Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1919-12-18
WAY OF SECRETS
BY NELL ADAlR.

go on thinking that you have Il per.
fectly good secret, which no one in
the world suspects. and all at once the
secret will pop out at you--laughipg,
so to speak, i'll your face.
l knew, when l confided in Sallie
and Polly, the twins that they were
absolutely trustworthy. Neither OF
these cousins would betray me, if it
cost her life. You see. we We're
brought up together, and felt Il mutual
interest in each others welfare. From
pinafore days; we freely contided our
troubles and joys, cOnfesSing the bud
ding attachments too, which seem too
silly to tell ones mother. didn't have
Il mother though | tried to borrow
theirs until was old enough to keep
house for Daddy. l could feel that
her sympathy in my case. was not the
same as it was with the twin daugll-
ters. | can't remember just when
began to care for David. For that was
the secret-ny love for David. which
l kept buried from sight in the worth
lest corner of my heart.
David was so good and wise and SUI
perior altogether, that it seemed pre-
sumption for foolish me, to love him
at all. But I did--and that was un-,.
avodable. Mise as David was, this
fact never entered his head. He was
so much older. you see and accustom-
ed to the society of older and more
important persons than his senior part
ner's daughter.
In n
when daddy was left alone in the big
house, and l growing up over at Aunt
Nlollie's David managed the greater
part OF the business, While daddy form
| ed a habit of wandering about in dis
tant lands in search of forgetfuness.
Now, that he was back contented with
his loved wife's daughter David was
still left the burden Of care-having
so long been the business head. And
that may have accounted for the new
Worry wrinkles around his eyes and
i the Whitening hair at his temples.
which only made him more distinguish
ed and attractive in my eyes.
| We had spent many comfy evenings
together before daddy's library fire.
when my dresses We're growing longer.
and my hair learning the process os
being done up" My! How loved
David then; he was the hero of every
book that | read and every play that
saw, and he never guessed.
4 With my housekeeping dignity, calne
many loSers to Woo. Yes. many,
frankly admit it. l could count more
admirers of my own, than Polly and
Sallie together, and sometimes think
that it was my Indifference which kept
them guessing.
| 1t was when my cousins accused me
of being II coquette. that contidell
to them my love for David. They
were speechlcss with. astonislmcnt at
first They couldn't understand it. I
fancy, amy more than could David.
And III HAT broke down aud cried.
"lf my love FOR him is so mbeliev-
able to you, | said, David will never
know. can't go and tell him about
IT. so shall have to live single all
my days
Why" said Sallie, David is sure
that YOU are in love With Bobby Brant.
] know this from remarks he has
made
"And he is glad for YOU" Polly add
ed 'he told me himself that Bobby
/ Brant WAS an exceptionally fine
young man."
"Glad," | exclaimed.
isn't there some way-some diplo-
malic way, ! mean, Sallie suggested,
"that YOU could show him your affec-
! ton? Perhaps he's like these older he
roes in books-loving you to dstrac-
ton and seeing no hope in his case"
One evening. when I'd cried my nose
red. and had sent Bobby Brant home
in a huff. David came into the garden
as miserably hoped he would, and
seated himself at my side in the couch
hammock. He looked so nice. and
white faced and kind, that. wanted
to put my aching head right down on
his sliouider-yes | did, but instead
with the perversity which usually seiz-
ed me in his presence, gazed straight
ahead, without a welcoming smile.
Met Bobby Brant going out" he
said, and looked at me questioningly.
4 Carelessly | hummed the line of
song. Hell be coming back again
to me-"
Undoubtedly" David tersely replied
and we We're silent. Presently he
spoke.
"I'm going away in the morning,
Nell, to- be gone n very long time. I
need change of scene. This is good
bye"
l was losing him forever. Positive
/ ly the realization came to me. In
few moments he would be gone, and
there was no way that could hold
him.
Shadows enveloped US. We were
very still. Then in startling sudden
ness, Sallie's voice spoke from an in
ner room. Directly through the open
window behind us came her words:
"Poor Bobby Brant," she said, "he
knows now that his goose is cooked.
wonder if he suspects that it is Da-
vid whom Nell really loves" Didn't
you guess that she loved David long
before she told us so?" Polly asked.
"Sure." came back my other.cousin's
voice. Everybody knows that fact, I
guess, but David"
Colby / qualed in my hammock
Then breathlessly, joyously, David
/ leaned toward me-
IF that is true" he whisperea, IF
such vonderfnl, beautiful thing can
he tr2 oh! tell me Nell, and end
In. ii