Griggs courier., 1893-10-13
Now, raddon's Illness had been Hal.

Now. faddon's Illness had been Hal.
kett's opportunity. Whatever swerved
in him, it was never his loyalty to his
friends. He wrote to Kate regularly,
reporting the invalid's health. When
Jim regained convalescence it was
promptly brought home to him that he
should resume management of his own
affairs. but his new sentiment barred
the way to this. At this crisis it seemed
good to Jim Paddon, whose simple
brain was not capable of dealing with
two sets of emotions, to unceremoni-
ously depart with the settlers daughter
and marry her. He considerably left
a note requesting Halkett to deal with
his honor as he thought fit.
Geoffrey Halkett was gentleman by
instinct, and at the best but an anna
tour liar. He had the British aversion
to taking away q mans character to q
girl. After much deliberation he said
to himself: IF I know Kate-and l
aatter myself that do know her-she
would rather retain her faith in a dead
Jim than lose her faith in a living jim"
So he wrote that Jim had got worse and
died. He did not consider himself in
this, which was to his credit
Then, being no longer required in
Colorado, he followed his letter home.
On the way home common sense ar
gued with him and brought home to
him very forcibly that he had made q
mistake. Sooner or later Kate must
learn the truth. 1t would be better for
her to hear it from him now than to have
it brutally broken to her later. when it
might injure her life more. 1t was not
q pleasant mission, this mission of con.
fession on which he went q short time
after his return, but he confronted him
self with the thought that she would at
least acknowledge that all he had done
was out of consideration for her.
Geoffrey Halkctt never told anyone
what happened at that interview. As q
matter of fact, the girl heard him all
through, and then. white and trembling
with indignation, infinitely scornful
with herself for having allowed anyone
to defame her lover while she listened,
she turned and left him-not, though,
before she had pointedly suggested that
he should never enter the house again.
''She had never trusted him from the
very beginning" SO she said, land
now"
Halkett took up his hat and went
This man, who had thought himself
never to be astonished again, was an
acknowledge himself astonished. He
wasted no time over useless arguments
or letters, but he went abroad and some
time subsequently he met Jim Paddon.
The interview was short, but satisfac-
tory. All, it appeared, that Halkett re.
quired of his former friend was letter
written 10 Kate, telling her how mat
ters stood. Paddon demurred, and
Mrs. Paddon thought Halkett q nui.
sance.
II may be a sneak, " said Jim; "but I'll
be - If I'LL write myself down one"
Halkett declined to enter into the
distinction. ''You can put it in a gen.
tlemanly way If you can." he said.
| A man with only one lang and bad
case is no match for man with two
lungs and good case and a rapidly de
| veloping passion for a woman. In less
than o month Halkett was home with
the letter.
kate is devilish obstinate when
she's in q bad temper" he said to him
SELF II know what she'll do now
she'll refuse to see me, and I'm no,
going to trust the letter to the post. y
Still, he wrote and asked her to make
an appointment She replied by re-
turn, naming a day and hour. Eal
kett gasped little at this, but wen,
for walk to think how he should
meet her.
He need not have troubled abou,
arranging speeches or lines of con
duct. Kate took the initiative at the
interview, as he might have known she
must. She was very civil, only rathe,
distant, and asked him why he wanted
to see her.
81 have brought you letter." h.
said.
| She held out her hand.
He gave it to her. She looked at thu
writing, murmured an excuse and le4
him.
When she came back there was little
|
in her speech.
Don't make me apologize" she said
"but, of course, knew you were righ
when you told me. only wasn't going
to allow anyone but Jim to say sucl
things about himself. was I?'
Certainly not, said Halkett, to.
blinded by the sentiment of the sen
tence to consider its grammar. 1T i
l who have to apologize"
So they parted good friends and tn,
| student Of women went home satisfied
and on the whole rather pleased tina,
not with the sensation of astonishmen
to which he was now becoming quit.
accustomed.
After a decent interval Of thes'
friendly relations he asked her t,
, marry him.
Then the friendly intercours'
snapped like q pipestem and she tolt
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