Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1889-09-13
FEMININE STRATEGY.
CHAPTER L.

CHAPTER I.
He had been telling her all he had to tell.
and now she stood there quite still, neither
Tor Which he pleaded.
4 must know the best or the worst.
Christine, he whispered Speak to me,
darling"
She started violently. and vivid color
rushed TO her checks. fer broad garden
hat hid that. but il could not shut out the
sigh which died away in a low, half sob.
i am sorry if 1 give you pain" she said,
softly so softly that the words came al
most in murmur, but 1 can not be your
wife"
4 understand" with a short. hard laugh;
you will not. Pray, be frank"
At this she silently removed Der glove and
held out her hand. A soft, white hand it was,
and one little finger was encircled by a heavy
band Of gold.
"Marriedi"
Not yet" And Miss IIlerton's voice grew
trmer now. Il am engaged to Arthur
Cover"
Her companion was TALL dark man.
with sunDurnt face and heavy mustache
and honest brown eyes evidently not the
man to be easily Overc5me by any passing
emotion, yet now he fairly staggered be-
meath the blow hoe words had dealt; so
when he spoke again it was with calm
Forgive me" said he; Il have had so
many hopes that"
Why did you not write to me? ?" she inter
rupted, turning upon him sharply.
I waitedtO tell you. Was fool, that is
all"
LET us have done with folly" com
menced Christine. almost YEARLY. Then.
with sudden, passionate Outburst-"Ah!
why need you have done this? Could you
not seeI couR you not unde stand?"
Now he caught her Outstretched hands
and, holding her in his arms, pressed
her close upon his breast. For one little
moment the poor lips quivered beneath
a rain of kisses. for one little moment only;
then, adrOitly freeing herself. she said but
this:
go now. Ralph"
"ChrisGne!"
Go" she repeated; 1T is too late; under
stand me-tOO late! I shall marry Arthur
Cover. and would not do otherwise now,
evenif I could"
And so. quitting the deep shadow of the
willows, never looking back, Miss IllertOn
walked down the garden-path, her dainty
white gown huttering in the morning
breeze, her whittier face hard and fixed and
strangely stern.
Some one met her as she crossed the
Where is Mr.. Gresham, Christine?"
Are you i'll. dear?"
No; L viii be down presently. Clara, /"
passing on quickly.
This abruptness would have offended al
most any otner woman, but Clara YOlney,
being unlike almost any other woman,
simply turned away, a panied pitifulneSs
easily read in the troubled glance of her
blue eyes.
She stood leaning against the doorway,
just a little tinge Of color in her cheeks,
her slender little fingers mechanically
threading an unruly yellow curl, when Miss
IllertOn sharply called to her from the gal
lery above.
"Clara!"
Yes, dear"
L want YOU.
Obedient Clara was presently in her
cousins chamber. listening to half con-
Iession born Of self-rebuke and a wild
yearning for some word OF tender cOnsOla-
ton.
I'VE have no secrets from each other.
have we, Ciara?" commenced Miss InertOn,
NO, none"
From the time-so long ago!-when my
poor father died-frOm the moment when
he put your hand in mine. and babe US love
each other, not as cousins only but as
sisters dear, have ever, by word or deed,
put that last counsel to shame, Clara2"
Never, Christine
Think again"
Never" reiterated the girl
at is false!" cried Miss IllertOn, her
che eks ablaze now; I have wronged you
by a foolish silence; / have insuited the
dead by Willful disObedience; in nothing
have l acted like a sister; a sister would
have gone to you and said: Clara. have
promised to be Arthur Covers wife; this
ring wear is the token Of love; I am
happy, share my content That is what a
sister would have done-What I should
have done; is it nOt?-
Arthur GoWer2"
The flush had quite faded from Clara's
cheeks, but her eyes were bright with some
keen emotion Of surprise or Joy, or maybe
R9in.
Yes" went on Christine. never needing
this, and just now, in the garden. who
should come but Ralph Gresham. and-he
loves me. Clara"
"Weu?~
But it is too late" said Miss Inerton,
almOsti in undertCne.
What did you tell him?" asked her
cousin, eagerly,
What have told you-that it was too
late, and that I would not, even if could.
She spoke very slowly. marking each word
with lingering emphasis; then, as the last
fell from her lips she started up with merry
laugh. Just think of it, Clara-Arthur
Covert Did tell you what he said? Lis
ten 1t was the drOLest WOOlng! He took
my hand and slipped that ring upon my
finger; knew then what was coming, and
so kept very still. Christine, said he. it
is our parents wish, you remember. that
YOU should be my Wife-Wiu you cOnsent?'
And 1 consented, Of course. So, there,
now. that troublesome affair is arranged,
and I am to marry him, and For heav-
ems sake, Clara, open that window! one
stiles here!'
She came and stood by her cousin, and
in silence the two looked out upon the
stretch of land where the fat brown tracts
were all cut by low fences, and then be-
yond upon the dark belt of woods. n OW soft
eped and Swallowed by the purple haze Of
lhe fast falling night,