The Richfield recorder. (Richfield, Idaho) 1909-1931, 1913-08-28
ALWAYS SUCH CHUMS
BY NEWTON HUNGEy.

gratefully u comfortably IN q acc
chair under the dropping branches {
a blossom-laden chestnut tree whe
Mary Lidiard crossed the lawn, swins
ing a putter in her right hand.
Through his half-closed eyes Hewitt
gazed at her critically, and he coul
not help admitting hat she mace tn
fairest of pictures. The breeze caugn
her curls, and with the sunlight turn
ed them into a shimmering sea 0
gold. A simple, well-cut gown of som
soft, white material showed the grac'
OF her figure as-she walked. Her eye
shone with an unmistakable light al
their gaze fell on Hewitt.
Tell me again hat you love me
Denis, she whispered.
Il love you, DEAR he answered.
Il shall always be hearing you say
that she said in low tones later as
she turned to go into the house tc
pack for a few days visit at a
friend's house. You'll write to me
often, won't you, Denis?'
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 a coward to tell her to
her face and see those deep blue
eyes grow heavy with misery.
Somehow it seemed quite a natural
thing for a nan to love a woman and
she not to love him, but for a woman
to love a 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:
4 can't help thinking, Denis, that
your letters seem as though they are
written with an effort, and it makes
me fear hat what I have thought. be-
fore is really true. 1t seems dread
full to doubt youssdear, but it would
be more dreadful to let matters reach
an irrevocable stage and then to
doubt.
We have always been chums,
and now we are promised for
something deeper than friendship.
Can you say from the bottom Of your
heart that this is what you desire?
Perhaps I am wrong in doubling
YOU; but if | am not, oh, please do not
hesitate to say so. Don't think 0
will be doing the right and honorable
hing by masking your real feelings"
How had she guessed? He had tried
so hard to be all he was supposed to
De.
He wanted her. and yet there was
'omething missing, and she had rec
it.
He felt SO ashamed of himself, so
gnominous. He would have given the
world to have been able to answer
Gary's letter as a true lover would
lave done, but instead he wrote:
You were right to doubt me, Mary.
here is no woman on earth | care
or like you, but it is not the love a
should feel for his future wife.
t is cowardly to fly to excuses, but
hall always feel that our parents
'ere responsible-they rushed us in
, the engagement.
What will you think Of me, Mary?
We have always been such chums,
nd now | am refusing the best gift
the world could give me. It
me feel so mean and con-
'mpible, dear; but, as you say, it will
2 better to sever while we have the
nance.
Il don't suppose you will see ne
gain for a long time. | shall go
way somewhere don't care where
but feel that I want to hide
He walked down to the village post
ice and posted the letter himself {
hen he turned away and walked
owly down a lane, his head bent in
ought, trying to picture the future
ithout Mary. I
He slept badly that might for think '
g of Mary. He began to feel that. I
ough they were not to be husband l
d wife,, he did not want to lose her.
Next morning he thought Of her q
aiding the letter, and ne felt he d
'uld have given anything had he t
t written 1t or been able to regain S
session of 1t ere it reached her a
nds. I
His thoughts were interrupted BIZ il
2 arrival of a servant with a tele
am. Tearing 1t open, a groan broke II
I'M his lips as he read: a
Come at once, Mary i'll. !,
'LIDIARD.' d
And in that moment Denis Hewitt Ii
ew he loved Mary, and FASTENED to ri
bedside. ii
lie seemed to wait an eternity out
e the door of the room. He did not &C
the nurse who watched him curl al
'ly, and he scarcely cav Mr.. and to
s. Lidiard as they came out of the
m.
hen he entered, his gaze riyeted
tie thin, white face framed in Il 49,
SIS OF golden hair, o.
Mary" he said huskily. "oh.
rvf" VI