The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1882-03-04
"Have | offended you IN any way |"

was unCOnSclOuSly somewhat artlf1cial. but
the truth is, Mr.. Kenrick, that accidentally
overheard your confidential communication to
your friend at the dinner.table today, and, un.
der the existing circumstances, I think it best
that you and ! should break off our former
; pleasant friendship"
"Do you really mean that that need come
between u.s."
Most certainly" she answered "Your
question surprises me, and the fact that you
could even ask such question confirms me
IN my decision | want no man to call him.
self my friend who Is no, thoroughly open.
heard you caution your friend to keep your
secret"
ut wasn't that was ashamed of it, but |
didn't want to have all the gosslps busy with
my name" he eagerly explained.
You have heard me express my opinion on
such matters before, think"
81 have, but thought you would make a
difference In my favor. Oh, Miriam, surely
you loved me a little? 2"
"Mr. Kenrick, you are insolentw cried Mi.
RAM. And, turning from him abruptly, she
fastened down the corridor and was soon out
of sight.
And when some OF her Planford friends
asked her, that autumn, II she had ever regret
ted her summer at the Sahna House. she truth
fully replied
| "By no means! On the contrary think it
was one of the wisest things | ever did; the
experience gained while there was worth a
great deal to me-"
She did not consider it necessary TO explain
what that experience was, however. She kept
her own counsel, even when one of Ralph
kenrck's cousins said
"Ralph was at Sahna, | hear. OF course
you saw him."
"Oh, yes"
And doubtless heard of his good fortune p
He would hardly keep it secret from yon," al
decided emphasis on this last word. WAS mel
not fOrtunate"
II hope il willprove HIM fortunate thIng."I
Money is very handy to have in the house
and Ralph couldn't marry without IT.
did you go to the country or to the sea this
summer 2" was Miriam's way Of declining tot
discuss Ralph's matrimonial venture.
How news does travel Miriam told no one
except Rhoda what she had heard Ralph say
to his friend, and Rhoda always declared that
she had never breathed 1t to single soul; yeti
before the autumn leaves had lost their glory
OF crimson and gold, scarlet lemon, brown
and russell, II was generally understood in|
Plainford that young Kenrick had married
that summer girl with no end Of money, and
all his devotion to Miriam Thorndyke meant
nothing
Luckily Miriam did not know that a scorel
of tongues were discussing her "disappoint-l
ment;" she had not the least notion how often
she was pitled because Kenrick had Tilted her
1t was quite enough to have bestowed her love
on worthless object; this halfcontemptuous
pity would have nearly maddened her, had she
been cogniZant of IT,
One beautiful afternoon, early in November,
Miriam was walking home from school by an
unusual and Out.of.the-way route; the rich
glory Of Indian summer had beguiled her into
a long solitary stroll, and she thought of moth
ing less than meeting with Ralph Kenrick.
But sudden turn in the suburban street, al.
most country lane, brought these two face to
face Both were, for q moment, too much EN-.
barrassed to speak. Woman's quick wit, how
ever, stood Miriam IN good service, and she
was the first to break the awkward silence
MIR Kenrick Is it really you?" she said.
1T is, indeed, You seem surprised to see
me, but told you intended coming here
this autumn"
"a flying vlsits'
81 hardly know 1t depends upon--upon
circumstances l may decide to settle here"
"How will your wife like our quiet town,
after gay San Francisco" Miriam was de.
termined to allude to his wife just as if there
had never been probability that she might
fill that place
my Wife"
les, ANSWERED. NJ HItiD surprised al HIS
evident amaZement. "Ho GU forgot that knew
of her existence"
Then you knew more than l ever did. II
have no wife What do you mean?''
us she dead ?" asked Miriam, gently.
But her tenderness was wasted; kenrlck
laughed heartily as he answered.
"She never existed! | have never been mar
ried. What made you suspect such a thing?"
Mr. Kenrlck your jests are ill.lmed, if you,
are jesting Remember, heard you tell your
frlond at the Sahna House that you had mar.
ried Juliet Eustice."
Kenrlcks puzzled face grew strangely lumi-
nant Stopping suddenly in the untrequented
street, he looked straight into Mirlams soft,
dark eyes, and SAID earnestly:
"Was that all yon heard? ?" /
Not quite, but enough
Pardon me, ii was not So that was why
you were so cool to me? If you had heard
that my hasty journey to San Francisco was
on account of a playa Gerry light comedy
that | had written. \ manager there made
me good offer for it, on condition that |
would make few alterations in it, and pre-
ferred to discuss the changes with him by
word Of mouth"
why didn't you tell me-"
II was ashamed to do so until was sure
the play would be successful. l remembered
how severe you had always been upon men of
genius or average ability who lent their pens
to such work; how often you had expressed
your contempt of a man who would write a
sensational play or novel"
who is Juliet Eustiee?"
The heroine of my comedy. The hero was
at first in love with Miriam Arnold q wrote
the play before knew you, or should never
have taken that nance, but she did not fall in
love with him, SO | married him to Juliet.
Oh, Miriam, what mean opinion you must
have had of me. No wonder you said l In
suited you, if you thought l was married
man. No, Miriam, 1 am not married, and new
er shall be unless you will be my wife. Sure
ly you must have known that loved your"
They were nearing the town, and Kenrick
had to choose his words and guard his tones,