The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1914-06-25


hard.
You really love herr" she demand
ed.
Love herT There was sob in
his voice. Il adore her, Sara. l
can't live without her. And the worst
of it is, love her now more than
did before. Oh, it's appalling! It's
horrible What am l to do, Sara?
What am l to do?"
BE man for a little while, that's
ALL" she said coolly.
Don't joke with me-" he groaned.
go to bed, and when you see her
in the morning tell her that you un-
derstand. Thank her for what she
has done for you. Be-"
"Thank herr" he almost shouted.
"Yes; for destroying all that is de-
teetable in you, Leslie-your self-con-
ceit, your arrogance. your false no.
tions concerning yourself-in a word,
your egotism."
He blinked incredulously. do you
know what you're saying?" he gasped
She went on as If she hadn't heard
him.
assure her that she Is to feel no
compunction for what she has done,
that you are content to be her loyal,
devoted friend to the end of your
days"
But, hang 1t, Sara, love her!"
Don't let her suspect that you are
humiliated. On the contrary, give her
to understand that you are cleansed
and glorified."
What utter tommy"
Wait! Believe me, it is your only
chance. You will have to learn some
time that you can't ride roughshod
among angels. Think it over, old fell
low. You have had a good lesson.
Profit by it."
"You mean I'm to sit down and
twirl my thumbs and let some other
chap snap her up under my very nose?
Well, l guess not!"
mot necessarily. II you take 1t
manfully she may discover a new in
terest in you. Don't breathe a word
of love to her. Go on as If nothing
had happened. Don't forget that
told you in the beginning not to take
no for an answer"
He dropped once more, biting his
lip. II don't see how l can ever tell
mother that she refused"
"Why tell herr" she inquired, rising.
His eyes frightened. "By Jove, l
shan't," he exclaimed.
Il am going up to the poor child
now" she went on. 81 dare say you
have frightened her almost to death.
Naturally she is in great distress.
shall try to convince her that her de-
cision does not alter her position in
this house. l depend on you to do
your part. Leslie. Make it easy for
her to stay on with me-"
He mellowed to the verge of tears.
Il can't keep on coming out here
after this. as I've been doing, Sara"
Don't be silly! OF course you can.
This will blow over"
BLOW over?" he almost gasped.
Il mean the first effects. Try being
a martyr for a while, Leslie. 1t isn't
a bad plan, can assure you. 1t may
interest you to know that Challis pro-
posed to me three times before l
accepted him, and yet II loved him
from the beginning"
"By Jove!" he exclaimed, coming
to his feet with a new light in his
eyes. The hollows in his cheeks
seemed to fill out perceptibly.
Good night"
81 say, Sara, dear, youIl-youTl help
me hit won't u0u7 poaop xo,,,I g. IL
It over with her and"
my sympathy is entirely with
Miss Castleton," she said from the
doorway. His jaw dropped.
He was still Illuminating over the
callousness of the world in respect to,
lovers when she mounted the stairs
and tapped firmly on Hetty's door.
Hetty Castleton was standing in
the middle of her room when Sara
entered. From her position it was
evident that she had stopped short in
her nervous, excited pacing of the
floor. She was very pale, but there
was a logged. set expression about
her mouth.
ONhlO Su6 SdlQ, III a
manner that showed she had been
expecting the visit. Have you seen
him?"
Sara closed the door, and then stood
with her back against 1t, regarding
her agftated friend with serious, COM
passionate eyes.
Yes. He is terribly upset. It was
a blow to him, Hetty."
Il am sorry for him, Sara. He was
SO dreadfully in earnest. But, thank
God, it is overi" She threw back
her head and breathed deeply. THAT
horrible, horrible nightmare is ended.
suppose it had to be. But the mock
cry OF it-think of it, Sara!-the
damnable mockery of it,"
Poor Leslie!" sighed the other.
Poor old Leslie"
Hetty'e eyes filed with tears. "Oh,
am sorry for him. He didn't deserve
It. God in heaven, If he really knew
everything! If he knew why / could
not listen to him whv aIrnoat |