, 1910-11-24

but Of getting WELL" I said. patting
her hand. When you are better, 1
am going to scold you for not coming
here at once. This Is your home, my
dear, and Of all people in the world.
Halsey's old aunt ought to make you
welcome"
She smiled q little. sadly, I thought.
Il ought not to see Halsey." she
said. Miss lines. there are a great
many things you will never under
stand, I am afraid. I am an imposter
on your sympathy. because II stay
here and let you lavish care on nae,
and all the time I know you are going
to despise me-"
"Nonsense!" I said briskly. why,
what would Halsey do to me II I even
ventured such q thing? He is SO big
and masterful that II I dared to be
anything but rapturous over you, he
would throw me out Of a window. In
decd. he would be quite capable of It,"
She seemed scarcely to hear my IA
cetious tone. She had eloquent brown
eyes-the illnesses are fair, and prone
TO a grayish-green optic that Is better
for use than appearance-and they
ssemed now to be clouded with trou-
BILE.
Poor Halsey!" she said softly.
Miss Innes. I cannot marry him, and
I am afraid to tell him. I am q cow
ard-a coward"
I sat beside the bed and stared at
her. She was too Ill to argue with,
and, besides, sick people take queer
fancies.
I'VE will talk about that when you
are stronger" I said gently.
But there are some things I must
tell you" she insisted. you must
wonder how l came here, and why l
stayed hidden at the lodge. Dear old
Thomas has been almost crazy, Miss
Innes. I did not know that Sunnyside
was rented. I knew my mother wished
to rem It, without telling my-step-
father, but the news must have
reached her after I left. When I
started east, I had only one idea-to
be alone with my thoughts for q time,
to bury myself here. Then, Unjust
have taken a cold on the train"
You came east in clothing suitable
for California" l said, land like all
young girls nowadays, I don't suppose
you wear hannels." But she wal not
listening.
Miss Innes," she said, has my
stepbrother Arnold gone away?"
What do o mean?" I asked,
startled. But Louise vas literal.
"He didn't come back hat night"
she said, and 1t was so important
that I should see him."
II believe he has gone away" I re-
piled uncertainty. Isn't 1t something
that we could attend to instead?"
But she shook her head. II must do
It myself" she said DULY.
Halsey came to the DOR at that mo
ment and I could hear him coaxing
Liddy for admission to the sick room.
Shall l bring him int" I asked
Louise, uncertain what to do. The
girl seemed to shrink back among
her pillows at the sound of his voice.
I was vaguely irritated with her:
there are few young fellows like Hal
observation-disclosures, honest, and will
ing to sacrifice everything for the n
woman. / knew one once, more than
80 years ago. who was like that; he
died q long time ago.. And sometimes
/ take out his picture, with its zane
and its queer silk hat, and look at 1t.
But Of late years 1t has grown too
painful; he is always a boy-and I am
an old woman. I would not bring him
back II I could.
Perhaps It was some such mem
DRY thai made me call out sharply.
Come in, Halsey." And then I took
my sewing and went into the boulder
beyond. to play propriety. I did not
try to hear what they said, but every
word came through the open door with
curious distinctness. Halsey had evil
IDENTIFY gone over to the bed and l
suppose he kissed her. There was ST.
lence for a moment, as II words we're
superfiuous things.
IT have been almost wild, sweet
heart,"-Halsey's voice. why didn't
you trust me, and send for me be-
foref"
1T was because I couldn't trust my
SELF" she said in a low tone. 81 am
too weak to struggle to-day; oh. Hal
sey, how I have wanted to see you'll"
There was something I did not hear.
then Halsey again.
we could go away" he was say
ing. What does it matter about any
one in the world but just the two of
US? To be always together, like this,
hand in hand; Louise-don't tell me
it isn't going to be. I won't believe
you"
You don't know; you don't know"
Louise repeated duly. "Halsey. | care
you know that-but-not enough to
marry you"
That is not true. Louise" he said
sternly. You cannot look at me with
your honest eyes and say that"
"T cannot marry you" she repeated
m~iserably. Its bad enough, isn't tit
Don't make It worse. Some day, be-