" ! protested: but. you
see. this didn't really belong to me. /
never possessed 1t. hoped thai some
day II wQnid be- mine, and now l have
lost the hope Of It. Do you see what
| mean?"
She put her chin In her palm and
stared into the IRE.
That Is SO d%ifferent-so altogether
different" she said.
But quite as hard to bear" In
sisted. 1T In no easier to lose the
hope OF a thing than to lose the thing
itself"
perhaps not" she admitted.
thoughtfuily. but we have all had .
great many losses OF that kind"
Il never had a loss like this" l 70.
piled seriously, and ] arose to punch
the fire and change the subject.
Barbara. however. was both sympa.
thetic and interested. and also. l
think, she considered this . safe and
comfortable topic and she wished to
avoid others that might not prove
SO. So she said:
i cant e why you have given up
all hope Of getting this thing that you
want You say you dare not make In.
other try at 1t. But ! don't under
stand. Ia II some sort Of a chairman.
ship. and has II been given to some
y elseg"
1T Is not a chairmanship," m.
swered her: but. Yes. II has been
given to some one else"
Quite irrevocably?"
Il am afraid So"
I'm 80 sorry for you"
Thank you. need your sym
patty"
Then It mean 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.
Obi" she breathed very softly. "oh.
Why did you-did you do it,"
He isn't much OF . man who goes
about w~himpering. Is he!" asked.
trying to smile but making q dismal
failure OF it. II the fire had only
smouldered q minute longer you need
never have known. Don't remember
It. and don't let II make any difference
In your-your happiness"
DON'T" she cried. She put her
face down on the arm Of the chair and
left II there = minute. while | stood
looking helplessly down ut her. Pres
emily she lifted her head and looked
at me with eyes filled with scorn.
Il hate myself when 1 think of what
you must think Of me-" she flashed.
Can you think one kindly thing?"
Not one" said l. but a thousand"
Her smile wavered through tears.
and she put out her hand to me. She
ought mott was q dangerous no
ment: there are times when the hard
est thing in the world Is to take he
hand of the woman you love. But abe
didn't know 1t. and ! took it.
ITO HE CONTINUED