Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1886-02-07
CHATTER IL.


Chesharn's vile insinuation troubled him
little Perhaps, like others, he had learnt
10 hide his feelings under the cloak Of
gay exterior. Any way he assisted me V
pick up the broken china, and then we
took our usual seats.
nWhy have you come back, NalentineF
! asked.
HTo watch you OF course, he replied,
for the first time looking at me attentiyely
fwhat IN the matter with your Whal
have you been dolng"
Th6 3eet thing could do was to tell
him the truth about my gambling exploit.
He listened very grayely until ] had nm
ished.
uAnd that beast has gone of with all
that money Of yoursg II Is disgusting.
But why do you do 1t, Philippe
900 what7n I said, 90 gain time.
"Gamble. IL IL utterly beneath You
utterly contemplate for man like you.
am a fool in lots OF things, but ! don't
play cards"
~ shan't play any more,n said, inn
pressed by Valentines serious words.
al should think not. What lots of good
fellows have seen spoilt by IT, You are
not tho same you we're few weeks ago.
Why did you begin III"
"Ror the sake OF excitement, sup
pose"
"what do you want. with excitement
Anyway, little more OF Is will kill you.
You look wretched, That was why you
kept away from us, then, Its precious
dull at Bournemouth, but you would have
found II long way cheaper"
"IIow are your peoplel"
''IIoth very well, but Claudinc is IN a
horrid temper She scolds me from
morning 10 night. II that young woman
doesn't take care our little arrangement
win come to an end"
Valentines words Jared uponmc.
''I think the way In which you speak OF
Miss Neville neither well bred nor respect
iul, said testify,
lie gave mic quick glance. ooh, we
understand each other perfectly and nelth-
or expect TOO much. But promised TO
bring YOU back with me tomorrow. So
mako your arrangements"
al will not come to Bournemouth.n
'Thcn," said Valentine, "you will tell
me tho reason why Perhaps You want
another shy after your money"
al told you did not, and how could |
play with that cur again."
"Thcn tell me why The true reason,
rhllip?u
He was speaking very grayely, and
waited for my reply. | resolved TO fence
no more. would tell him.
"lf you DO not know, Valentine, can
only say, with Heiuc, that the gods them
selves iight In vain against stupidity"
~ am not no stupid as you think,
Philip, neither are you quite god, But
80 on tell mei'
~ have a friend the dearest in the world,
and love woman the best in,the world.
You are the friend, and Cluudlne Is the
woman"
expected a tornado of reproachos, but
mons came,
81 guessed as much,n said Valentine,
IN his ordinary voice, ~ tried to get az
the truth from Claudine, but II was no
good, so was bound to como TO YOU
"Well, you know It now said
shortly.
eyes, know Il now | suppose you
are awfully IN love with her That her
image is with you always, that you dream
by night, and sigh by dayl Is 1t soSn
! was getting quito angry at these an.
feeling questions eyes, | do | an-
swcred, TO let him know the depths Of
my treschery.
"lt's very funny now,n continued Val
entine meditatlvely, "but ] have not felt
like that either for Claudine or any other
girl. There was girl once at roadside
inn In North Wales. She drew the beer,
remember. Ror couple OF days | felt u
ghost OF a resemblance To your symptoms,
but Il soon was laid, IL is very strange
| never feel as you do towards Claudine,
and stranger still when come to think OF
II, that she doesn't feel so towards me.
asked her not long ago II she did, and
her reply quite satisfied me on this
score
Cl0udinc was right In her estimate OF
Valentine, He was frivolous and thought
less, OF he could never have tested So
quite lost command over my temper, and
for The hrst and last time In my life was
furious with Valentine.
"Mr. Essmerc,n ! said with great dig
nifty, "Ion have forced from me secret,
which, as u man OF honor, | was bound to
reveal TO you ut whatever cost 70 myself.
can only say your manner 10 receiving II
has greatly disappointed me-
had risen 70 give my words due effect
Valentine heard me finish, then followed
myeNamplo.
"You old fool, he said playiully laying
his hand affectlonately on my shoulder.
"fou thick-headod old fool. Can't You
see against whose utter stupidity the gods
are struggling nowYn
What could he mean My heart gave
great bound
"Claudne and | decided six months
ago, long before she ever saw your hand
some, dark, dismal face, that on the FIRST
favorable opportunity We would breakour
lifelong engagement. That was why |
never spoke to you about her. We are
only waiting until we can summon up the
courage TO toll ms mother OF our deter.
Mutation. Her hoart IS so set upon 1t
Shc has always go wished for il, that we
dealt know what she viii say. Indeed,
Claudluc aud love her so much that oven
now If she will have Il SO we shall get
married, and darcsay be happy enough,
so don't you 20 rushing 10 the extreme OF
hope andloy.N
am not sure, but think fell upon
Nalontlne's neck, could have worshlpped
him, but in my heart dcspised him,
How eould'any man speak so carelessly OF
transferring such being as Claudine to
another. But was In love, and valen.
tine was not.
''YoU see, Phillip, what Il has cost you
not telling me tho whole truth IN money