Daily Republican., 1889-10-07
A DOUBLE GAME.
BY GUINKvERR.

'lneI, say NO more. DC not care to
listen 10 you. Whatever your motive"
"Motivep interrupted the petite bru-
nette. with an accent of deep pain.
"What could be my motive but interest
in you, love for you, regret that you are
so blind: / speak plainly rs l would to
. slater"
perhaps you mean well, but you
must be mistaken" said blonde Ethel.
"You have never liked Sinclair, and you
misjudge him."
Inez Carton averted her head to hide
the quick CLEAN that illumined her dark
eyes, her full lips quivered slightly-tIen
formed faint sneer that 1t was well her
friend did not tes.
"You love him ard will not see his
faults" she said. "But, Ethel, / speak
truly any one in the house will tell you
so."
1t is common talk, thenl" cried
Ethel, stung TO the heart. "What do
they sayl That love man who does
not care for me, that only my money
holds him 10 his promise, that he lie In
dulging In little romance Of which the
miller's DAUGHTER Is the heroine, that
am his tool"
"OLp cried Inez, as II the words hurt
her.
Ethel held up one hand to check fur
ther speech. She was fairly reused now,
aud the fair cheeks burned crimson, and
the gentian blue eyes flashed like steel.
'Is it SO, tben?" she went on passion
ately. Sam the subject OF such gos-
sip, and are you but an echo, or do you
know-can you prove it?"
"It is not q pleasant task" said Inez;
"but, Ethel, dear, l am SO anxious to
save you. know that Sinclair Warden
IL indulging in an affair sub rosa with
Avis, the miller's daughter; believe he
loves her, and were 1t not for bis ambi-
tions-"
"He would marry her-welli' said
Ethel, coldly, "Prove 1t and / will be-
lieye, and we will put and end to this
scandal"
That was what hurt her the most, that
her name should be banded among her
friends, that they should pity her and
wonder that she was blind to what they
all saw 80 plainly She would find out
what they had to talk about.
Every Saturday evening Avis goes to
choir meetiDg-she sings in the chapel,
you know; she returns about nine o'clcck
do you remember that Sinclair is alb
sent about that time?" said Inez.
'He always takes tea with his aunt,
and stays for a game OF chess" said
Ethel.
''Indeed" said Ihez, with an indescrib
able accent. swell, suppose you stroll
down to the stile where the road crosses
the wooded path some Saturday night
tonight, about nine O'Clock. There III
nothing ike seeing for one self"
And che walked leisurely away, we'll
assured that the seed Of suspicion was
sown on ground where 1t would flourish.
She WAS quite right
Ethel Grant was not suspicious by ma
ture, but SO much bad been said on the
SUBJECT Of her lovers faith and fidelity,
so many singing remarks and insinus-
tions, that she could not bear the uncer-
tainty longer. She never thought OF dis
trusting her friend.
She thought the matter over, and
decided to act upon the advice of Inez.
II Sinclair was in love with pretty
Avis, he should not find his bonds tight
enough to hold bim-even if he WAS but
tritling with her, 1t would be little hotter,
for 1t gave people chance to jest at her
expense.
lie would not permit her to accept the
least attention from any Que but himself;
he was jealous aud hasty, but she always
LeiloVeu MIN true, anu was tueIeIOfe
content TO follow HE rather rigid rules.
"a woman need not be iaithless In
thought" he often said. ~ judge by
acts, aud II you love ne you Will do
nothing to shake my faith"
''slnce he holds me to such strict
theories, he should be as careful. 4"
thought Ethel ,resentfully, for her friend's
speeches aDkled in her heart. II will
60 tonight"
A briei while before Dine o'clock tn at
night, while ali was gayety at the house,
Ethel erept away unobserved, and, en-
veloped In long, gray cloak that con-
cealed her pretty surah dress, made her
way to tie stile.
It. was lovely, moonlight night; but
she drew back into the shadows-not
before she was seen, however and .
moment later, TO her annoyance, the tall
form of man stood before her.
She looked up into the smiling face of
Edgar Minturn, a man who had sued for
her hand before she belrothsd hcfself to
his sucC essiul rival.
He NUT have been strolling about,
and seeing her, followed her thither.