I, or any one, could ever have hated you. Why, I
worshiped you as some little empress when I used to see you in your
bright sashes and yellow kid boots, with the amber beads around your
neck; and if the contrast between your finery and my high-necked gingham
apron and white sun-bonnet sometimes struck me painfully, I had no wish
to take the boots and sashes from you, whom they fitted so admirably;
and as we grew older and you did not shrink from or slight Jerrie
Crawford, I cannot tell you how great was the love which grew in my
heart for you, the dearest girl friend I ever had, and a thousand times
dearer now that I know you are my cousin.'

Maude was silent for a moment, and then she asked abruptly:

'Jerrie, why did you never fall in love with Harold?'

'Oh, Maude!' and Jerrie started as if Maude had struck her, while the
tell-tale blood rushed to her face, and into her eyes there came a look
which even Maude could not understand.

'Jerrie,' she exclaimed, 'forgive me. I didn't know, I never guessed, I
was go stupid; but I have been thinking so much since Harold went away.
Does he know about you? who you are? and how long before he will come
home?'

'Judge St. Claire wrote him everything three days ago,' Jerrie replied,
'and told him how sick you were. That will surely bring him at once, if
it is possible for him to leave; but it will he three or four days now
before the letter will reach him, and take a week for him to come. Would
you like to see him very much?'

'Yes,' Maude answered with a sob, 'very much, but I never shall. Jerrie,
did Harold ever--did he--does he--love you?'

'He never told me so,' Jerrie answered, frankly; 'but I have thought
that he loved you'

'N--no,' Maude answered, piteously, with the great tears in her eyes.
'It is all a mistake, and when I am dead and Harold comes, promise to
tell him something from me, will you?'

'Yes,' Jerrie answered, and Maude continued:

'Tell him the very first time you and he are alone together, and speak
of me, that I have been thinking and thinking until it came to me clear
as day that it was all a mistake, a stupid blunder on my part. I was
always stupid, you know; but I believe my brain is a little clearer now.
Will you tell him, Jerrie?'

'Mistake about what?' Jerrie asked with a vague apprehension that the
task imposed upon her might not be a pleasant one if she know all it
involved.

'Harold will tell you what,' Maude answered 'He will under