The morning call., 1894-08-05
CHAPTER l.

IL is TUQe TO cOltIdulCt'
at is worse than rude to assert what
isn't true. 1t is libelous."
"And don't you know that the greater
the truth the worse the libel? Therefore,
to say that you are firt IS libelous be-
cause il is true"
'Wel, don't care if l am; so there"
Il never supposed you would care. be-
lieve you are utterly incapable of caring
for anything or anybody except yourself. 4"
be said coolly.
You didn't think so always"
''No; one has to learn wisdom by ex-
perienee, unfortunately"
"Why unfortunately p" she asked
quickly.
Because the process of disillusionment
is painful one and takes up lot of
time that might be more profitaby en-
ployed."
"And you regard the time that you have
been learning to know me-all the time
that we have been engaged. in short-as
time wasted?"
"UnquestionablY."
"Then we will waste no more" and she
raised her blue eyes 10 his. scornful light
in Them "Y0u are free, and L"
mo, no; don't act impulsively. or you
NAV regret it afterward," he said. sooth-
ingly, in the tone in which he would have
addressed passionate child.
lam free, too"-she paid no attention
to his interruptIon-"free to flirt as much
as ever [ like"
"And no doubt you'll DO it-not that our
engagement has been any hindrance, so
far as l can see." He spoke with some
bitterness.
mo, it has been help, rather" with a
mocking little laugh. you looked so
angry that the temptation to go on was
irresistible. 1t won't be half such fun
now" regretiully.
''No. for l shan't care"
ashanti you? Not ever such little
Not a scrap. shall flirt, too. and enjoy
"Haven't you been enjoying yourself
hitherto?"
"Oh, immensely. Watching you making
eyes at all the other fellows, and longing
to t1irt myself with that pretty little Miss
Robinson"
'Then-whv didn't you?"
"Brcause I'm an Old-fashioned sort of
fellow. 1 suppose. and don's hold with
flirting with one woman when I'm engaged
TO another"
"Wel-that is over" and she drew a
long breath. You need have no scruples
now"
'No"
And then there was a pause.
They were standing together in the beau
tiful e-scented garden of the Manor
House and the clear morning sunshine fell
ful! on the girls lovely flushed face and
wavy golden hair, and on the mans erect
figure and firmly cut, somewhat stern feat
ures with their look Of cool indifference
and salf-control. The old house rose be-
hind them, a gray pile of building seen in
distinctly through intervening trees and
before them lay a wide eXpaDse Of sunlit
meadow land, where cattle graZed amid
the golden buttercups and skylarks sang
invousIv as they SCARED upward to their
glorions lord. the sun. 1t was fair scene
and peaceful but. though the girls eyes
were fixed upon it. she saw nothing OF its
beauty. felt nothing of its dreamy charm.
The man beside her occupied her whole
attention; her changed relauons TO hlm
filled all her tn ougnts.
"Tt will be very awkward" she broke
mt netulaptlv. II wish this had hap
pened yesterday"
'tAnd why, if ! may ask?
"Then could have gone home to-mor-
row. as l had intended, but -"
lyon will have to make up your mind to
snend nearly another week beneath the
same roof as the man with whom YOU had
intended to pass your whole life" be said
onietly. poor little girl. it is hard on
you" -,
'Then-you are going TO remain, too?"
and she turned her wonderful eyes full
upon him.
"Of course" and he smiled slightly.
"As a soldier, 1 should be ashamed to run
awav, and, besides, you forget that Miss
Robinson is here"
II warn you that you will find her very
stuDid."
Thank you, u, know that she is ex-
tremely pretty"
"And we shall have to tell everybody,
and there will be a talk and fuss, she
went on dlscontentsdly.
"WeIl, that won't hurt US"
''No; but it is such bad FORM"
"Of course it is" he assented "but l
don't see that we can help that now"
Need we say anything about it-just
yet, mean"
"You can please yourself about that; l
shall not mention that our engagement is
broken OF if you don't; but"
''Yes?" as he paused impressively.
"As it is broken off [ intend to amuse
myself. You would have no r gbt to com
plsin of that in any case, as it is what you
have been doing yourself all along"
II don't care" defantly. 1--WE shall
know that we are nothing to each other,
but we won't tell the world so for another
six days"
Exactly. But of course you won't ex-
pect me to be dancing attendance upon
YOU all the time. I'll do what is necessary
to keep up appearances, since you wish it,
but"
81 wish II? What do you meanP'
"Why, if you don't want to tell the world
l supnose you don't want the world to
guess? For myself, l am absolutely indif-
fersnt upon the subject"
81 see what you mean-yes, we had
better keep up appearances"
but beyond that we are, of course alb
soIutely Indifferent TO each other"
sob, of coursel" impatienly. Dance
attendance upon whom you like, firt with
whom you please. 1t is nothing to me,
and less than nothing"
THANK you," he said gravely. "Is there
anything more to be said. wonder? On,
yes; that badge of slavery / gave you,
Trix-I beg your pardon, | should have
said Miss Rainhsm."
at doesn't matter" hastily. I'VE must
keen up appearances, you know"
Eyes; but not when we are alone. That
ring, Miss Rainham, that you have done
me the honor Of wearing as sign of our
engagement"
"Yes. will give it back TO you at
once"
mo, no; don't pull it off-yet Better
keep il till you leave this place." he re-
piled. Don't you see that il is still neces-
sary that you should wear it TO deceive the
world, though we shall know that it means
nothing%
"But, Tom-Captan Despard, I mean
how shall ! return It to you?"
"YOu can give II back t. ME when we
part. Are you tired 2" he added, abruptly.
sNO. vhV do V0u aSk 9D