«
I
the school-room at thoir lessons and my
own sisters aro all married and gone.
The lawn is closely shaven, smooth us
silk; tho box-liorders trim as ever; the
lieds arc guiltless of a wefd. I take
Story of a Love Thrice Offered
the path which nine years ago I took
with Alice, and I stop nuw as 1 stopped
"»nd Twice Rejected
then at the little rustic summer-house
beside the pathway. I lean in a musing,
(Tme. •
pensive mood against th«* framework of
“Mail, du you kiiow »nut 1 want to
the entrance and look absently before
say?”
me at the dancing branches wet with
"Yes. You are go'ng away. Alice
rain, at the moving patches of light and
has just b -on telling me."
sh.-ulow that the branches cast upon the
I bsiki’d al him qi t-tly. straight into
path, at the lilies-of-thc-vall"y iH'ncath
bls eye*. If four years hud taught me
the wall, at the )>ed where by and by the
nothing else, it had taught no some
sweet peas will blossom.
amount of M-ifamntrol; I could speak in
The sweet pf as were blossoming on
steady t< n< s gluncii at him with calm,
that piorning. ninoyears ago. when Ned -
unfaltering glance*, though my hi art
and I suxxl here together. My thoughts i
was *i<-k and so e and aching.
travel slowly buck across those nine j
“I am Mirty you are < "ing.” J said,
y ars, recall their history, and slowly)
steadily, in the regretful tone in wbicn
r«-turn to dwell upon the present—the |
a friend may spea : .......
for our
joys and sorrows ot to-day.
sakes. I'm for your sake i am glad. It
"Many happy returns of the day to
will I m ' such a splendid op ■<»rtunity."
you.”
lie did n»>t answer me He rose from
I start and turn my head. Round the ■
his seat ami v alked to I lie door. After
path behind tlio summer-house Ned liad
a nnniiti' I rose. U»o. St-ind ng in the
com«' suddenly upon me. Iv stands close '
disirway leaning against tn- i-rceper-
I« side me, holds out bis right band and I
covered fraim-wi rk, w • faced each other
smiles incalm. friendly, unembarrassed j
“Thu was not whut 1 cu-m to say,”
fashion.
he oliset ved al la*L
“1 hank von. You rememhor
“You're not going?"
birthday, then?”
“Whethi r I go or »ray. 'fab. depends
“Yes. My memory is very good, you
on you, " he replied slow ly, lookingdown
know. It is part ot my equipment as a
at in«.
scientist."
My vaunted self possession deserted
Netl stands, r.s he stood nino years I
me a little then; I wns conscious that a
ago, in the doorway facing me. Nine
wave of color swept into my face; my
years have aged alm. He is nearly .
glance fell. I was angry with myself
forty: his thick hair is turning a little I
for the blush: with an effort I raised my
gray, his short, busby beard >s.sprinkled :
eyes and looked at him again.
with gray threads here and there, his1
"Ymi want my advice. You must tell
frank eyes seem to hav«‘ n-ceded further
me all a^Miut tlie proposed exp -ditlon
bi-neath the grave, thoughtful brows,
first; I scarcely understand well enough
CHAPTER III
his Hgttre has grown more square, more
to advi e you."
May-day a breezy pleasant day of set; the truth must be told, he looks
“I don't want you to advise me.”
Itcrnate show» rs and sit shine. In the middle-aged!
lie looked down at me steadily.
gulden the laliui num t; c is just touched
lie looks gravely and quietly at me. I
"Mali, you know what I want.—you with yellow; the lilac is budding; the
I now us we.I as I do. I have tried again trim bi ds are guidon still with the last Ilis manner this morning is very differ
ent from his manner on that far-away
ami again to >|>euk to you you k.tow of the daffodils.
morning of nine year* ago. J Now there
thut. to«». You have always prevented
As mv step-father has just reminded
suggestion
of -
love-making.
His
«— — -
...........His
...........
fie. Ihlt now I must speak. I love you. me, this is my thirtieth birthday. is no
M.ib; if you will give me any hop«', 1 Mabel has kissed me tn her gentle fash voice takes no tender modulations, his '
will stay in England, but if not—if 1 ion and wished me many happy returns glance docs not linger long with soft
am no use liere, if there is no hupe for of the day; my step fattier lias smiled, meaning on my fac.e. I am thirty; lie is
approaching forty—we are grown pro
Inc I iniiy us well go.”
ind sighed, and slightly shrugged his saic!
There was a nolo of deep foi ling in diotilders.
Prosaic?—are we? I ean not speak
bis voice lliat set mv heart beating mad
“At tho age of thirty, my dear, an un
ly, iiyfi.lly. But next moment I was married woman prefers her birthday to for him; but I cm sp-’ak for mys'-lf.
Nim* vn-s :«•* » "i v I»n'v -r-i--', I s<
reasoning with my unreaminablo huppi be 1 irgotu-n," he remarks.
n' .s. Intti r y smiiingat it.
badly,
never beat so quicKiy. as it actios
“i prefer it to lie reniemliered,” I re
“You do not I'ldieie in my love," he ply. briskly
“Thank you for your good and beats to-day. I stand in a quiet
continu'd, in hls«|uiet. su»a«iy tone. “I wishes, Maliel."
pose, my hands loosely clasped before
luive feh your hiets'dulity.
Hut you
" Thirty! says my step-father in a me, and perhaps I look as calm as he,
must Isdievo. Mali."
musing tone.
“Thirty!" ho repeats. but the calmness is surface deep—no
“I dolM-iiove,” I returned. I lielicve«!
m«»re.
IV«- stand and. char* quietly about
tliut he loud me. but I believed, too,
•.hat Ills In»" wus lulskd on pity. I be
many tilings. For the last few weeks
lieved that it wtisii form'd growth.which
he has been from home; and he asks me
he had ciirefully fostered, uml winch, if
about the small events that have hap-
tile care and encouragenx til which he
petted in his absence; and I ask him
had Imsliiw d on it were withdrawn,
aliout tlie visit he has paid.
would «lie an easy and natural death.
“! am not sotry to get back again.“he
Four year« ag«i h«' bad l«-arnl that I
aajs: but he says it in that *ol>«-r, n «••
cured for him; th«* thought of my unre
ter-of-fai-t tone which admits of no flat
quited hive iiud pained him constantly;
tering personal interpretations.
h • had lu'en very sorry for me, very
"You are tired at last of traveling?'
gruleful to me; he bail longed mid
"Not of trave'ing—but of coun- v
ulrlven to pay the debt of affection
holts«- visits." he replies, with a grave
winch, uiii.d.i-d, 1 had lu'stowcd. Ami
yet humorous smile. “Yes 1 b-licv vou
his heart, hud unswcrisi the demand he
ar« right,"he admits, after a tnvimr.t,
made upon it. He lov.-d mv. 1
smiling quickly but gravely aga-n, “1
w uiclxd in« luve grow, road it in
am tired of wandering.”
•ofter glances winch nowadays lie gave
“'The African explorer is settlin'*
me. hear«l ll in th« gentler, less m»s-
down into a stay-at-home countr
terful tonen with which lie s|H>kc to me.
squire." I answer.
Hut such hive was humiliating more
"For awhile.”
humiliating than bis indifference
"You do not expect tne j »g-trot lit«» t<>
been, lie loved me, not inevitably,
suit you?"
of dvlib<>rate. anxious desin«.
“Not for l«>ng." lie docs not sigl
»nd sighs "Thirty! Well. | suppose
“1 d«» lu-lievv.“ I said. “I think
a'"l vet there is a sttg n-stiua of a si-j
an old maid 1« useful in a family "
love nt* but I think, too, that if you
I laugh, "i aiu nut an old maid yet, tn li t loice in which 1« aiitwers.
try you will forget me."
"IVlilist there are worlds to cxplor«
papa "
“.Miib, you ar«' cruel!" he «-xdalmed
you w ill never ba oontent!"
"No?"
In a quiet vol«*«*, but reprimchfully.
■its gray eyes rest on me. They do
Ills mild Interrogative lone m certain
He mud«* i.o furl her protesi. no
ly provoking; my own tone has some, not ( xactly smile; it would be dilth-ub
stronger denial,
I'rotests were not thing. 1 aultlit, of spinster-like sharp to corriwtlv describe th«' expression it
much in Neds way. hut I chose to igs ness as 1 reply.
their depths. Th«-y rest on me with t>
non- that truth, In my pride and Idl
"I feel quite as young as 1 desire to long l«M»k; then lie glanc' ssiow ly awa-.
tern« ss I ct«.se t,» tell my-elf that he feel.”
al the slender rain-laden br-a-i«-ii« s «>
knew h«> would, if hetrh'd, forget. Love
he laburnum, which sway iighilv it
"That is satisfactory. It is not every
which is based on gratitude an<l pity one n no at thirty still feels h rs. lf to Ate brei-xe and shake down showers o.
will die an easy death when the basis
ainslrops w inch sparkle in the sun
l<c an ornament in tho matrimonial
of gr 'tttmh* nid pity I as been withdraw n. market.”
I
light as they fall.
You think ic tickle, Mak. IVrhaps
I turn awav silently, but mv silence
“Mliil" Itf«» lasts. Mab. I shall ncvci
1 1| S« rve Tour judgment; I h.ivu proved serves no pti' pos»«
l»e content," s all he says; luit his ton.
ti. Je«>n<e. 1 ahull not change again, 1
“An ornament- but relegated to the has a little thrill of tlet-p m< : ai>,g an-
think."
shelf,“ eontinu<<s my stepfather, in a for a moment my heart s stands sin!
lie <|«alitled his nsnertion by “I musing tone, with
a contemplative then Istunds for want al a pa-MOIIAl
think,” for Ne«l's
smile.
speed that keeps mt» silent whether i
«a>s (cmt>er.’«t -I
“Af» has. at all events, its advan- will or no.
di'vbt exprt'-sed ill
For nine long years the r C‘»nl of oh
tages, papa. ~»rv asm» at ll irly la ', to
*|e < «me a step tv
talk with one an >t!r»r has > .* I a
touch one.”
hands in his „ml I
lie profess,-« not to hear me. “As far of saf< commonplaces, iii>>.<
i«.
ere*. In «pile «»f tl
Only at rar
as 1 ean see, my dear. I»irn«-l seems to «Motional.
inlerv..’
for on" ¡.»ng bliss
aennts that desert of years ¡.a-, i vati’xi.
leave you to grace that sb< If ”
fill of happin'-ss. M.v
AH1
glune . a
a tone,
‘
that - ha*
no- won
I have cat < led iln» pinafore I am mak
head km hf*^ with
ts« d io tai ,
ing to a di-iuiil u indo« . I, too. pron as «'« r whet 1 ’ r the ion* I
Then resoiuinl I st-,
......
Nov year» ayo ■ ! j."
p < ? h i.
.
to lie deaf to the Kord« which I »ill not 1« «|i-.i»l
the lore.th.A « tupievi
n«»ss away from tn«» proudly. I u - jm . i ma
IlH».
prl c t«» mv ait.
I. I me give vou credi* for oac vir- 1«. For nine year* I have k"p,vn n VI,
“No ** trlt tw< oi
Ihm-
AV»|| you
T«> «lay I
t*
<» smistili voie»' <sm• nur«, "You lunelinvM, bitter heartaJMN
an i *«■ r «»ne
'.?i
iruthiulIrF-
haw.
perhaps,
too
Hill««
t
ri'lF.
hs nine
nt
You
han
niil'd
on
llarta-t
“As
s a« you likc-
it »• n
ur*. an«l ' HI are i'nwill- year* ago I liad too much. !t | Ib.nqmt
trwtbf •iHy, you «n<Ay
* J, fitT| I |»f* lit i»k ns bop I«» »! *
he »till can'd for me. bK slbtace sh«>uld
“Diti you |ow<* n>«'
I
IV o
i d that
th»‘l. ' ' !
« t I ? » «> t \ n ‘
va- ms n«> longer not staml !»»»»i-tn us; I wl>»'|,l let no
h i • « cr io hurl me; but the cen-montea, no <x>nv«>ntionalitics spoil
•* M
Htapm w I .im not ahr -
s vuln. In •I « c of my thirty our live».
Tbr Uvinning ot my love «ta'<*s a i«mg
I
"V hy ar* you—not content?" I asked
way l»H*k.”
with burning
ger and wi.to My tone in steady with an «-fort.
I dry« my hamta fr-»m hh«. t and poi
thcm tighlly tog»'ih^r Ix hi-wl t»w
N '
> ■
1 , l
ird«n. Th«
tv
I *• t • Ca l«iv»en<t)
’•vn *re in
MAb.
%
/
r
I
V
)
t »
r
I
I
[
•
/
f? llave you fancied I still
•nT
'irei for a moment. Then:
;in-»w<-re I, truthfully, “I have
*1. You have often been cold
nd sum -limes a little cruel; but
>.'.1 ve in your heart you lovo me: 1
ve read .our love in a thousand
av ."
“You have been mistaken." I returned,
harshly. “You have read what doesn't
exist."
Ho tva* silent for a few moments' space.
“Y<>u do not lo«-e me. Nab?" ho asked,
in a gri< v« d tone through which a thread
of surprise ran. 'I hat note of surprise
braced mv pride, which his sorrow
would have otherwise sufb.'ned. “You
used to love me!"
“Wuy should 1 l»e more constant than
you? 1 was a child—no more than a
child. Why «ill you always rvmernlier
that childish folly against me? One
outgrows one's childish lovesand hates."
“Is that my answer, .Mab?*’
“Yes."
I turned away from tho door of the
summer-house; f went slowly a little
way along tile garden path. He followetl.
“You will very quickly forge;, me,
Ned." I said; and 1 ’ Pipped hastily, in
tinr- ’ i "'f •'< a so!> that r-'s ».
“We neeu not discuss that question,”
he r< plied.
“Itia year or two you will be rather
glad that I refused ■ oil.”
He half smiled. “Yon hold one view
of mv character. Jilab, and I another."
lie responded, quietly.
Very slowly wo walked toward the
house. When we reached it. I »poke
again.
“Shall you—go away?" 1 faltered.
“Yes. You have decided that point
for me." ho replied.
*
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