The broad ax., 1915-05-01
Her Long
Kept Secret
She Told II Frankly and Was
Glad That She Did.
By BYRON \. KELLEY.

AOu IQ0A klO(h u 1~Ae~~@ = ~--~~~@~~
and critical fashion. When a woman
has reached her twenty-eighth year
she Is either at her worst or her best,
and Virginia was at her best Her
glass told her that and the faces Of
her friends OF her own age who had
faded about her until she was left Ike
the one perfect flower In a cluster, con-
spicuous by her brightness
Her little sister had just announced
that Mr.. Bridges had driven up In
front OF the house and was waiting 70
take her driving.
But Virginia sat still. She had Just
been making a resolution never to 60
driving with him again, and here he
was. She clinched her hands tight
"Just this onceT' she pleaded to her
conscience. Her eyes met the longing
ones In the glass. Just this once. and
IN tell him. l win be honest His
heart shan't break even II mine does"
She turned TO her sister.
Dorothy. dear. tell Mr.. Bridges I'll
be right down." she said gently. Then
she rose and put on her hat
It did seem so good 20 be sitting be
side him again-if only 1t were not for
that miserable thing which she had
promised herself she would make
known TO him before the drive was
ended. She looked at his face. II was
such a strong. good face. Oh. It would
be bitterly hard to tell himl
He seemed to have something on bis
mind too, be was so grave and silent.
and whenever he looked at her II WIS
with quiet penetration.
Virginia leaned back against the thick
cushion, trying to steady herself. She
did not notice that Plume had stopped
trotting and was walking slowly. but
when a hand fell over hers she started
and looked. into the eyes OF the man
whose face had come suddenly near to
hers. .
virginia. Dear little girlF'
She knew what must come after those
words. but she could not speak.
'Virginia"-his eyes held hers-'1
love your Then he smiled his swift,
gentle smile. as II her silence had re-
assured him
That smile seemed TO break the spell
Virginia remembered that she drew her
hand from his and began to say some
thing wildly. what she did not know
until his changed. white face stopped
her.
Virginia. what are you sayingi
will not believe II. I"
His stern voice braced her.
''Oh. but you must-you mustr' she
said
Il will not believe IL. | will not be
lieve that you do not care for me-that
you have led me on just for pastime.
II isn't true. Is II. dearY His voice
had softened again He put his arm
about her and drew her against him
until her cheek touched his.
Tell me all about It," he urged IL
must know Il all There is some mis-
take somewhere. ! am sure Tell me.
Virginia
He released her gently and waited
Virginia gathered herself together des
"Iu tell you everything, Arthur" she
said Il promised myself that would
before this drive was ended. | should
have told you before only ! could not
somehow. I shall begin at the begin
ming and tell It all, and then you may
think what you please OF me.
1T happened ten years ago. when
was about eighteen and Andrew two
years older. We had known each other
always. he lived In that little gray
house next to ours until his father got |
INTO some financial difficulty and lost |
what property he bad. Mr.. Hall never
,ould get along somehow. always |
liked Andrew better than any other |
BOY; he was so good hearted and gen
lie. One night when we were walking |
home from church he asked me to mar !
y him" Virginia hurried little. 1T
vas June. and there was beautiful |
moonlight. I had never dreamed Of |
him or anybody then. but be
ooked 50 handsome and be seemed 90 |
much In earnest that I promised be
'ore / thought Then ! was frighten-
d, because I knew my people would
lever consent to It Ny mother al
Ways said she was afraid Andrew
would be Just like his father and never
mount to anything. So We decided b
Eeep our engagement secret
-Just after that Mr.. Hall was taken
NTH a great desire to 90 west He
new he could do something out there
think he had an idea that gold mug
yets could be picked mp like acorna
anyway he was perfectly crazy to 80.
md he went and took Andrew with
Tim We wrote back and forth pretty
Iteadily for awhile Andrew didn't
Ike the west very wen, and his father
vas disappointed, but they. would have
o stay there until they had earned
money enough 70 get back home with.
Ven. I don't know-I was IN school.
md there were 20 many things to take
~ time that ] guess l grew careless
bout writing. and Andrew seemed 20
row Just as careless himself Be
fooq he and hfa fafk,or 49,, ,..,--e--s /