His Sombre Rivals

e was disposed to say more, if the opportunity offered. His hopes sank as he saw that the first floor was darkened, and in answer to his summons Jinny informed him that the major and Mi

ng that he must see one who was then a stranger. The meaning of this was all too plain, and as he walked away in the June starlight he admitted it fully. Another life had become essential to his own. And

harmonize with the story of the young girl's fatigue. The faint rays, however, could reveal noth

st, and before he took his leave he t

will express my regret that the day proved so exceedingly wearisome." Mrs. Mayburn lifted her keen gray eyes to her nephew's face, and a slow rising flush appeared under her scrutiny. Then she said gently,

he grave and

you are in

mnly, and with these vague yet signific

just such another evening as that which had smiled upon his first coming to his aunt's residence, only now there was summer warmth in the air, and the richer, fuller promise of the year. The fragrance that filled the air, if less delica

r; then he went forward to greet her, almost impetuously, with a glow in his face and a light in his eyes which no one had

e all missed you more than we dare tell you;"

on, his all-absorbing hope, blinded him to the character of her greeting, and led him to give it a meaning it did not possess. Sh

m exclaimed with

told you I would tell you, but I coul

or two to the tree, and le

drive-our return, you remember," she began incoherently. "You asked where my thoughts

ation, and the frank, generous girl waited for no conventional

for you have never shown other than the kindly regard which was most natural, knowing that I was Hilland's friend. I have not been frank either, or I should have learned the truth long ago. I disguised the growing interest I felt in you from

my friend, also

rnestly as he repli

ringly. "You will see that it has all been a mistake, a misunderstanding; and

n feel differe

at?" she moaned, buryin

r even in a small

pped toward her. "Why are you so moved, Miss St. John?" he asked

ickly as to hide the tears that dimmed her lustrous eyes. His lip q

me a compliment," she

en that an indomitable will was resuming sway. "Certainly," he continued, "and such compliments you have received before an

t him doubtingly, as sh

regard y

experience,

surprise, and her tones grew a little cold an

our experience as

d, with strong emphasis, "or that I should not have estee

ed, "there are so many othe

am sure you have had to inflict similar disa

ey did. One is already married, and another I happen to know is engaged. I'm sure I'm glad, however. Your

oubt

asking me, 'Could you

hat did you mean by saying that I should soon learn to feel differently,

; and she saw that her words were holl

Your father would say that I had adopted an-army-of-observation tactics, and I might have remembered that such armies rarely accomplish much.

m, and you certainly have no

I had manifested the feeling"-the young girl smiled slightly at the word-"which you inspired, you would soon have taught me the wisdom of

anything which adds to his stores of wisdom, and certainly not so slight an 'affair' as a 'vacation episode.' Now th

nt and I will com

which there was no occasion-that she had interpreted a cool, self-poised man by her own passionate heart and boundless love. In brief, she feared she had been sentimental over an occasion which Graham, as he had suggested, was able to view philosophically. She had put a higher estimate on his disappointment than he, apparently; and she had too much of her father's spirit, and too much womanly pride not to resent this, even though she was partially disarmed by this very disappointment, and still more so by his self-accusation and his tribute to Hilland. B

ffence, even though he sank low in her estimation; but such was the delicacy of her perceptions that she half divined the trouble he sedulously strove to hide. He felt as if he could sit down and cry like a c

m when we meet of my first and characteristic siege of a woman's heart, of the extreme and prudent caution with which I opened my distant parallels, and how, at last, when I came within telescopic sight of the prize, I found that he had already

ould rather that she married Hilland than any other man in the world. We thus start on the right basis for friendship, and there need be no awkward restraint on either side. I must now pay my r

pressed a fervent kiss upon it, and murmured: "Thank God, the writer of this has blood in his veins; and yet-and yet-he looked at first as if he had recei

slowly and thoughtfully thr