The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1912-06-20

or Pnyills made shadows which Gu,
them OF from the view of the others.
When Phyllis spoke her voice had
in it a note which Whitney had
never heard from any woman.
81 know you did not mean it-and
you know it."
! Then suddenly he said the right
thing. mo, I did not mean it. But
1 was a prig. an insufferable cad.
Phyllis. You were dear child, and
I didn't know enough to realize the
wonder Of you then. I deserve any
punishment. But don't punish me.
Let me have chance to prove that
I've grown away from the calf stage.
Let me prove that whatever my
faults can at least give you some
thing worth while in the way of
friendship. Let me prove to you
that am at least a man."
She was very pale, but her voice
was steady. II shall be very glad"
she said, IF you can prove yourself
q man."
| The words stung, but he bowed his
head. 81 deserve it, he agreed again.
AS she poured tea for him the next
day they had it out together.
81 love you," he told her. 81 know
I have no claim upon your considera.
ton, but ask only this, that may
come-and that you will not shut
your heart against me-"
1T is useless for you to come" she
said quietly.
Then he blundered. "There was
time," he said, when you loved me-"
There was time" she said very
quietly, when I let you kiss me
because I thought you cared for me
because I thought our love was
holy thing. 1 don't suppose any man
ever realizes how such a kiss burns
forever the lips of woman. When
found out that love had meant for
you only passing mood I was heart
broken. I might forgive you a thou
sand times, but I could never forget.
Even if l should marry you now, you
can never be the lover of my dreams
as you were that day when you
gave me the violets."
He realized suddenly the hopelessnes
of it all. He had destroyed her girl
! ish ideal. And he could never re-
build it.
"There is only one way" he said
earnestly. Fifteen years have
passed since then. I am not the boy
who hurt you, but the man who
would cherish you. I have nothing
in common with that boy. I know
what fool he was. I know now
that if could have you back as you
were then, with all your dreams in
your eyes, that would thank God
for such perfect gift. And it isn't
because you have grown to be so
lovely, such an exquisite realization
of all my dreams, Phyllis, that 1 say
this. For ten years 1 have thought
of the little girl who was all that
was sweet and true and pure. 1 had
five years of madness after l left
you, and because of that 1 was afraid
to come back. How could I meet the
question liz your eyes? I who had
dragged love in the dust by my fool
ish infatuation for woman so un-
worthy. But now-oh, l believe you
must nderstand-Phyllis.
He had risen and was standing be-
side her, pleading with ali the force
of his awakened manhood. You can
you must"
With a gesture, she stopped his
protestation. Then she crossed the
room, a tall, graceful figure, the
folds of her satin gown ripping noise
lessly behind her.
She opened her desk, and came
back with little package.
"Open it," she said briefly.
In it he found an old picture of
himself, a letter or two, and bunch of
faded violets.
"They are all that is left of our
love affair."" Phyllis said,, sadly.
"Can we bring faded violets to life,
Grant,"
"No, but 1 can bring you other
violets," he said, "fresher ones, and
sweeter ones. You must let me,
Phyllis
For moment she wavered. e.
had not thought of that" she said;
it seemed to me that those faded
violets were the end of the story
but If there is something of the
fragrance of love still left for me,
perhaps-oh, perhaps you might
bring me other violets, Grant"