The Press., 1892-09-08
a hot dish in her hands.

would be restrained no longer.
 '.There's girl know that ain't bit like Jacintha," she said. 'and that's Edwina Palmer. Whatever she feels she shows it so plain that her Aunt Pam don't need to be told whether she's happy or in trouble. Tell me what has hap pened to make you cry, Edwina? Edwina looked at her for moment, and then turned and ran into the corner of the room and hid her face there, crowding herself into the wall as though trying to force herself through it. Her shoulders were shaking with suppressed sobs. Against her will her grief had gotten the best of her.
 'sOh, Aunt Pamr' she gasped, Aunt Pam, can't help it. felt as if should die, and want to-yes, want to-" Aunt Pam knows all about it, dar- ling" the spinster said. Life is real short, come to look back upon it. Don't seem no time since Jefferson Fosdick came courting me. I've never given nobody the particulars of how we broke off, and guess l never shall. But felt like you do now. Tell me what has been happening. Is it about Norman D1iscoll?
 The girl left her corner and came to Aunt Pam's side and knelt down, en- circling the spinster's ample waist with her arms and hiding her face in her bosom.
 "Oh, what should do if you were not so good to me-if had not you to tellY she sobbed. Tt is about Norman Dris coll. l am ashamed, but cannot help it. liked him so much and he liked me, auntie. He loved me dearly. knew it by every sign, not so much by what he said as by what he looked. And then she came and took him from me. He did not go of his own free will-she did it. With all the power she has to charm men she worked to get him from me. He is hers now, hers-oli, Aunt Pam!''
 "Why didn't you tell me, dear?' Aunt Pam asked, laying her cheek against the girls satin soft hair. ''Id have stopped it."
 .'Oh, what could you have done, aunty?" Edwina asked.
 Well, think I'd have sent her home. Anyhow, l could have gone into the parlor and sot," said Miss Pam so quaintly, that in spite of her grief Ed wina gave little hysterical laugh.
 "There, it is over," she said, rising. ''I've told you and I've had my cry out. He gave her a ring last night-I saw him put it on her finger. He kissed her goodby, not caring if l saw them. It is all settled. They are engaged; it is al- most the same as being married. lmust not like him any longer. should never dare to go to church again if liked an other woman's husband. Don't worry about me, Aunt Pam, it's just as 1t is when you have tooth out-it aches a little afterward, but it's gone
 "I had orter know" said Aunt Pam. Il had twelve out at once when l had my set made. With most of them it was over pretty soon. But one kept on hurt ing. You see some of the root was left in."
 "Oh, the root shall come out in this case," said Edwina, rising and taking her seat at the table,
 t'I think I'll send you to town to do some shopping before Jacintha gets up, ; Aunt Pam said, "and if your eyes should continue red when you come home, you can talk about getting cinder ill 'en- needn't say right out you hev; wouldn't advise you to lie, but you could act it out" And grateful Edwina had taken the cars at the railway sta tion before Jacintha came dancing down, that ring. which Aunt Pam pre- tended not to see, flashing on her finger. At last she fairly put it under Miss Palners very eyes.
 ''Isn't it lovely" she asked.
 ''It's real handsome ring. Who did you borrow it ofY Miss Pam asked.
 Borrow it," cried Jacintha. Don't you see it's on my engaged finger. Aunt Pam, Norman Driscoll put it there last night"
 So poor Edwina was right, Aunt Pam thought, with pang that she thought afterward was as bad as a stitch in the side. Aloud she said: Well, always keep my congratulations till 1 see wheth. CT or no an engagement isn't broken off So don't expect none."
 "Oh, ind oed," said Jacintha. But every one need not be as unlucky as you were Aunt Pam" And she looked into the square of looking glass beneath the round, white face of the eight day clock, as though she would like to say And every one is not so fascinating as am."
 Her speech made Miss Pam furious.
 "Unlucky;" she cried, Il feel myself Sery lucky, can tell you. lie down mistress in my own house and rise uI master. Nuff sight better to have nt 1 %o lox ho1 I envy nobody" Then she stalked out O the room, leaving Jacintha half fright ened.
 ''She wanted him for Edwina," sh said to herself, that's why she is & cross. But even if she goes so far as t send me home I'm engaged and its al settled" She waltzed about the room to a tune of her own humlning. It wa delightful to have outrun another gir in the chase for lover. It was delight full to think how handsome Norman Dris coll was. How agreeable in every way and most delightful of all, to think tha her betrothed husband was rich. Jacin tha felt that the luckiest thing she ha. ever done in all her life aas to pay tha visit to her mothers far away cousin And she tossed on her hat and starte, for walk to the rocks, whence sh could see at least the chimneys of tn Driscoll mansion with its great ground the place which would be hers som day and which she used to regard wit envy during the brief period when sh feared that with all her wiles she coul, not rob Edwina Palmer of Norman Dris coils love.
 CHAPTER II.
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