The London Welshman

finished, intense the excitement of the listening crowd. Who could this girl be who had pierced even the Professor's armour, who had at one step placed herself by the side of the glorious Lesbian ? The conductor called out Myfanwy's name, and bade her come and be crowned the Queen of Welsh Poetry. Little Gwen felt overwhelmed in her obscure seat. To think that she—poor little she !-had won the prize, and won such praise, too She dared not look at Howell, she almost sank into the ground with shame and confusion. She heard her assumed name called out again. There was a great buzzing all around her. Men and women craned their necks eagerly to catch the first glimpse of the new writer. She braced herself together and with timid steps made for the platform. The great crowd grew wild with enthusiasm as they saw her slight, frail figure making its way up the narrow gang- way. She never knew how she went through the ordeal of the investiture. She never heard the impromptus of the Bards, or the song of the Pencerdd. Her heart was singing gladly at the thought that now she would not be wholly unworthy of Howell's love. She almost ran from the platform after the ceremony to her old seat next to Howell. What was the Professor's eulogy or the Archdruid's flattery to her ? She only wanted to bask in the warm sunshine of Howell's love. She flew to Howell, all breathless and expectant. Alas for the vanity of the human heart! Howell's face was drawn and haggard, his eyes were gloomy. He never said a word of praise or joy, but looked stonily at her. She gazed at him aghast, all the happiness frozen in her heart. I'm going home at last he said, sullenly picking up his hat. I suppose you'll stay here to enjoy your triumph." "No, no, Howell bach," said Gwen, meekly, I'll come home, too." They went out together, the most unhappy couple in the world. They walked in silence to the station. They entered a vacant compart- ment in the half-empty train. When they had got clear of the station, little Gwen began to cry silently, while Howell sat in haughty solitude. A sob escaped from Gwen as if her heart would break. This was more than Howell could stand. Don't think that I grudge you your success," he said. It isn't that. I'm glad you have won the prize, even though you beat me." Beat you ? repeated Gwen with a frightened gasp. But you weren't the Hywel' who nearly got the prize ?" Yes," said the young man, moodily, "I was Hywel." Oh, Howell bach, and indeed, indeed I am sorry," exclaimed poor Gwen. If I had known you were in for it, I would never have dreamed of competing." "No," answered Howell loftily, "you were quite right to compete, and I'm glad you have won- Don't, Howell bach, don't! broke in Gwen. I am sure there's a mistake somewhere. The Professor is not a fair adjudicator,—you know what they said of him after the last National Eisteddfod. He is full of all sorts of whims and fads- Don't talk nonsense said Howell gruffly. You know very well that he is the best judge in Wales, and that he would never have given you the prize if you hadn't been the best. I don't grudge you the prize or the praise, but what I can't forgive you is that you should have been so sly in sending in without telling me." It never occurred to Howell or Gwen that Howell had been equally sly." Oh, Howell," wept poor Gwen, I had no thought of deceiving you at all, at all. I was only thinking how proud you would be of me if I succeeded. You have won so many prizes, and everyone knows you are the cleverest man in the county, and I had nothing to give you in return- She could say no more. Hawell looked with a new-born pity at the slight little figure convulsed with sobs. He repeated mechanically that it was Gwen's slyness that he could not forgive. Oh, Howell," exclaimed Gwen, I know I have been to blame. I ought to have told you. But indeed, indeed, I meant no harm. I shall never again hide anything from you. I would sooner have your love than all the prizes in the world. And when I was writing about Rhiwallon, it was of you I was thinking only and always, and I was so glad you could know in that way what I could never tell you." Howell looked at the small, tear-stained face, the timid appealing eyes, the shrinking little figure. He remembered how happy they had been in the morning, and his heart smote him to think how his rude jealousy had clouded the sunshine of her day. "I am a selfish brute, Gwen fach," he ex- claimed as he folded her in his arms. Gwen lifted her tear-bedewed eyes to the handsome face so near her own. "No, Howell bach," she said, you are my hero."