The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1885-03-19


could not, while Wilfred was in the room.
She had liked him better than she had
liked George although her husband was
better looking than his friend, and the old
fascination was creeping over her.
If she had been a wise woman she would
have objected to be left under Wlltreds
guardianship, but unfortunately she was
a very foolish one and 1t seemed to her
very Pleasant arrangement.
Now that he had promised not to speak
of the past to George, she was quite
cordial and friendly with Wilfred
at will be SO nice for US to have
friend to look after us while George is
away, F" she said, will it not, Bertie?"
Very, " returned BERTHE, rather dryly.
Girl as she was, she thought LIE Roy alto
gether too young and too handsome for
the responsibility he had undertaken.
BERTHE was very sweet and girlish, with
soft blue eyes and a closely cropped head
that gave her quite a childlike appearance.
Not SO brilliantly handsome as her sister,
perhaps; but, nevertheless, very pretty
girl
When George was on his way to Egypt
LIE Roy called daily at the cottage, often
staying to partake Of afternoon tea with
the two sisters, who always gave him a
warm welcome.
"He is very handsome, said BERTHE, as
she watched him riding down the street
on his. brown mare, after spending the
| afternoon with them.
Something in the tone of her voice and
| the way she looked after Wilfred an
| moved Madge, who had never noticed how
| pretty her sister was getting until that
| moment.
eyes, she said, she is handsome, poor
| fellow" and as she uttered these words
Madge sighed.
| i Ill ct or cic tn
Because he will never marry.
How do you know that?" cried BERTHE
coloring wildly. HAS he told you so?
"No, but l happen to know; he loved
some one long ago, and will never forget
her.
"What can you know about Wilfred
lie y?"-incredulOusly. I'VE have
only known him few weeks,
Il knew him before poor father died,
said Madge, playing with her rings tc
avoid meeting her sisters steady gaze.
"And you let George think you haC
never met before" said BERTHE, slowly
"Youne loved him, opening her blue
eyes "If you had loved him you woulc
have been true, in spite of his poverty
Months passed on, and takingsup IN
Tines one morning, Wilfred came upol
his friends name in the list of the slain
1t was terrible blow for him, as hC
had loved George with quite brotherl.
affection.
Madge went into Mysteries when sh
heard the news, but soon Gained down
showing admirable resignation to her loss
BERTHE, indeed, seemed to feel it the mos
Wilfred came as usual to the cottage
and one dav when he and Madge weT
alone, rather abruptly alluded to the pas
"He can't be going to propose ALREADY,
thought the pretty widow, and decided
her own mind to put him off at least
twelve-month.
"Madge, said WIfred earnestly
"when first came here and found 20
the wife of my friend, thought Shout
go mad.
NIadge murmured something. about
being too soon to talk of such things, bu
he did not appear to heed her -,
Eyes, he went on, Il loved you still
Forgive met was wrong, and couldn'
helpit And now"
He paused for a moment and Madg
colored hotly, forgetting her recent bt
reavement and knowing only.tha the ma
she loved was metaphorically at her fee
And now?" she said, softly lifting h
eyes to his face.
"And now," he returned, in an agitate
voice, "now love-I love your sister.
Mrs. Enfeld's complexion had neyt
looked more lovely-her cheeks were lIk
roses, but her eyes!-well, they had rattle
! an angry sparkle, and her lips we
slightly compressed.
al am glad-very glad, indeed, " 81
, said, with emphasis. IF were BERTHE,
, should not care for a mans second love
but. of course, everybody to their taste.
| And with this parting taunt she wake
} out of the room just as BERTHE entered
The girl could not understand the mea
ing Of the angry look her sister gave he
She did understand it, though, a m
s ment later, when Wilfred caught her
his arms and told her of his love.
5 After all, it was fortunate for all col
5 cerned that affairs had taken this tur
for short time later on it was found thu
George Enfeld's name should have be-
: among the missing, not the killed.
Madge, to do her justice, was genuine
glad when she heard that her husbar
2 had turned up" safe and sound, al
). welcomed him as warmly as if she hi
s never thought of being his friends wit
r So all ends happily, and-for Georg
at least-where ignorance is bliss it is fol
J to be wise.