The Marshall republican., 1913-01-17
ALWAYS SUCH cHUus


gracefully but comfortably In . dscA
chair under the dropping branches Of
. blossom-laden chestnut tree wheo
Mary Lidiard crossed the lawn. swing
Ing . putter In her fight hand.
Through his half-closeA syes Hewitt
sased At her critically. and he could
not help admitting that she made the
fairest Of pictures. The breess caught
her curis, and with the sunlight turn
ed them into q shimmering see Of
gold. A simple. well-cut gown Of some
soft. white material showed the grace
Of her figure a. she walked. Her eyes
shone with an unmistakable light a.
their rare fell on Hewitt.
Tell me again that you love me.
Denis" she whispered.
Il love you, DEAR" he answered.
II shall always be hearing you say
that" she said in Low tones later 40
she turned to 70 into the house to
pack for q few days visit AZ a
friends house. You'll write to me
often. won't you. DenisY"
Hewitt WINGED as though he had
been stabbed. Several times he had
tuoukut tnht Wuiit sue Wub hWoy ne
would write and tell her the truth
that he did not love her. But he wal
too much OF a coward to tell her 10
her face and see those deep blue
eyes grow heavy with misery.
Somehow II seemed quite a natural
thing for q man to love a and
she not to love him. but for a woman
to love n man who did not care In
the same way for her-it seemed
nothing short OF brutal.
At length In one OF h@ letters
Mary wrote the following paragraph:
Il can't help thinking. Denis. that
your letters seem as though they are
written with In effort, and II makes
me fear that what I have thought be-
fore IL really true. II seems dread.
full to doubt you. dear. but II would
be more dreadful to let matters reach
an ~irrevocable stage and then to
doubt. I
1--WE have always been churns.
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 desire?
Perhaps I am wrong In doubling
you: but II I am rot. oh. please do not
hesitate TO say 30. Don't think you
will be doing tho right and honorable
thing by masking your real feelings"
How had she guessed He had tried
so hard to be all he was supposed to
DO.
He wanted her. and yet there was
something missing. and she had rec
ognized II.
lie felt 20 ashamed OF himself. no
l%gnominous. He would have given the
world TO have been able 10 answer
Mary's letter Ms n true lover would
have done. but instead he wrote:
you were right 20 doubt me. Mary.
There Is no woman on earth care
for like you. but II In not the love a
man should feel for his future wife.
II is cowardly to 1y to excuses, but I
shall always feel that n parents
were responsible-they rushed Us In
to the engagement.
What will you think OF me. Maryi
We have always been such chums.
and now | am refusing the best gift
that the world could give me II
makes me feel 80 mean and con-
5 terlpible. dear; but. ~ you soy. Il will
be better to sever while we have the
chance.
:. Il don't suppose you will see me
again for q long time. shall 90
away somewhere don't care whore
5 but ! feel that I want TO HIDE"
He walked Down to the village post
once and posted the letter himself.
9 Then he turned away and walked
n slowly down q lane. his head bent IN
thought. trying TO picture the future
: without Mary. 70
He slept badly that night for thihk'
ing Of Mary. He began to feel th1t
|" though they were not TO be husband
G and wife, 40 did not want to lose her
| Next morning he thought OF hei
reading the letter. ana he felt As
would have givon anything had be
possession of II ere It reached heI
bands.
His thoughts were interrupted b.
the arrival OF q servant with q tele
gram. Tearing II open. q groan broke
from his lips ~ he read:
Come at once. Mary m.
"LIDIARD."s
And in that moment Denis HewhY
a knew he loved Mary. and hsstened u
4 her bedside. 4
He seemed to wait an eternity ola
Q side the door Of the room. lie did ~
sea the uuraa WIN Watched him etsrI
ously. and ne scarcely saw Mr.. AMI
a Mrs. Lidiard AZ they came. ont. Of u
Z. room. \
n Then he entered. his case rivets'
on the thin. white face framed In
N mass Qf golden hair.
10 Mary" he said huskily; "oi
Maryi"
"a Then he stumbled forward an
knelt at the bedside. holding her fra
hand and gazing b~eeeechiugly into he