New-York tribune., 1912-02-11
BY EDITH MACVANE

ment had not known how dear he was to me-how
bitterly how unspeakably, dear.
OF course it was none OF my business was
stranger TO Henry Stuart; the promised wife moreoNCr
Of another man,-but when ne hnally came back pale
red eyed, and smiling, TO restore my roses 70 me-
could not thank him: | had something else to say.
"NIonsicur you said little while ago that my wishes
had weight with YOU:
"YcS. he answered.
And YOU told me to try
Il did,"
Then. Monsieur don't ly again Promise me you'll
never flv again
The crowd acclaming the popular ayiators success.
surgci around US. Every instant Hcnrys notice was
claimed Then, smiling, he turned back to me-
"Nladcmoisellc. Your roses. They will tell you how
sweet it IS that upper air.
yes but they are dead, the petals shrvcled and
curlcd. No, its a sin: We were never meant % 60 $"
high Promise me, promise me.
But why"
Because don't want you to-because can't bear
IT, That's why. Promise me-"
Never in nv whole life did feel such excitement.
such concentration OF my whole will power on single
vital point Ny eyes looked into Hcnrys What he
read there DO know But he smiled with strange
expression so much the reflection Of what | felt that
seemed to be looking into a mirror.
Since you ask it, ! prom'," he SAID. Never
The next moment his friends had cartcd him off, and
Mrs Cobb claiming my attention 70 tell me tina.
Victor poor bow WAS feeling neglected. All, Victor.
That was what had forgotten. All the life seemed 20
die down out Of me- and the blood stopped puISng IN
my head After all. what had been thinking about
Why had asked such fayor,-thc rcnuncatlon OF his
dearest ambition Of this American whom | hardly
knew and why had he granted 1t TO me;
MY dear LiT." said Mrs. Cobb that evening, while
4'l her keen eyes ran through and through me.
"'hough nothing could be more hattcring TO me well
as 70 you than the immense hit You re- making here ani
in the very first set ,0o still must ask you when were
all ont together 10 take ID little more notice ot my dar
ling boy Mr.. Stuart now-ot course II eNldcn, he's
wildly in love with YOU. ike every other this
Bur-well, don't forget the tenth OF August. word
to the wise mum, The wedding invitations have
arrived from New York Dear. Would YOU like to sec
them"
Ot course | had to say yes So with heavy feet
followed her to the library, where the white paper boxes
were piled nearly 10 the ceiling. They were very pret
,ily engraved, | thought. They were in AUNT Eliza
bcth'S name for the church, in Mrs Cobbs for the
breakfast follow The next day the secretaries began
the work OF addressing them and writing in the names
When feel my thoughts wandering too much can
always come to this comfortable shaded room where
the pens scratch, and the small boy with the little
sponge wc,s the cnycors and sticks them. Il iSa sgh'
that CouylngCS me
This. | said To myself, rs success" Yes, had
taiucd success. Wha, would have been my delight il
two months ago Brent, or SIX weeks ago IN the de-
sparng DAYS Of my voyage. had had vision Of this
triumph this security this pcci luxury, this swiftly
tanned goal Of d millonWrcS husband. had graSpd
my dreams and more But-ah why had destiny, IN
this fulfilling of all ancient prayers. gwen me the
sudden glimpse of another felicity that left my
dead and bitter in my hands like withcrcd herbs;
suppose, because had deserved nothing better. !
realized it now how wrong | had done, how far h,.
fallen since the day when knclt and prayed TO Papa,
picture for help TO find the lady he had loved When
| had been offered something more tangiblc.-"money.
much money i had given up the search very easily
Yes must have done wrong or could not be in such
pcrplcNi,y in such misery at this moment And the
worst OF it is whatever DO feel that it is wrong
Shall turn TO the right or to the left? Shall d.
what | want 10 DO or what | ought to do' But what
ought odo2 Since Mrs CobbS warning words callc.
me suddenly to myself, have avoided Mr.. Stuart But
his eyes how grim and sad they are when they NEE,