Year: 1877

/ upon low lOOl-slOOl near nbI lONcI
He wheeled his chair around and bent
over her.


"You seem sorry, May" he said.


She raised her head quickly.


"Why should not be?" she asked,
surprise in her voice. at was your
gift"


"You really priced my gift, then, !"
he asked again.


"Whv, of course l did, Herbert.
Why do you ask such a question:"


"For good reason, as you will see.
And now | wish to ask you still another
one; do you love me?"


"You know that do. Have not
told you again and again?"


care you sure that you have not
made a mistake and fallen in love with
the wealth and not with the man ?" he
said.


She could only look at him In bewil-
derment. Was he trying to tease her
Surely he could nbt have meant that
A scarlet flush swept over her face at
the thought. Could he think so meanly
of her9 If he could, surely, then, he
did not love her.


"You do not either love or respect
me-" she said at length" or you could
never wrong me so cruelty as to ask me
that"


"Why, then, did you give that locket,
my gift, to win MaynardP saw it
upon his watch chain to-day, and made
some jesting remarks concerning it,;
he told me that it was present from a
lady. examined the trinket pur-
posely, and saw your monogram upon
it; so you see there could be no mistake.
Now, what am | to think? | know
that he has always admired you"


Countless expressions passed over
Mays face while he was speaking, and
as he ceased she said softly:


81 will not be angry with you, Her.
bert, although your words hurt me
more than | can tell. | know how
should feel if l doubted your love for
me. | should want to die. But a wO-
mans faith is stronger than mans;
and in spite Of your cruel questions and
remarks, / feel sure that you still love
me. That love you with my whole
heart and soul l am equally sure; and
| could never part with gift from you,
much less give it to another; while |
entertain the same feeling for you that
l do now, | cannot blame you as |
ought, for jealousy makes you unrea-
sonable, and you are not really ac-
countable for what you say. think
now that | understand the whole mat
ter, and how my locket came to be where
it is. More than two months ago, Mr..
Maynard asked me to be his wife, and |
refused him because could not, and did
not love him. Nay, hear me out" as
Herbert made movement as If to inter-
rupt her. "He made some ungentle.
manly threats at the time. | have never
thought of it since until now, and as lie
has been very pleasant and friendly, l
thought that he was angry at the time,
and did not mean what he said. But
see now that he did, he thought that by
possessing himself of my locket, and
wearing it where you could see it, and
then telling you that it was a present
from lady, that you would naturally
suppose had given it to him, and would
be SO angry that you would not care to
see me again, and so there would be no
chance for an explanation, and we would
be parted forever"


"But how did he obtain possession of
itP"


81 think can tell you; Julia Forrest
loves youw


Gloves meH" again interrupted Her
bert.


eyes; do you think that / am the
only one who considers you worth
loving?"


"I don't know, l am sure; but l know
that you are the only one whose love
care to possess"


"Thank you; but whether you care to
possess 1t or not, Julia has given you
hers, and viii Maynard is aware of it.
They must have plotted together, and,
under the pretense of examining the
locket, she unclasped the chain, so that
when arose it fell to the floor. re-
member now that Mr.. Maynard stopped
to pick up his gloves after passed him
last night; he probably dropped them
purposely to hide the locket, which he
picked up with them. Are you satisfied
with my explanation, HerbertP"


"I am perfectly satisfied, my darling,
but can you forgive me for all the cruel
things that l have said to you tonight ?
l was nearly beside myself with doubt
and jealousy, or l should never have
spoken as have done"


81 forgive you freely; but l cannot
help thinking that the faith which is so
easily shaken cannot be founded upon
very deep affection.


81 admit that it may seem so, May /;
but DO love you deeply and truly, and
| could not really doubt you. Ibid not
know what to think; could not greet
you as usual with any doubt upon my
mind. came to know the truth, for
would be no woman's dupe. When l
looked into your sweet face could not
believe you false. But must have
wounded you deeply and tender, loving
little soul that you are, you do not even
show any anger toward me-"


al feel none, Herbert. / will try and
regain my locket tomorrow by telling
Julia Forrest that | understand the