The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1910-07-07

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court, and it had been a CHEEKY evening,
altogether.
Pamela had sat next to Captain Nor
ton, and some demon had entered into
her. She talked and laughed and firted
with the man to such an extent that
Gilbert glowered at her from the other
side of the table, and Sir Arthur
frowned
The guests had gone. and Pamela
slipped out of the window into the
had gone into the hall to see the last of
Miss Darcy. She wandered round the
lawns in an aimless way. A late moon
was climbing the heavens, and throwing
/ long shadows from the trees. But Pa
mela suddenly realized that it was grow
ing late, and she would be shut out. So
she retraced her steps and went back to
the house.
The lower rooms were in darkness-all
except the study, where a lamp was
burning. Pamela glanced in as she was
passing. but as she could not see any
body, she thought at first the room was
empty. However, on looking more at
tentively, she saw that Sir Arthur was
sitting at his desk with his head buried
in his hands.
The girl caught her breath. She saw
the long French window was aiar, and
impulsively she pushed it open and went
IN. Sir Arthur" she murmured tim
idly.
"You?" he muttered under his breath.
rs it your"
''Sir Arthur, are you ill?'' she said,
and there was world of anxiety in her
voice.
He gave curt laugh. cit is only that
| am a fool" he said. He started up.
and paced the room restlessly to and
fro, and then came back "Listen, Pa
mela," he said, CT have fallen in love
with a fower"-his voice halted, and
he found some difficulty in going on. ct
is the most beautiful flower you ever saw
it is only just QUIT is little more,
than a bud, and II am merely faded
leaf-I have been through many sea-
sons-I seem to have been on my stem
such long-long time. Don't you think
[ must be mad to fall in love at my
time of life?';
"But what of the fower?~ she asked in.
a low voice Perhaps that flower is,
like me, and prefers the love of leaf
that has lived to the immature affection
of a bud
Pamela" he said harshly, "what are
you saying? You don't know what your
words mean, for heaven help met is,
you [ love-I have loved you so long,
but | never meant to tell you. Only to-
night-tonight I am not myself am
racked with jealousy, and you find me
in weak moment But for that, you
should never have known-you should
never have known"
would you, then, have doomed me to.
misery all my life?" she asked in a low
tone. Her face was radiant as she raised
it to his. ooh, Arthur, how blind, blind,
you have been! began to think at last
that [ should be obliged to propose to,
you"
He started. "Pamela!" he said hoarse-
ly. care you hooking me? Do YOU
know that am more than twenty years
older than your"
what has age to do with lover" she.
said, "and-L love you'll love you'll"
He gazed at her incredulously. He
had fought against his feelings so long
was it possible that the struggle had
been all for nothing? But there was,
that in her eyes as they glanced at him
shyly over the table that was unmis-
taxable. He wasted n" more time i'm
questions. In another moment he held
her closely in his arms. "Ah, my dear
my dear!" he murmured tenderly.-
Mabel IL. Robins in M. A. p.