The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1914-06-04

uWell IN tnelr depths or late. Her lips
parted in the sudden impulse to cry
out against the plan, but she checked
the words. For a moment her dark,
questioning eyes studied the face of
her benefactress; then, as If nothing
had been revealed to her, she allowed
her gaze to drift pensively out toward
the sunset sea.
They were sitting on the broad
verandah overlooking the sound. The
dusk Of evening was beginning to steal
over the earth. She laid her book
aside.
viii you telephone in to him after
dinner, Hetty7" went on Sara, after
long period of silence.
Again Hetty started This time a
look Of actual pain flashed In her eyes.
Would not note by post be more
certain to find him In the" she be-
gan hurriedly.
Il dislike writing notes." said Sara
calmly. "Of course, dear, II you feel
that you'd rather not telephone him,
! can"
Il dare say am flnicky, Sara" apol-
ogized Hetty in quick contrition "Of
course he is your brother. should
remem-"
MY brother-in-law, dear" said Sara,
a trifie too literally.
He will come often to your house."
went on Hetty rapidly. 81 must make
the best of it."
. He is your friend, Hetty. He ad-
mires you"
II cannot see him through your
eyes, Sara"
But he is charming and agreeable,
you'll admit" persisted the other.
& He Is very kind, and he is devoted
to you. l should like him for that"
You have no cause for disliking
him."
Il do not dislike him. II am-Oh,
you always have been so thoughtful,
30 considerate, Sara, can't under
stand your falling to see how hard it
is for me to-to-well, to endure his
open-hearted friendship"
Sara was silent for a moment. you
draw pretty fine line, Hetty," she
said gently. I
Hetty flushed. You mean that
there is little to choose between wife
and brother? That isn't quite fair. /
You know everything, he knows moth ,
Ing. ! wear mask for him; you have |
seen into the very heart of me. 1t |
isn't the same"
Sara came over and stood beside the
girls chair. After a moment of inde-
cision she laid her hand on Hetty's
shoulder. The girl looked up, the ever
recurring question in her eyes.
I'VE haven't spoken of-of these
things in many months, Hetty."
mot since Mrs. Wrandall and WV
tan came to Nice. l was upset-dread-
fully upset then, Sara. l don't know
how l managed to get through with
It,"
But you managed it," pronounced
Sara. Her fingers seemed to tighten
suddenly on the girls shoulder. Il
think we were quite wonderful, both
Of US. 1t wasn't easy for me-"
why did we come back to New
York, Sara?" burst out Hetty, clasp
Ing her friends hand as If suddenly
|
over there. And free!"
Listen, my dear" said Sara, a
hard note growing in her voice: this
is my home. l do not love it, but
can see no reason for abandoning it.
That is why we came back to New
York"
Hetty pressed her friends hand to
her lips. Forgive me-" she cried i'm
pulsively. II shouldn't have COM
1t was detestable."
Besides" went ON Sara evenly.
you were quite free to remain on the
other side. ] left it to you"
You gave me a week to decide"
said Hetty in a hurried manner of
speaking. Il took but twenty-four
hours-less than that. Over night,
you remember. love you, Sara /
could not leave you. All that night
could feel you pulling at my heart
strings, pulling me closer, and holding
me. You were in your room, l in
mine, and yet all the time you seemed
to be bending over me in the dark
ness, urging me to stay with you and
love you and be loved by you. 1t
couldn't have been a dream"
1T was not a dream" said Sara.
with queer smile. +
''You do love me?" tensely.
Il do love you" was the firm an
swer. Sara was staring across the
water, her eyes big and as black as
night itself. She seemed to be looking
lar beyond the misty lights that bob
bled with nearby schooners, far be-
yond the yellow mass on the opposite
shore where town lay Graded in the
shadows, far into the fast darkening
sky that came up like a wall out of
the east.
Hetty's fingers frightened In a
warmer clasp. Unconsciously perhaps,
5ara's grip on the girls shoulder
dghtened also; unconsciousiy, for her