The morning call., 1891-09-14

hotel thu next morning to get into his car
riage 10 drive to the Paulsons as he saw
Peabody's cob waiting there.
He had driven but short distance when
Peabody came tearing past him, his horse
going like mad.
"WhaTs the rush, old fellow ?" he shouted
to him.
But Peabody only turned very. pale face
Mt him and smiled as he waved hand con-
tanning a cigarette he was smoking.
The smoke was waited back by the WIND,
and Asplnwall-J ones wondered where he
had smelt that particular Odor before 1t
was an odd brand of cigarettes Peabody
smoked, and the odor from them was par
ticularly puDgent.
Then Aspinwall-Jones gathered the reins
in his hands and jerked them decisively.
The mysterious man who had disappeared
so suddenly from Miss PaulsOn's library
smoked the same kind of cigarettes!
Aspin wall-JOneS urged his horse on faster,
and the minutes that elapsed before he
reached the pretty cottage OF the Paulsors
were occupied by him in thinking over
everything that had happened the past four
weeks.
His mind was racked with alternate hopes
and fears.
Could it be that Peabody had known Miss
Puulson before SHE came to LenoX? But
what if he mad? He knew very many girls,
and it was not at all unlikely.
And then young Aspin Wall-Jones thought
of the beautiful girl herself, with her guile
less blue eyes and her baby-like features.
And would she sometime be MS
He was so occupied in a blissful dream OF
future happiness that be narrowly escaped
taking n wheel off as lie turned In at the
gateway, and the carriage so tipped that the
groom behind jumped to the ground in
alright.
lie got out of his carriage short distance
from the house TO walk across path he
sl,a ina ha
and his beautiful Miss Paulson had strolled
along it, and lie thought if he went to the
house that way it would be an omen OF
good luck.
He reached the house and was told that
Miss PaulsOn was in the library. lie started
off quickly to find her, and the servant again
announced his name and again found ner
there, This time she was alone, and there
was no odor oil cigarette smoke In the air.
Outside, up and down the driveway, a
groom was walking badly blown chestnut
cob. But AspinwalE did not see this.
He was aware only that Miss Pauls0n had
taken his hand cordially and asked him to
sit down.
He took a small square box from his
pocket and joyiully LAID 1t down on the table
and pulled away nerVously at the glove on
his left hand.
at was very goOd Of you TO let me come
here this morning. he began.
"Oh, not at all, was The answer Il am
always glad 10 see my friends"
He thought she put an accent on the last
word, and was thus cast down several de-
gTees.
He thought Of saying something about
wishing to be more than friend, but some
how lie could not. He looked lungingly at
the square box he had laid on the table and
then at Miss Pauls n.
There was far-aWay look in her eyes,
and she was glanciug toward door nery-
Young Aspinwau-Jones thought she
looked bored, and he began clearing his
throat
that it sounds too formal and he iOun-
dered on hPlplessly until a noise by the door
arrested. him, and, happy and smiling, in
burst Peabody.
"Helo, old felloww he said to the bewil-
dered ASpinwall-Jo
Where did you drop from?" he managed
to stammer
q have been in the drawing-rOom talk
ing with Mrs. Paulson for few moments"
was III. answer. And lie continued
uOdliug 10 the girl, its al right"
Aspnw all-Jones scarcely knew what was
going on. 1t seemed odd that Peabody
should ha We the Iun OF the house i'll such a
familiar way and talk so coufdeutially to
Miss Paul,on.
There was an aggressive air Of happiness
about his friend that lie did not like and
that struck him with a chill Of coming i'll
luck.
I'VE needn't stand on ceremony with
Aspinwali-JOneS," continued Peabody in
answer to warning lock from the girl.
HES an old friend of both Of u.s."
- don't think | quite understand" said
Aspinwall-JOneS looking from the smiling
face OF Peabody TO the cOnteuted cOunte-
nance Of Miss PdulSon.
It's very SIMPLE" answered the man.
Miss PaulsOn ard | have been engaged to
be married for the past three months"
For An instant Aspinwall- Jones could
scarcely believe his ears. Then he knew
why Peabody had advised him not to have
much to do with the girl; then he knew how
she had played with him when engaged to
an0t 0theT man. And he was so much occupied
in thinking of how his trusted friend had
played him false and how a woman had de-
ceived him that he did not hear Feabody's
uneasy,eXcuscs:
81 thought l would cure you, old fellow.
of flirting with every pretty girl that comes
along. And you mustn't blame her, for she
couldn't help it if you cid like her, and you
must forgive her and NE and give US your
congratulations" He wrung his friends
hand, but it fell limp 10 his side.
Young Aspinwall- Jones looked from one
to the other.
81 wish you joy," he said.
Then, with a gesture that was pathetic in
its dignity, he picked up the little square
box from the table and put it sadly away in
his pocket, and without looking buck he left
them alone in the rCom.