Show i 1111 11 jbf 0 ONLY NL vi T THROUGH H ROUGH LO LOVE I 1 V T E by ANNE HIBBARD n copyright kathreen Ka had been spending the afternoon at the art exhibition when she was leaving she pushed her way through the hall and near the door passed the same gay group who bad had caught her attention once before they did not see her this time she was gure sure louisa was eagerly ariti elsing a picture with a tall young lady and her brother was leaning over his pretty blonde companion with some laughing remark no they did not see her she ran down the stairs and walked along the crowded thoroughfare trying not to think why did she feel so hurt and angry and so inclined to cryb why should they have cared to recognize her a girl in a shabby gowns it was more than a year since they had seen her and then only for a few weeks but they had been such good friends dur ing that short time true it was in a country village where here there was mas no fashionable society and boarding at the same farm house they were thrown much together and she was a very pleasant companion and had the knack of finding the shad shadiest lest rides and the nooks where the blackberries grew thickest it if it had been anyone but louisa and and dr leigh she checked a rising sob and turned into a side street it was almost deserted and hardly half a square away was a tall tall young man coming toward her she recognized him instantly and arid her first impulse was as to turn back but no he might have seen her she would not run away she threw her head proudly up and looted straight before her he ile might recognize her now he was alono but she would not see him he ile was quite near now and her heart was beating fast would he pass her bya by miss graydon the joyful sur prise in his tone sounded very gen but she would not notice it how do you do dr leigh she said coldly ignoring his outstretch ed hand her expression changed are arp you not going to shake hands with me miss katherine 7 she put her hand unwillingly into his k how ilow long have you been in towne where are you 7 9 he ques cloned I 1 have been in town eight months she said distinctly and I 1 am boarding in south benton street she took es pedal satisfaction in naming the un fashionable quarter katherine was an orphan and was trying hard to cultivate her voice she managed to make ends meet by tak ing pupils of her own they walked on in silence a few minutes they had turned into a street where the bouses houses were tall and shabby and built close together and you are living down here he said indicating the seemingly end less roy row of houses alone miss katherine 7 yes alone my landlady and her family are very respectable and good hearted but hardly congenial yes I 1 am practically alone this Is the place I 1 cant ask you in dr leigh 1 I have too much consideration tor for your feelings mrs hawkins front parlor Is something to weep over now and then katherine met dr leigh walking in benton s street treet and he always joined her looking sur and pleased she knew he worked hard at his profession and also that the large fortune left by his father rendered it quite unnecessary she ventured to question him once when the subject was touched upon I 1 love my work he said and I 1 should not be happy idle but you need not be idle there are a hundred things to interest one and fill one s time katherine began to look forward to these walks and talks and to the great bunches of bolets and hot house roes ro es she often to fo ind in her room with murray leigh s card at cached one day she found her washer wom an waiting for her with the plea that she would come to see her sick daughter I 1 hate to bother you miss but she s ben be n bryin fur you an it seems like she would git better it if you would come an sing fur her she s that low spirited sperl ted she cant can t git well its it s that terrible la grippy miss so katherine went taking with her leigh s lavish gitt gift ol 01 flowers I 1 can at least add a little bright ness to some one else s life she thought and herself felt brighter tw fr the good it did the child she went often after that not know ing how often she barely missed meet ing dr leigh on the narrow stair fase rase one evening murray leigh stop ped quietly to listen a moment at tho halt half open door when the song was wab finished he entered without knocking and katherine rose flushed and agi bated and bade the invalid a hurried good night walt wait five minutes miss graydon and I 1 will go home with you leigh said oh I 1 am not in the least timid I 1 will not trouble you dr leigh good night mamie she hurried through the doorway but leigh followed her if you wont won t wait for me miss graydon he said blocking the pas sage I 1 will leave my patient and go with aou ou now stoned smiled out katherine thought v S ah s he looked very determined for a moment she hesitated ball half inclined to resent bis his tone then she said very well I 1 will wait at the street door in a few minutes he joined her there it was quite dark now except for the stars that were out in force and as they stepped out into the emp ty street katherine Kather lne felt glad that she was not alone so you are the dr leeg the they y re gard with such reverence she said my landlady said they employed somo some sort of quack she thought leigh laughed and you are their lady bountiful I 1 did not dream of meeting you there miss graydon I 1 dare say not she answered you thought such a butterfly as I 1 would seek gayer haunts he looked down at her in quick sur prise for it was the first touch of or bitterness he had heard from her you have done my patient no end pt good he said sald cheerfully igno ignot ing her tone she will be up in a day or two but im I 1 m afraid you given away my flowers not all of them said katherine Kather lne glancing down at a tiny bunch of violets say you will marry me kitty pinned on bis his jacket I 1 am glad youve had a successful fight with that terrible la grippy she laugh ed a little but the laugh was very near to tears they have been doing very well since malloy died dr leigh said the eon son la is a great help to his moth er and the daughter too Is a good little thing they seem quite con tented in their hard bard narrow life poor things I 1 don t pity them katherine Kather lne ex claimed I 1 envy them oh not no said dr leigh it sure ly might be worse but I 1 don t under stand your envying them it if you had ever been alone you would poor poon little girl muttered leigh ills his own heart was beating rapidly at last he said in a low tone you need not be alone a day long er you know that don t you kath erine katherine almost stopped as she turned to look at him startled I 1 know you don t care tor for me ho he went on though you like me well enough in a friendly way your man ner has always made that clear but katherine Kather lne I 1 could make you care if you ou were my wife and at least yo i would not be alone nor have that hor drudgery of teaching Is not that reason enough tor for marrying me I 1 should have to be far worse off than I 1 am she answered slowly be tore fore I 1 could do that leigh flushed don dont t you think that is a little harda he said somewhat bitterly then katherine Kather lne broke down and burled buried her face in her handkerchief you misunderstood me I 1 am very sorry then prove that you are sorry my saying you will marry me he waited a minute and then took the hand which lay on his arm it if you knew how I 1 love you dear he said persuasively kitty I 1 have always longed to call you that say you will marry me kitty I 1 will marry you kitty because she hesitated my darling I 1 don dont t care why so long as you marry me it makes no difference it makes a difference to me I 1 would never marry tor for the reasons you gave I 1 will marry you because I 1 love you and though they were in the ful ylare of the electric light he put his arms about her and bent and kissed her lips I 1 am the happiest fellow in the world he said it Is hard to believe that I 1 am the same miserable girl who left here two hours ago katherine Kather lne said when she b bade ade him good night what a wonderful difference love can make in one a life i tf waisa WM iSA autu putu Pu tu f |