The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1914-06-26

ne mellOWeu 10 the verge or tears.
Il can't keep on coming out here
after this. as I've been doing. Sara"
Don't be silly! or course you can.
This will blow over"
BLOW oyer?" he almost gasped.
Il mean the first effects. Try being
martyr for while. Leslie. II isn't
bad plan. / can assure you. II may
interest you TO know that Challis pro-
posed TO me three times before l
accepted him, and yet IL loved him
from the beginning"
by Jove!" he exclaimed, coming
to his feet with new light In his
eyes. The hollows In his cheeks
seemed to fin out perceptibly.
Good night"
Il say, Sara dear. you'll-youW help
me bit, won't you? / mean you'll talk
IL over with her and"
MY sympathy is entirely with
Miss Castleton." she said from the
doorway. His jaw dropped.
He was still ruminating over the
callousness OF the world In respect to
lovers when she mounted the stairs
and tapped firmly on Hettys door.
Hetty Castleton was standing in
the middle OF her room when Sara
entered. From her position II was
evident that she had stopped short in
her nervous, excited pacing OF the
floor. She was very pale, but there
was a dogged, set expression about
her mouth.
Come In. dear" she said, In 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 It, regarding
her agitated friend with serious, CON-
passionate eyes.
"Yes. He is terribly upset 1t was
q blow to him, Hetty."
Il am sorry for him. Sara He was
SO dreadfully In earnest But, thank
God, It is overt" She threw back
her head and breathed deeply. "That
horrible, horrible nightmare Is ended.
! suppose 1t had TO be. But the mock
cry OF it-think OF II, Sara!-the
damnable mockery OF it,"
Poor Leslie!" sighed the other.
Poor old Leslie"
Hetty's eyes filled with tears. "Oh.
am sorry for him. He didn't deserve
II. God in heaven, II he really knew
everything! II he knew why could
not listen to him. why almost
screamed when he held my hands in
his and begged-adually begged me
to oh, 1t was ghastly, Sara!"
She covered her face with her
hands, and swayed as II about to fall.
Sara came quickly to her side. Put
ting an arm about the Quivering
shoulders, she led the girl to the
broad window seat and threw open
the blinds.
Don't speak OF IL, dearest-dont
think Of that. Sit here quietly In the
air and pull yourself together. Let
me talk to you. Let me tell you how
deeply distressed am. not only on
your account, but his"
They were silent for long time.
the girl lying still and almost breath
less against the others shoulders. She
was still wearing the delicate blue
dinner gown, but In her fingers was
the exquisite pearl necklace Sara had
given her for Christmas. She had
taken it off and had forgotten to drop
1t In her jewel box.
Il suppose he will go up TO the city |
early" she said monotonously.
Leslie Is better loser than you
think, my DEAR" said Sara. looking out /
over the tops OF the cedars. "He will |
not run away"
Hetty looked up in alarm. you
mean he will persist in--in his atten-
tions," she cried.
"Oh. no. don't believe you will /
ind him to be the bugbear you imag.
ne. He can take defeat like a man.
He Is devoted TO you, he is devoted
% me. Your decision no doubt wrecks
lis fondest hopes in life, but It doesn't
make a weakling OF him"
Il don't quite understand"
He is sustained by the belief that
10 has paid you the highest honor a
nan can pay to a woman. There is
10 reason why he should turn his back
m you. as a sulky boy might do. No,
ny dear, think you may count on
i'm as your best. most loyal friend
rom this night on. He has Just said
o me that his greatest pain lies in
he fear that you may not be willing
o accept him as a simple. honest, un-
Iresuming friend since"
"oh. Sara. II he will only be that
nd nothing morel" cried the girl won.
erlngly.
Sara smiled confidently. "T fancy
ou haven't much TO fear in that dlrec.
ion, my dear, II isn't in Leslie Wran.
alls makeup to court a second re-
ulse. He IL all pride. The blow Il
Uttered tonight can't be repeated-at
east not by the same persoe."
Il am 30 sorry II had TO be Leslie"
lurmured Hetty.
BE nice to him, Hetty. He deserves
hat much OF you. TO say the least I
hould miss him II he found II impos-
Ible to come here on account Of"
Il wouldn't have that happen for {