Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1913-05-16
ALWAYS SUCH CHUMs
BY NEWTON HUNoEy.

ing a putter In her right hand.
Through his half-closed eyes Hewitt
sazed at her critically. and he coult
fairest OF pictures. The breeze caught
her curls. and with the sunlight turn
ed them into a shimmering sea Of
gold a simple, well-cut gown OF some
soft. white material showed the grace
OF her figure as she walked Her eyes
shone with an unmisiakable light az
their gaze fell on Hewitt
Tell me again that you love me,
Denis" she whispered
II love you, dear" he answered.
II shall always be hearing you say
that" she said In low tones later as
she turned to go into the house to
pack for a few days visit at a
friends house. You'll write to me
often, won't you, Denls7"
Hewitt WINGED as though he had
been stabbed. Several times he had
thought that while she was away he
would write and tell her the truth
that he did not love her But he was
too much OF q coward to tell her to
her face and see those deep blue
eyes grow heavy with misery.
Somehow II seemed quite natural
she not to love him, but for woman
TO love man who did not care In
the same way for her-it seemed
nothing short of brutal
At length in one OF her letters
Mary wrote the following paragraph:
Il can't help thinking, Denis, that
your letters seem as though they are
written with an effort, and it makes
me fear that what have thought be-
fore is really true. Ii seems dread
full TO doubt you, dear, but 1t would
be more dreadful to let matters reach
an irreyocable stage and then to
doubt.
I'VE have always been chums,
Denis, and now we are promised for
something deeper than friendship.
Can you say from the bottom of your
heart that this Is what you desiref
Perhaps ! am wrong In doubling
you; but If am not, oh, please do not
hesitate to say 80. Don't think you
will be doing the right and honorable |
thing by masking your real feelings"
How had she guessed? He had tried |
so hard to be all be was supposed to
be
He wanted her, and yet there was
missing, and she had rec
ognized 1t.
He felt SO ashamed OF himself, so
Ignominous. He would have given the
world TO have been able to answer
Marys letter as a true lover would
have done, but instead he wrote:
You were right to doubt me, Mary.
There is no woman on earth ! care
'or like you, but IT is not the love a
nan should feel for his future wife.
Z IL cowardly TO fly to excuses, but !
hall always feel that our parents
we're responslble-they rushed US In
o the engagement.
What will you think Of me, Nary
Ne have always been such ehums,
nd now / am refusing the best gift i,
hat the world could give me. 1t !
makes me feel so mean and con- ,
empible, dear; but, as you say, IL will 4
e better to sever while we have the !;
nance a
Il don't suppose you will see me
gain for a long time. l shall go
way somewhere don't care where !
but feel that | want TO hide" i
He walked down to the village post ]
flee and posted the letter himself. a
hen he turned away and walked | l.
lowly down a lane, his head bent In {
bought, trying to picture the future S
Tithout Mary. t
He slept badly that night for think n
lg OF Mary. He began to feel that. 0
1ough they were not to be husband
nd wife. he did not want TO lose her. u
Next morning he thought OF her u
aading the letter, and he felt he =
ould have given anything had he =
OF written Il or been able to regain T,
ossession Of II ere Il reached her a.
ands. n
His thoughts were interrupted by n
he arrival Of a servant with tele- n
ram. Tearing II open, groaR broke il
.om his lips as he read; La
Come at once. Mary III. II
'TIDdARD." =
And In that moment Denis Hewitt ~
new he loved Mary. and fastened to
or bedside. IN
He seemed to wait an eternity out N
de the door of the room. He did not n
"a the nurse who watched him curl d,
isiy. and he scarcely saw Mr.. and "a
rs. LidIard as they came out of tho v;
,om. TO
Then he entered, his gaze riveted es
] the thin white face framed In &C
ass OF golden hair. is
Mary" he said huskily; "on. TO
aryi" pt
Then he stumbled forward and ~
,eif at the bedside. holding her frnil al
Ind and gazing heseechingly into her
res. az
I'm glad you've come. Denis." she yt
Id. VI
II wanted to see you 90 much" -
Then that haifwistful, half-puxzled .a
-prsssion came into her eyes as she ~;
Ized nj him, and he WINGED. ~