The evening times., 1911-07-22

sne asked him II 1t were possible for
him to forgive her.
Il shall not admit" he answered
with low, mellow laugh, that there
is any reason for your request, or
that you could do anything to make
forgiveness necessary"
What woman could not worship q
character like this!
At his lodgings he unfolded the
note handed him by Juanita and read:
Dear Adorable Juanita: am 60
ing away-far away-it matters not
where. nor whether l ever return. 1
am writing this note to say farewell!
to the one shall never cease to love,
and to ask that she accept this humble
apology for the great mistake l made
in regard to a certain letter. It was
wrong, very wrong; yet my love for
you, grown desperate for want of
recompense, is the explanation have
to make in asking your forgiveness.
If see you never more, then for
evermore. farewell.
Disconsolately,
Stephen.
An evening reception at the Holt
residence, soon after the Sonora and
Juanita came, with due apology for
their failure not to have done so long
before. brought together many dis
tinguished devotees of society. The
winter home of the Holts was spa
clous structure, as can be we'll i'm
agined. Its predominant fesaure was
a great conservatory whose playing
fountains and perfumed atmosphere
fairly enthralled the sense of those
who had the good fortune to wander
among and admire its exotic inhab-
itants.
Bolston and Juanita had drifted to-
gether in that seemingly aimless way
that lovers only can explain, until
they found themselves snugly seated
under the sheltering branches of "a
widespread palm in retired corner
at the further end of the enchanting
tropical garden-quite alone, as once
on the Tampico pier. Here, in the
silence of their immediate surround
ings, they were listening to the dis
tant strains of the orchestra, which
was rendering an old and familiar
air with such melodious charm that
the appreciative Briton, when the
music had ceased, remarked that the
composer must have been moved by
an unusual yearning of the heart.
IA promise unredeemed, no doubt. {"
replied Juanita.
"Or one anticipated" added Bolston.
In either case his passion must have
been very great to have found such
plaintive expression in his song"
There was a touching tenderness in
his voice that gave his words a world
of meaning; that thrilled Juanita's
soul with sweet delight. Only once in
this msdrigal epoch of his life-when
he kissed her hand and asked if now
she believed-had the fire Of love out
ran his habitual circumspection.
While she paused for a fitting reply,
she felt his strong arm encircling
her supple waist In sheer helpless
ness she was drawn close to his stall
wsrt frame.
"Ah, Juenita," said he, "is there no
promise that you would make were
I to ask?"
There is one promise that l have
mSde to myself" she replied. 81
will never again doubt your con-
stancy. l have been foolish, very
foolish
THAT belongs to the past" he
whispered, "and l hold myself to
blame for it all. l have loved you
from the moment of our first meet
Ing, and should have told you so with
out equivocation ere this I feel now
that had l done so you would have
been spared the pain resulting from
my caution. 1t is my nature to be
so. 1t is you who must forgive me.
il you will.
THAT 1 would gladly do if there
were any reason
Then tell me-" he interrupted. |
pressing her hand rapturously to his
lips, If there is any reason why you
cannot love me-"
There is none." she answered.
nesting closer in his strong embrace:
Il have loved you always"
II then-could the sheltering palm
only proclaim it; yet. why summon
even this mute witness, when testi-
mony OF such circumstanttal kind. sol
long accepted in vernal courts the
world around. is so abundant and
too positive to be overthrown? For
It must be that at this sweet. aus
picious moment the seal Of true love
vas affixed to Juanita's anticipating
ips.
This happy Mexican maid, the
reignfng queen of Ralph Bolston's
leart. wse quick to disclose the rea-
'on for her exhilaration when she
md her mother were alone that
hight.
"Ah. madre de- mi alma" she ex-
claimed. caressing and kissing the
5enora's cheeks. 1T is, really true!
He loves me! We are engaged"
Happy Juanita. Fortunate Briton.
Strange. is it not. that Margaret
Holt and Captain Mikleskoff, in a less