Norwich bulletin., 1913-05-29

you downstairs"
 Elsie looked up to see her mother in the door, and dropped the warm
 cloak she was about to put on. She
 was a quiet, gentle girl, SC unassum- ing that her dark prettiness was more
 unnoticed than it deserved to be. It had been long since John hex come ! to see her in the old friendly fashion of the time before Rose Lisle moved to their town. The girl gave another touch to her smooth hair. Her mother stood watching her and then re- marked.
 Mrs Dent told me today that John and Rose have been out for over
 month He has just come home. If quarrel with Rose IS all that sends him to you I should think that" Elsie wheeled impatiently. Mother, John and l have always been good friends and l shall not question any motive that brings him
 to see me. I shall always be the same to him. You cant expect man so deeply in love as he is with Rose to
 be regular Tn his attention to his girl friends. And no one could help low ing a beauty like Rose. She's good, too"
 Elsie greeted John as if she had
 seen him yesterday, and soothed his evidently wrought mood with gentle, half-laughing tact. He was tall and blonde with fine blue eyes which tonight were clouded, and his face was a little careworn. Sometimes he gave random answers as if he had not heard what she said. After halt
 uneasy hour of the March twilight he turned to her in awkward masculine
 gratitude for her patience with him.
 Elsie am I keeping you in? l have
 not thought to ask if you were golng
 anywhere" She smiled and bethought
 herself that inaction was not good
 in his present mood.
 T was ooing for a walk and can
 go as we'll another time. I was going
 quite by myself. You know am
 never afraid"
 No. I never knew you to be afraid
 from the time we were children at
 school until now. I have always liked
 you for that. But would you mind
 letting me go with you for that walk? We used to like pushing the wind to- gether. Shall we go?''
 Elsie put on her cloak and little red cap and the two young people started away.
 Rose lived not far from them, and
 as they passed the house both could not avoid what they saw From the broad front window the light streamed brightly; the shades were not drawn.
 Rose sat at the piano, and over her in rapt attention stood Norman Cady. John almost dragged Elsie past, though he said nothing. He did not know that he gripped her arm till 1t hurt and that he was walking at pace that would have put less healthy girl than Elsie utterly out of breath.
 It was a raw night with a sharp wind; the moon was high and cold, and the sky was streaked with flying clouds. The road was good and they walked on and on, out of the town and along the river road The girl was unwilling to disturb her companions silent mood. and swung gladly beside him. At length they reached the boathouse and a great pile Of rough logs in sheltered corner: John stopped here and proposed resting. 'EIsie," he said T must have tired you all out l am g. selfish brute to drag you about like thisl l was try ing to get away from myself by re- minding myself what a staunch friend you have always been. l had not in tended to tell you my troubles, but l think I must if you will let me"
 "Tell me about it." she replied in the matter -of-fact comrades way that made condolences easy All right, but you must not try to help memo one can do that. 1 sim ply need the relief of words before 1 settle down to forgetting as fast as l can
 He hesitated. A man finds it hard to confde
 make it easier for him "Elsie-I loved her almost from the minute I saw her Everybody must know it, for I didn't hide my prefer ence. and when I want anything under the sun 1t is my way to do my best to get it. I wanted her. Soon l made her my friend and then-we1, l thought she loved me- though we had not spoken of 1t in words. About month ago I wrote and asked her to marry me I told her-everything ba ryjr he loves I asked her to send me a note in answer, and added that I should interpret her fafl- ure to do so as a refusal, though
 was over confident enough not to
 dream of such thing. He looked off across the river and
 drummed his heel against the logs.
 Elsie" he went on, "she did not
 send me a word Not one word! And
 that very night she was heartless
 enough to smile and nod and blush at seemed to think I would see her home
 the same as everl Then the next
 time we met she did not even speak.
 Are you sure she received it?'
 Yes; I sent it by my brother and
 he put in into her own hand. He did not wait for an answer-she could
 have sent that anyway. Well, then l
 went away a few weeks-I could not
 stand it here and now that I am back
 it is worse than ever. despise my self for caring put 1 nate -\Ornan Cady for being near her l thought if
 I told you perhaps just putting 1t into
 words would wear off some of my anger and help me forget her. Elsie,
 he good to me. and help me forget her. Will you?"
 The girl touched his arm with her hand
 You should go to her and have 1t
 out in words. There may be some mistake
 ply playing with me. Elsie, you ware
 always my comrade-be so now in time of need
 Elsie laughed, but 1t hurt her little.
 ''Very well. John; come to me when
 ever you want to, we will talk and
 walk and you shall try to forget. I
 will not fail you"
 March was gone, and April had had her last day of grace It was the ev-
 ening before May day, Elsie. happy hearted was waiting on the porch in