A MONTH'S TRIAL

North Otago Times, 17 December 1904, Page 2 (Supplement)

A MONTH'S TRIAL

(By J. J. lfell.)

JULY TUB THIRD.

"But I—l don't see how yuu can bo sure," sho mid, gently. "I was sure Hie iirsi huir I saw you," I returned. "The- moment yon enni'.' mlo the room I foil 1 loved yuu. Thai's tlio truth, Marjory." Sho shook her head. "We've known each other only six week?—'' "Nearly seven." I cor-icnted.

She smiled, but not unkindly. "Well, nearly seven, tint what a short lifflO that is! . . . Oli, no! It's .jiulo impossible. You can't have any idea cf Iho sorl of girl ] am." "I know this," I exclaimed, "that you're, the sweetest and loveliest and-" "Don't! A moiiih honcc you may change—"

"Never, Marjory! Can't you er.ro for me a little.?"

' "A—a little is not enough. I couldn't marry a man unless—unless-" "Unless what?"

Unlets 1 eared a —a great (cal,'' tie said softly, with a beautiful colour ;n her face, .

"Is tlicraanyone else, Marjory?" I ventured.

"No. There is no one else."

"Then, may I speak to you again in-> say a mouth '("

''Wouldn't it bo belter if—if you wero just to torgot now " she asked after a pause.

I'Porgct?" I cried, indignantly. "I didn't mean lo be nasty; I didn't, .really."

; "Well, m;\y I speak to you again, idoarr''

"Uh, you must not call m 0 that! You fee, 1 might ma be any different in a mouth, and then it would, he—horrid."

'Jn a month,'' 1 observed, ironically, "you would nave plumy of time to learn, all iny good points."

' inow you aro talking foolishly." _ "Suppose," said 1. uUur a momont of silence, "suppose we wore to go on boingj govd i'l'iemls-" "Of course, I'd like tluvt," "-for a month, ywi wouldn't object?" "No; I wouldn't object.'' "I'd promise never to refer to-cr—• this," 1 s;iid, generously.

Sho nodded approvingly. "But at the end oi the month I'd ask you again, (iii, can't vim uiidorslaiul, Marjory, that I must grasp at the smalt oit chancer" Sho was silent, and 1 continue.!. "Tiil then we'd, seo each other every day, and—" "Uh. iw! Thai's far too often." "Well, every second day."

Sho looked'doubtful. "Four day.-, a week, then."

"I'll see," she and, guardedly

"So \vc cim gci. lo know tacit other lictter. and-cr-Woll, will you take jiio Oil It 1110111-ll's tlillJ, MlLljOly>** I llc'liftl, 3',)o;vkiiig more iighiiy than I i'ol't. "Today ia the third of July, till the second: of August we'll bo good uiends. Will that dor"

Eventually she agreed reluctantly.

AUGUST TUB FIItST.

It iivas growing dark hi the glen. For ilio i.evculli or eighth time Marjory .-aid dia must bo going. She vote iroiu the heather and gave her skirt a shako, aud l.roio ah), regretfully. "Are you glial or sorry?" 1 iuouired as vm look Hie home-ward path. "About what, Jack?" "About the witting of our friendship?" "Oh, I'm sorry, of coitrso, We've bad a good thno, haven't ire?" "Yes," I answered, slowly. "I think oach day .has been hotter than the oito bt'foro it—i» a way." "How unsatisfactory that sounds!" slto remarked with a laugh. "Well, it hasn't been altogether ut satisfactory month, lias it?" "Speak for yourself, please. I don't believe we've hud a whole day's rain Biiico-"

"I wasn't thinking; of the rather, Marjory." ■ "I was."

''Wore you?" I askod, looking at iter. "But wen friends may be permitted lo tlfak aoitf talk of soiimUiing olse besido tho weather."

"And even friends need not bo cross and ssieory about uothiuff," slio. roturmxi quietly.

"Sorry," I murmured, remorsefully. "But, all llio same, don't you think I'm boon very patient so far?" "Patient!" she echoed rather coldly. "Yes. During my month's trial," "Which isn't ended J'ut," she said, quickly. "What does an hour or-two matter?" I cried.

"Everything, when ono lias mado a promise," she gravely replied.

"You're tv mystery, Marjory," I sillied. I was no wiser iTgavdinjr hor heart than I had boon a mouth, previously. My desire scorned a hopeless on. "I snpposo my month's trial hiw boon ai trial to you," 1 observed presently. ''That is not a very good joke," sho eaid, smiling. ,5

"It wasn't intended for a joke at all." "It's a pity to bo serious on a lovely night liko this, Jack," "It's a pity to be serious at any time,"' I muttered, and then there was a long silenco, during which wo drew near to Marjory's abodo. "When may I we you to-morrow?" I asked hor, my heart liko a lump of lead. "To-morrow?*Lct mo see—what "'day is tomorrow ?" „ "To-morrow is tho second of August," I replied, keeping a grip on my tompcr. ''So it is. And 1 Aunt Bliza is coming to stay with us." Marjory spoke as if she adored her Aunt Eliza, which I hapjioncd to know sho did not. I had even heard hor refer to Aunt Eliza as "a stodgy old thing." "lii spito of so joyous nn event, I should liko to see you some timo tomorrow," said L "And you know why," I added under my breath.

"I expect we'll all bo at homo in tho ovening, Jack," sho returned.

"I wish to see you alone, Marjory," Anger gave place to desperate misery. This time she hesitated for an answer. "Don't yoii want to see mo to-morrow?" I whispered, ae wo halted at the gate. "Don't you?" I repeated. Sho looked past mo without speaking, Then I gave up. "This- is tlio end of our friendship, ivud everything else," I said bitterly, " Good-bye, Marjory," . Bvon wih-on I turned audi left her sho hsvd w> word for me.

AUGUST THE SECOND. my .wburni from the long melaiir

fa my parthvg with! Mar ory I noticed that tie wiudoi-s of h c r house wo ail in dirtiiesa, and) a foolisU uloa got hold of in* ®lt ras a mooiil-oss nitohi tho country road was desorlod. 1 pushd. tho' gale ,»en ns quiotly aa possible, and (dipped into' tiho gardcm, my liitoutiou uoiiiß to go Touwt to tho side of llio Jumao and steal ono of tho rosos that riw about Marjory's wukw, Yj wro ' 9 110 ifiiyiiiu wJin-l a man in lovo may do, Hut aa I stealthily crossed tho'lawn I midilonly saw that tho parlour window was opon, tuuli that smneoiio wns fritting besldojt. Apparently I had! been, un(jhsstrwl, for tho figure at tho window did not more, mid dropping flat on: tho dew-adend Brass, I lay alii], hidden by a Ihiukly-plantol flowior bed. W'hnroupon the figure at tho window w.liis|iorwl--"Uo got. up, Jack, You'll got your death of cold." , At tho sound of Marjory's voice, I fo'lt ; Jiiojo like .getting my death of warmth, ( ii'Ml I fairly glowed w'iith ?haino as I t fX'i'auiiblwl to my feet ami l orossod tha j gravol to make sonio explanation of my inwouoe in'tha garden at so unseemly an , lirtiir. « 9 "Don't mako a noiso," sh« whisporod I iHiihiiK at mo in her old friendly fashion! 9 "1 wasn't frightened, because 1 lmow it 3' Viwi you." "You n-vpcclod mo?" i ''Oh, dear, no- Hut I hoard you mako n liiiiny sound whsn you cuhwj wpiiißt tho holly bush on tho «ige of lh<>'lawn you always maiko la sanio sound whon you hurt yourself. I suppose it roliovea ywi awfully,'' "You have ovidicntly loarnt something tuout in 0 dta-iiw tho wist month," I rev marked, with w fwblo smilo. "I've [un'rnt a good dcul," j!h« returned, ta.kiii.|? a ross from her brtwit and' ldaviiii' w'-'t'n it.

_ ' Wi might givo m,e that rase, Marjory, I said wilh an offort. ,: T'h;.t's Viiiut I came for to-night. I intended to Bieal ono Irani your ivimlov,-, 1 ' "'A'liat a queer thing to do! I thought you might mivo ennio to suy good-bye—-ftliiwugli il is nwu'ly midnight," "i said good-bye some nours ago" I nv'inl i'adiy. _ "Hut you didn't wait f,-.j- nie lo say il. vliicii, I ihink, was cxtii'inely rude." " i W'i:; a,a»ry Uii'ii." "..lo .'r'.u still angry?" ''No; only sorry." "£ir;-y fur 'being nido?" ".No; sorry that I over met you.' "T'liali," tiaid Mlacjory, "is candid. And yot I'm suro I've boot qui to ii sco'id fnvnid. Haven't I, Jack?" '"u'S; you hav 0 kopt tho bargain belter than I. But if you will give mo tire rose I'll j;.-)." ''Can't wo go on being frionds?" sho ft'iiHl.Jioklins tho rose loliorlips. "\ on know Wo cifa't, MaTJory. Listen! Vn' n 'n 'T lvo °' clook! If I stay longer "What?" said Marjory, absently. She aniwaied to bo listening to the strokes of tho distant boll, and she smiled when they OMised, ?hea of a sudden she covered hoi- faeo wivh her hand? and cried softly, "What is it, Alarjoryf" I whispered in nkn'm, t "It's to-fliiorrow," sho replied at Inst, "am!—awl no ono sunns to know it b-lmt myself, I v.-'sh you'd go away, Jack." I did—about two hours later.