The Dupuyer acantha. [volume] (Dupuyer, Mont.) 1894-1904, 1895-03-23

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you to join our house party--there
will only be eight Of us, the same
old crowd we had last year"
"The same crowd? How delightful
''The same and not the same. I
won't invite Mr.. AgIew now"
"And what has poor Mr.. Agnew
done?'
what has he doneT' oh, nothing
unusual. they ali do 1t sooner or later,
but ain engaged man is de trop at all
affair of this kind. No girl wants
him for her partner, and, really, n
can't blaine thefd:"
can engaged man!' For one horrible
moment Edith Alton thought she was
about to faint; the next, however. the
tables and chairs righted themselves,
her visitors face ceased its %grotesque
gyrations and she was conscious that
she was speaking.
80! Where did you hear that pleas
ant bit of news?" she asked, seating
herself On the arm Of a chair.
"Why last night; Mr.. Lane told me
coming home. Strange he never men,
tened it to you. I am horribly disap-
pointed. Fancy Charley Agnew mar
ried to d Boston girl. You remember
her-a terrible little creature who Wis
tied the Mores. Wealthy Of course
trust Charley for that-but oh! so
plain"
Beauty is in the eye of the behold
err" quoted Edith lightly. She felt a
loTging to cry out, to bury her face
scm where instead of which she must
smile and look unconscious and dis
cuss this love affair with the indiffer-
ence of a mere acquaintance. IF re-
member rightly she was q nice little
thing"
mice? 1Ieavens! Fancy Charley's
coming to that-actually to marry q
nice girl! His best enemy COULDN'T
wish him worse luck. He has disap
pointed me dreadfully. l thought
significantly, "'he fancied some one
else, somebody nearer home.'
Somebody neare home-oh, do yor
mean myself? How awfully funny
Why, we are very good friends, WE
have always been friends; but l. ;
rapid flash of thought; then with ris
ing color. I'm going to marry anoth
er man.
Her visitors face expressed intens'
surprise! "Going to be married." sh'
repeated; 81 had not heard
mo one has heard" said the other
with some emotion, land, by the way
Mr.. Manning is waiting for me in tn,
library. 1 must ask you to excus
me-"
"Mr. M%anning!"
"Did you not guess? I thought o
course you would. Don't speak of II
Janet. / only told you because (sloN
t~N 80 n,.N nrrnh a Unnd frinnd n
mine"
"And I appreciate it accordingly.
wish you every h~apphhess"-she lai
her hand lightly on Edith's arm--"yo
know that don't you"
"Why, yes-you have always wisl
ed me well, haven't you? See how Pr
tent your wishes have been! But t
return to our first subject. I shall b
glad to go with you to Arley. Las
years visit was a dream"
"Then I shall count on you. Com
you will have to let me out; l am NJ
au fait. with your latch"
"What a strong wind there is-dra'
up your wraps. Goodbye, and agai
thank you for thinking of me-"
The front door slammed and Edit
stood a moment in the hall, gatherin
courage for what was to come; the
; she turned and went into the library.
Manning, who was standing at
:. distant window, came forward at h.
entrance.
81 am afraid l kept you," she sa
giving him a trembling hand, "but
i, was detained by an early CALI from
friend .
can early CALL" he repeated; 'the
, what do you think of me"
= "Ah, but I told you to come; tn
= is altogether different. 1 wanted you
"You wanted me?" he cried eagerl
!, my darling may 1 interpret that
q ter my own fashion? Do you real
care for me a little?"
e She could not speak, but for answ
she came to him, laying her beautif
!, head on his breast.
u Glove me-" she whispered, passio
v ately, "only love me, and you C;
make of me what you will"
Z T.
b "Do you know" he said to h
about an hour later, "at first Y
frightened ME, but when you did
say No. at once l began to hope.
n knew it wasn't like you to keep me
suspense-you are too true Of hes
=" for that
"Too true" she thought, remors
fully. ooh, Herbert, Herbert"
But aloud she said, smiling h;
sadly into his loving eyes: ITO thing
your being afraid of me-of poor lit
" me-who am not half worthy Of 20,