The Red Cloud chief., 1884-02-01
CHAPTER TX.
A ox rup s,rr-,rror

YET drTeSteu nelIner Dy TOckS nor rapiuS.
Philip had told Grace what had passed
between him and Angela, including the
vow of secrecy.
HAS she not given any final answer"
asked his sister, sharply.
mo; is it likely?'
1.-The most likely thing in the world,
l should have supposed"
How a she know, or decide any,
thing, upon so short a notice."
Anything! She ought to be able to
say whether she loves you or not, and
whether she intends to marry you or
not"
"You forget, Grace. that until l
told'her she had no idea of anything
of the kind. 1t took her by surprise"
1t was on the tip of Grace's tongue
to say: 'How can you talk OF believe
such n~onsense?:" but she restrained her
lips.
Philip went on to plead with his sister
to be kind to his sweetheart.
81 don't understand you," he said.
"You seem jealous. or as if you disliked
her, or something; it is so unlike you;
and / should have thought that a girl
in her helpless and friendless position
would naturally appeal to your kindest
feelings, fatherless. motherlesS and
brotherless rs she is"
II should not think about her in any
way if you had not chosen to fall in
love with her. When it ome to Your
wanting to marry her. | naturally begin
to criticise her, and the more l see of
her the more l feel that she is not half
good enough for you. and does not APP
preciate YOU"
That is nonsense-and worse than
nonsense" said he. gravely. almost Sc
verely. land | must beg OF you not TO
say anything of the kind again"
So the discussion went on. Grace
holding out at first, and saving many Bit
ter things. a line of argument she main
tanned so long as Philip continued cold
and severe; but Is soon as he tried the
weapons of tenderness and persuasion,
a kiss anu a whisper of entreaty, melt
ING into tears. and abiectly promising
to do anything he liked rather than
grieve him.
'.Only. Philip" she said. putting her
arm round his neck, and speaking in a
whisper, q know some one else worth
ten thousand Miss FairfaXes-so good,
and with such a true heart, and l had
so hoped she would be the wife whom
Won would choose"
Don't, Grace! You don't know
what Won are saving. You will say
something disloyal to some friend if
You don't take care" he said, hastily.
but Grace saw a deep flush across his
face, and wondered if he had guessed.
If he would only have seen in their
proper light the different hearts o:
Thekla BerghauS and Angela Fairfax.
how happy She would have been! But
brothers, she reflected, were proverbs
ally perverse in such matters.
Nevertheless, she braced herself to
make the best of it. and to do the will
him tenderly, and desired his happi.
ness. She was therefore ~portentously
amiable TO Angela; called upon her, sa,
with her, invited her to spend the even
ing with them, and always ended by
finding that there was apparently nc
single topic which she and Miss Fairfax
could discuss with mutual satisfaction
so in despair she at last turned to Ma
belle, and petted and made much o
her, wondering what made her so thiI
and detected. In private. she had con
fided the awful secret to Thekla, from
whom, indeed, she could with difficult,
have concealed it, and Grace, in he
chagrin, could hardly be expected to dc
ny herself the exquisite luxury of OpeG'
ING ou in private TO her friend th'
thoughts which elsewhere she wa
obliged to keep locked within her owl
breast.
Mark nv words" she said, at wha
she and Tbekla called an Afternoon
opportunity lit will end in disaster
Philip is bewitched. NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.,
as Merlin was with Vivien-only Viviel
had brains and she has none. You ma,
see it by tho very glance of his eyes. an
hear il in thefrubbish he condescends Il
talk with her. Or else he sits starin.
at her. and she looks at him now ant
then, and smiles. How l detest tina
smile of hers, Sweet it may be, but j
is rs utterly imbecile as a smile can be
As if two human beings could 90 Ol
living on looks and smiles. DO Vol
know what they ought to be talkin:
about. if there was any seriousness O
possibility about the thing? Why. abou
WAYS and means, and his position, ant
their future prospects, and how sh
could help him. and how they are t
start in life. And instead of that, whel
they do talk, it is idiotic stuff abou
music and sentiment and singing
, Pshaw."
She paced about Thekla's bedroom, il
which these disclosures took place
while Thekla herself sat, her lips set
her fingers apparently engrossed wit
her embroidery.
"'It haunts me. and makes IN
wretched,' went on Grace. (which
eve way l lock, | can see nothing bu
; misery If she jilts him l believe b
/, will break his heart. or go mad, o
: something. He is such a fool-such
/ dear old fool! And # she marie
him"
"For Heavens sake talk of some
} thing else. 1 can not bear-I an
5 wearied of it, WHAT do l care:?' sal
Thekla. sharply.
: And Grace. silenced in her TRADE. an,
confirmed in her suspicious, fell +
weeping.
Despite her wretchedneSs she wa
able to face the prospect Of going wit
: Philip tothe ball which Mr.. Starkie wa
i, to give in honor OF Mr.. Crews approach
ing marriage. All the superior clerk
of the Establishment We're invited. an