Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1889-11-15


want to say. Irene Gerard, do you
hate me quite? But of course you do!
You have every right--every reason
to hate me. Have not robbed you
of your heiresship-come between you
and
"Oh. hush!" / interrupted eagerly,
shrinking with an inexpressible dread
and terror from the words she seemed
likely TO say next. II do not hate
you, Mr.. Gerard; was prepared to
welcome you, for my uncle's sake.
Whether you have given me any cause
to, as you say, hate you, you alone
know"
She released my wrists with a
strange laugh, shrugged her shout
ders, and said drily-
II shall not keep my secret long
then, for you ana all Ludleigh will
know soon. Good bye, Irene. You
are an honest-hearted, generous girl,
whether you hate me or not. l al
most think could have liked you if
had tried"
She moved away so quickly that had
not time to try to detain her, or even
ask the meaning OF her mysterious
words-the graceful figure had vanish
ed round the curve OF the road before
| recovered myself.
What does she mean Where can
she be going at this hour OF the morn
ing ?" / wondered, in dire perplexity,
as | walked slowly back TO the house;
but | could find no answer that was
even plausibly satisfactory, and
mother gave me little help when APP
pealed to her.
"My dear Irene, how can we posi-
bly, account for the eccentricitie5 oi
YOUR Uncle Archie's wife P" she said,
with that tone of asperity she always
assumed now when she spoke Of Es-
telle Gerard. Extraordinary P OF
course it was Everything she does is
ex raordinary. Pray do not talk of
her; you will spoil my breakfast if you
do
OF course | dropped the subject
then, ard fell TO thinking sadly OF
Dicks unaccountable and insulting
silence. ! had been patients far,
at least, as any outward display of
feeling went-long enough; | felt that
some show of dignity was necessary
now. But how was that digfed resent
ment to be shown ? There was some
thing iudicrous as well as unendurably
painful, in the position in which
was placed since | knew neither the
reason of my lovers prolonged alb
sence nor even where he was.
! was not destined to remain long
in ignorance of Dicks whereabouts.
shall never forget the sharp and
cruel pain | felt when Mrs. Knyvett,
who with Miss Clarissa Green paid
us an extraordinarily early visit that
morning, peered sharply into my face
and said, with an acrid playfulness-
Still pale and heavy-eyed, Miss
Irene That is not right | was say
We shall find the roses in full bloom
again at the Downer House now that
the truant has come back !"
How hard it was TO feel my face
turn pale and rigid under the mali
cious scrutiny of those eyes-how hard
er far to realise, in all its crushing
misery, the meaning of those words |!
Come back Pr mother echoed
"Who has come. Mrs. Knyvett And
| why should Irene have more or less
color than usual to-day p
The two visitors smiled maliciously;
! then Miss Green said, with her usual
shipper
dear Mrs Gerard, it is only a
little innocent JOKE! or course we
were speaking OF Mr.. Martineau's re-
| turn.
"Dick Martineau .' / saw the
colour rush to mothers cheeks; then
she laughed, not very naturally, and
added, with swift warning glance at
me, "Oh, did you meet him at the
| station Irene was lazier than you;
she does not like such early trains"
"Such early trains ?" Mrs. Knyvett
echoed, with exaggerated perplexity;
then her eyes seemed to sparkle with
| spiteful satisfaction. ''Oh, dear Mrs
Gerard, did not know he came early
IN the day ! 1t was quite late-what
, time should you say Clarissa ?''
Gil W lllIC. Il lOOhtu dl
my watch" Miss Greene answered
with grim promptitude and with the
satisfied air of one who has obtained
corroborative evidence
Yes" Mrs. Knyvett went on; '.just
about 9 o'clock last evening we met
Mr.. Martineau walking with Mrs. Ger
rard in the lane. OF course we took
it for granted that you and Irene were
with the squire somewhere near; but
they were so absorbed in conversation
that they did not even see us pass.
My dear Irene, you are ill.,
Mono | cried, passionately
pushing away the false face that was
bent in cruel mock sympathy above
mel am quite well--I-- Mother
there is uncle Archie in the PATH"
- Hardly knowing what ] did, con-
scious only of a frenzied longing to es-
cape frors the woman who exulted in
my misery. darted through the open
window and down the path. and seized
my uncle's arm trembling so that /
could hardly stand.
He did not seem startled; and when
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