Alpena argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1893-1909, 1894-11-28

the revelation. But Mary--no,
she shall not be thus deceived. Oh,
consider!"
There was a great deal of consi-
deration in Frank Vaughan's nature.
He was full Of it. But, unfortun-
ately, it was all for himself. he
did consider Mary, truly, but not in
the manner enjoined by the feeling
girl he had deceived. He considered
his cousin a heaven-sent blessing.
She was good match. With plen-
ty of money in her own right from
her deceased mother, and as heiress
to her fathers great accumulations,
she was just the wife for him.
True, she was trife slow, but
then, that would not matter. She
could follow the bent of her own
inclinations, and, with her money,
he could do the same. On the
whole, Edith had taken things very
calmly. All, she was sensible. II
would have done no good to create
any fuss, as he had told her. He
had certainly expected her to shed
a tear, because he had thought she
had given her heart to him. But,
then, women's hearts are very fex-
IDLE things. In fact, women them
selves are. Of course, they don't
feel things like men do. Those who
write so glibly about broken hearts
and things don't understand the sex
He did. Of course, women may
feel touch of disappointed pride
when their lovers discard them; but,
pain! oh, it's impossible, ridiculous.
That was the cynical way i'll which
Frank Vaughan's reasoning worked.
Not another thought of Edith. He
had got out of a very difficult and
delicate affair somewhat easily. So
far, so good. No one was aware
that there had been anything be-
tween them. So much the better.
Edith was not the one to proclaim
their Irritation from the housetops.
And now? Well, now for Mary,
of course.
Things seemed to go very smooth
ly and pleasantly with Mary
Frank found her even more suscep-
tible than he had imagined. All,
not much difficulty here. How
pleased she was with his attentions
How she fingered over the pleasant,
artful phrases be whispered to hel
day by day. How impressionable
she was! She would be ripe for a
proposal in no time.
And Edith! Poor girl, as the
weeks went by, she noted the effect
this man was producingin his cousin
If love was not already full grown
in Mary, it was in embryo. What
should she do? She could not
knowing as she did, the motive.
power at work behind the man
stand idly by and allow another
woman's heart to be deceived
Mary and she had always been fast
friends, though she was but the gov.
erness. She must save her. 1t was
her duty. Nevertheless, wher
Edith came to speak to Mary or
such delicate matter, she felt her
task difficult one; but she persist
ed in it. Nor did she confne her.
self to avague warning; that might
have been misconstrued. Edith
boldly related all that had passed
between herself and Frank, and de.
tailed that final, cruel conversation
word for word; and Mary listened
with pity. She put her arms around
Edith's neck and kissed her in
gratitude and sympathy.
Mary was not one to say much
But she thought q great deal. She
knew that ere long her cousin Frank
would again be sutton at the court
of love-that his petition would bt
presented to her, in fact. And two
days afterward the action was Sc,
down for hearing. They were alone
in the grounds. Seated in almost
the same spot as Edith and he had
stood in when his chill words had
frozen her heart, Frank took Mary's
hand in his. She trembled slightly
but he, bending over her, told he,
of his love, and asked her to become
his wife. He was surprised, startled
at her answer.
"Love" she exclaimed, with q
light laugh, "What slove? Anon.
sensical caprice. Born to-day
dead tomorrow"
"But not such love as mine
Mary" said he. do you not love
me?"
"Love you? Well, perhaps ! did
once, but-well, one can't live on
sentiment, you know. 1t is foolish
of you to love me, and | have been
foolish enough to encourage it.
Besides, you know. Frank, you
you are only brieAess barrister,
penniless, and in debt, while | am
an heiress, and society expects great
things from me-"
Surely he had a recollection of
some such words as these! Where
had he heard them? Where? Great
heavens! These were the very words
he had uttered to Edith. Then
Mary must know all. But his po-