Evening journal., 1892-11-02

4
morning and wait Tor us at Sunset Gulch,
where we are going to cook our trout
over a camp fire and have a jolly picnic
dinner So awfully sorry you can't be
with us"
Thanks" with a shadowy smile
"But since Mr.. Bartels will be there,
can't | add to your load luncheon for
himg Unspeakably hateful the though
that Donald must partake Of this WON
ans salt,
"No, indeed; don't think Of IT, | have
prepared an abundance Of everything.
and have tried TO remember the things
that Mr.. Bartels used to like We once
thought ourselves quite well informed
us to his tastes, you know, with her
careless chilllike smile, "and | suppose
it is safe to assume that he has not ou
grown all his old likngs," a faint EN-
phasis on the "all,"
If the visitor WINGED under this remi-
niscence, it WAS not apparent 1t Is
very kind of you to recall his tastes
she said simply, "but, indeed, | would
prefer to relieve you of this trouble.
But | don't want to be relieved
thanks, with little willful laugh 81
am glad to do so much, don't you know
for the sake IF 'auld lang syne II will
not be the first picnic dinner that Mr.
Bartels has eaten with u.s.
"You are quite too kind, said Mrs.
Bartels stifly, turning to go. "Good
evening, and thanks for your care Of
the package"
And no message for Mr.. Bartels?" in
g tone Of innocent raillery. 81 know he
will accuse me Of cheating him out Of it
if you do not give me one"
"Give him my love, please" turning
back slowly, land tell him that he must
enjoy himself enough to counterbalance
my loss and loneliness without him"
"Oh, don't you worry about that, +"
with a significant little nod. her red lips
moist like a child's, curling in laughter
"He will have a good time. OF course, -
she added, with sweet air of innocent
pordiality, 1--WE shall keep him with US
at the Park"
"By no means~ cried Mrs. Bartels
sharply "He must not think Of impos
ing on you to such an extent as that"
"Imposingl An old chum like him
Nonsense, Mrs Bartelsl We could en-
JOY nothing more than having him with
rs; and as TO any trouble on his account
nobody knows anything about trouble al
the park. We all rough it and have &
good time. Indeed, we shall insist or
his staying with u.s."
Mrs Bartels pale lips parted as if 70,
further protest, but suddenly she turneC
away without a word "Goodby,r SIN
called back over her shoulder, with Al
afterthought of courtesy, "anda a pleasan
trip to you"
Back again in her own darkened home
she felt her way slowly to the neares
chair, sinking down heavily, her elbow
on her knees, her chin resting on he
uptuned palms, and the little clock Of
the mantel had struck the hour, the hal
hour, and licked its way round to tn
point of ringing out the time again, Will
she sat there motionless in the shadows
hat and gloves still on, modify lost j
thought.
So this was the outcome Of her devc
tion and self sacrifce-,to give Mrs. Rog
ers opportunity to complete a half wo
conquest. And had Donald stopped t
such contemplate planning as this
Mrs. Rogers was to visit on a ranch, b
, had said, had he deliberately liedy Ha
he, bent on going with these peopl
whom he liked, thought it the easie;
I and smoothest course to deceive tn
jealous wife into complacent consent?
She rose at last, wearily moving froi
room to room, lighting the lamps an
t drawing the curtains How pretty it a
3 was under the warm, rose shaded light
What boyish delight Donald had show
, in gratifying all her modest whims
the matter of furnishingl Not anotht
home in all the place was half so artist
t and charming And how happy the
e had been together all those blesse
months in the new nestl How tenderl
l kind Donald had been to her alway
[, All, it was impossible; he could n,
T. poison their happy love life with sue
s puerile deception as this, and suddenl
+ she broke into a happy laugh. VIII
4 surely; Mrs. Rogers had said that b.
1 going had not been arranged until ii
, last moment. Naturally, Donald hs
n known nothing about it when he ro'
d. away from the house that morning /
t had been innocent of any thought
concealmeut. If that odious woman hs
e not worried her into such a temper 81
o must have understood and exonerat,
MIN at once.
But the fact remained that he woui
II lunch with Mrs. Rogers on the morro'
d that he would journey on to Lake pal
Is in her company, and that for the ne
d week or two he would be thrown mo
n or less continually in the society of th
too fascinating little coquette An:
IS could not have dreamed that her il
IS pulsive generosity was to cost her so de
n as this
2; But Donald must not be trapped in
70 staying with these people, and she seat
% herself at her desk. 1t was a long let;
It she wrote, designed with tender art
z appeal TO all his love for her, and final
d in an inconsequential little postscri
r came the real gist Of tho matter: MI
" Rogers told me that she should ms
upon your staying with them at {
le park. Apparently she is indifferent