WHERE THE ROADS CROSS.

North Otago Times, 1 November 1906, Page 1 (Supplement)

WHERE THE ROADS CROSS.

IIY ELLA (IUUOEJfHEIMER.

Tho girl sat by an open lire, looking with a sad smile on her lips at the ugly token of friendship that, lay in her lap. It was an elaborate bonbon box, of tasteless design and hideous combination of colour. The thing itself oft'ended her sense of tho beautiful, but.her sadness lay deeper than that. She was wondering—perhaps rebelling against that unfair partiality that l'rovidcnca shows to some favoured few, while it is so niggardly to others. She thought of the man who had sent the gift that lay before her. How ugly and awkward and uncouth he was I How wanting in all the graces that go to make life attractive ! And yot how gencous his heart; how brilliant his mind; how beautiful'his soul,

Suddenly she caught sight of a note that had fallen to the ground unnoticed. It was only a few lines, ill which tho young man asked if ho might see her that, evening-alone I A hot blush spread over the girl's fair face, as she realized what it all meant. Was it possible that he had been loving her all the time and she never knew ? She thought feverishly of all tlieir past friendship, and wondered if she were to blame. The young man miserably aware of his own deficiencies, wns so reserved 'hat few ever had a glance at his inner self. Hut tho girl's ken sensibility had detected the licauly of his hidden nature, and in the warmth of her sweet sympathy a new light had blossomed in his lonely soul.

A wave of sweet, pitying tenderness and love, spread through the girl's Irnrt and brought tears to lie" gentle eyes. She sat motionless for a while ; then she hastily walked to the window and opened it—for she was stifling. She would love him ; she. must love him—yes, she did love him I

Hut the young man did not come that night, for—perhaps. at the very moment when !h> girl's heart was trembling; wiih pitying love for him —he had suffered a horrible accident, which laid him low for many months. At fn;,st she was overcome by a poignant g-ief. She felt that she must go to him with the glad tidings (hat would bring such sweet comfort to bis stilYoring. But sbo was n sensitive little creature, afraid that 110 one would understand and sli) did not have the courage to disclose her seret to anyone,

Finally the summer season rolled around, and still the young man remained ft prisoner to his couch. With a sorrowful heart the girl made ready to go with her parents to their cottage by the sea. How long and lonely were those lazy summer days—until there cainc a new experience into her life. The experience of a companionship with i a type of man altogether novel to the unsophiscated girl.

He was the personification of manly beauty, this one who glided into lie" life almost imperceptibly. There was something irresistible about his towering strength and masterful ways. He gained complete hold of her, and she found herself rowing, lishing and dancing with him constantly and almost against her will. When he was not present how easy was it for her to analyze her feelings how fully sh:* realized the limitations of his simple nature; how well she knew that he satislled neither her mental not her spiritual needs! At these moments the dark eyes of the suffering man so far away seemed to look into her own "eproachfully, Ah! she could free herself from this galling'chain of'flowers that was binding her closer and closer evcy hour. Hut it was so seldom that he was not present, and as soon as he appeared, with his blithe happy nature, liis indefinite magnetism took such hold of her that she found herself helpless against, the st-ango fascination. in the midst of (heso events there came a note one day f"om the faraway lover. Willi what expectant joy be told her that he was quite well again, that all he needed for a complete recovery of strength and happiness was the long-anticipated visit which he would make he" before long.

A sharp pain shot through her as she read the words, but a sense of relief at the same time, for now that he was coming this horrible uncertainty in which she was living would he ended—one way or the other.

It was a week later, and the girl sat in the drawing room, wailing for the escort who was to take her to the dance. How broad and handsome he looked as lie came up to her with the light of admiration in his eyes, saying sweet nothings in his boyish way. As she jumped up to go he came close to her and pleaded in a low tone:

"Not yet ! there's plenty of time, and I want .to talk with you." She protested, but as he stood there, towering over her, looking at her so earnestly with his clear, honest eyes, she felt helpless. Even her physical strength seemed to desert iier, and she sank into a chair, Ho sat down beside her, and took one of her limp hands in his.

At that moment the girl's face turned pale as death, and her eyes dilated with excitement, There in the doorway stood her old lover, the glad welcome in his eyes turned into a never-to-be-forgotten look of dull despair as he caught sight of the man bending over her. He bowed his head and turned to go without a word.

The girl's resolution formed itself in a moment, Sim arose pale and beautiful in her new-found strength.

"I'hilip!" she called, and the music of her sweet voice calling him by his first name brought the blood to the cheek of the wondering man as he slopped on the threshold. Then the gi"l turned to the man next Ivt. lie had risen as she arose and stood facing the figure in the door. She laid' her hand gently on his arm. "I have been very, very wrong," she faltered, "f should have told you long ago Unit—l am engaged to be married. Here," pointing to the transfigured man, who came towards her with outstretched hands, "here is my fiance."