Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1919-11-25

matters in such shape that even by
life" he could not have Lucy, knew
that he never could have her, and
knew that when Eugene told her the
history of yesterday he could not have
a glance or word even friendly from
her-now when he must in good truth
"give up all idea of Lucy" he was
amazed that he could have used such
words as mo particular sacrifice" and
believed them when he said theml She
had looked never in her life so bewitch-
| ingly pretty as she did to-day; and as
he walked beside her he was sure that
she was the most exquisite thing in the
world.
Lucy" he said huskily, 81 want to
tell you something. Something that
matters"
Il hope it's lively something, them"
she said, and laughed. "Papa's been
so glum today he's scarcely spoken to
me. Your Uncle George Anderson
came to see him an hour ago and they
shut themselves up in the library. and
your uncle looked as glum as papa.
I'll be glad if you'll tell me funny
story, George"
swell, it may seem one to you" he
said bitterly. "Just to begin with:
when you went away you didn't let
me know; not even word-not a
line"
Her manner persisted in being In
! consequent. "Why, no." she said. 81
just trotted off for some visits. Don't
you remember, George? We'd had
grand quarrel, and didn't speak TO
each other all the way home from
long, long drive! So, as we couldn't
play together like good children. of
course it was plain that we oughtn't
to play at ALL"
"Play!" he cried.
eyes. What I mean is that we'd come
to the point where it was time to quit
playing what we were playing"
Eat being lovers, you mean. don't
you?"
Something like that" she said light
ly. For us two, playing at being
lovers was just the same as playing at
cross-purposes. / had all the pur-
poses, and that gave you all the cross
ness; things weren't getting along at
all 1t was absurd!'
"Well, have it your own way" he
said at needn't have been absurd"
"No, it couldn't help but bel" she
informed him cheerfully. ''The way
1 am and the way You are, it couldn't
ever be anything else. So what was
the use2"
ct don't know" he sighed, and his
sigh was abysmal. "But what l want
eel to tell you was this: when you
went away, you didn't let me know
and didn't care how or when l heard
it, but I'm not like that with you.
This time I'm going away. That's
what 1 wanted to tell you. I'm going
away tomorrow night-indefinitely
Lucy, this is our last walk to-
! gether."
"Evidently!'' she said. IF you're 60
ing away tomorrow night"
'Lucy-this may be the last time
PHI see you-ever-ever in my life"
At that she looked up at him quick
ly. across her shoulder, but smiled as
brightly as before, and with the
same cordial inconsequence: "Oh. |
can hardly think that p she said sand
of course I'd be awfully sorry to think
it. You're not moving away, are you,
| to liver
81 don't know when Pm coming
back. Mother and / are starting tomor-
row night for trip around the
world"
At this she did look thoughtful.
''Your mother is going with your
GOOD heavens !" ne groaned. Lucy,
doesn't it make any difference to you
that l am going?"
At this her cordial smile instantly
appeared again.
Eyes, of course" she said. I'm sure
I'll miss you ever so much. Are you
to be gone long"
He stared at her wanly. 81 told you
! indefinitely" he said. "We've made
no plans-at all-for coming back"
"That does sound like a long trip y