Year: 1878




"How should it have?" he said, with


little forced laugh. 81 haven't felt
quite well for few days, that's all.


But I'll come around by-and-by. Don't
say anything to mother about it-she
doesn't know. and there's no use in her


worrying over me. She couldn't help
me if she knew"


''Is it serious, Roberto" Her eyes
were grave now, as they rested ques-
tioningly on his face"


Don't ask me TO tell you ANYTHING
more about it," he said, turning alb
ruptly away. ''Men have lived through
1t before now, and L SHALL" he added,
with another laugh. Don't bother
your head about me. Helen, but enjoy
yourself as best you can"


1t was a pleasant ride home, in spite
of the thoughts that would keep COM
ing into Robert Braith's mind. She
was by his side. aud he loved her.


The old summer seemed to come back
again, with its Eight on land and sea-
to Robert. The dream of his heart was
just as sweet as it had been in the van
ished days. She had not changed at
all since then, but was the same win
ming woman who had won his heart
away and would keep it forever.


The days passed like charmed ones,
with rows upon the river, and long de
lightful walks at sunset time, with
songs in the brief, delicious evenings,
and quiet talks about books and the
men and women who wrote them.
Robert was not her interior in the cul-
ture which comes from reading good
books. Because he was a farmer was
no reason why he should be ignorant
and uncultivated. He had studied and
formed wide acquaintance with earnest
thoughtful men-through the books
they had written-and in this way he
had educated himself to a much higher
level than most of the young men Hell
en- Hunt met in her own circle of soci-
ETY. at home But because he lacked
their self-esteem and conceit, Robert
al dc
in mind and manners, which
those she came in contact with in her
own sphere of life ought to have, and
did have, for all he knew to the con-
trary. Perhaps he was right in think
ing that they did not always.


One day Jerome Alstyne came out
from the city. Robert had heard that
he was lover of Helen's, and he was
sure of it when he saw the mans face
at their meeting. But Helen showed
no such sudden gladness as ought to
express itself in the face of a woman
when she meets the man she loves, and
Robert felt satisfied that she did not
care for Alstyne as he did for her, and |
the thought brought sense of exulta-
ton to him.


Alstyne did nos stay long. When he |
went away he carried a face which had
a look OF defeat in il. He had striyen |
to win the woman he loved and failed.
From the bottom of his heart Robert
pitied him. He had not liked the man
very well before, but when he drove
down to the station with him, and saw
how deeply he felt the loss of what he
had hoped to win, a feeling of kindness
came over him. Must they not both
bear henceforth a sorrow which came
Of loving one neither might possess?


''Braith, you are sorry for me-you
pity me-" he said. ST thank you for |
il. You understand what there is to |
pity me for. You can well afford to |
pity me, since you have won what l
have lost. L wish you all the happi- |
ness ] had hoped for myself"


''I-I don't understand you," Rob-
srt said, with a strange thrill at his
heart. 81 have won nothing you
would have priced"


'Do you call Helen Hunts love
lothing?" Alstyne cried. 81 would
give the world for it if had it to give.


"You are Mistaken" Robert an
,wered. L.


But Alstyne interrupted him.


81 am not blind" he said. ''She
owes you, and you will find it so when
he day comes for you to tell her what
you must, some day"


She love himi There was world of
-apture in the thought. But-and the
spectre which comes to sit by
your hearth and mine came into his
leart then-their ways in life were so
vide apart that they could not be
,ridged over. He could never ask this
to stoop to his lowly life. And
le could not lift himself to hers. And
-et she loved HIM! He could not for
me moment forget that. And to know
{ was so sweet. so unutterably sad.


The days after that went by more
ike dream than ever. He tried TO
,eep away from her, but his heart
would not let him. He tried TO school
himself TO the thought that, since he
light not have her for his own, he
ught not to think of her as a man
kinks of the woman he hopes to win.
But he could not do that. He could
My love her, and tell himself that his
owe was but vain one.


But it could not always go on in that
way. Fate took the matter i'm her own
lands at last.


Robert was at work IN the meadow
ne AFTERNOON. The loaded wagon was
riven away to the barn, and he sat
own to rest until its return. As he
at there, Helen came down the lane.
he saw him, and came across the
meadow and sat beside him, under the
Id apple tree.


What they talked about they never
ould tell. He remembered, i'm a vague
vay, that they saw darkening sky,
ut that was all, until the sudden fury
f the summer shower broke upon
hem. A flash of binding brightness,
cry from her, a crash, as if heaven
nd earth were being rent in twain.
nd he was by her side, with her head


L =. H.. |