Pawtucket tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 1890-189?, 1895-05-14

mistake the poor girl could have made just
then. She ought not To have implied thai
ne had discussed Doris with hor Very
likely he had, but she should not hayo re-
membered IL then.
II don't recollcct ever saying anything
of the kind, he answered.
| Doris interposed with question as "a
the reported engagement of popular ao'
tor with popular actress. This was n
subject In which the other girl was really
| interested Actors were her heroes She
! knew great deal that was not true and a
great deal that was tedious about theat-
| rical life and she chattered on this topic
| until Linley could have shaken her. What
had formerly seemed artlessness turned to
irritating Stiffness as Doris listened and
questioned courteously.
At last the girl seemed to realize that
she was not making a great impression.
She stopped short and flashed an angry
glance at her hostess.
"You don't care word for all this
you're only pretending-you're too clever.
dare say IL Is nice to be able to write, but
IL makes people supercilious."
Doris laughed pleasantly and said: ~
wish could get my editors to agree with
you. They occasionally find / am not
clever at ALL One of them has just sent
me book to review which Is quite beyond
me, Conflicting Conventionalities. Have
you read itS"
Miss Saunders had-as q matter OF fact,
Linley had lent 1t to her. She had thought
II dull and "sermony, but she was able
to talk about It, and for little while con-
versation went on pleasantly enough. Lin
ley was very pleased with Doris. 1t seemed
to him she was behaving kindly and with
tact toward a girl she could not but. con-
slider as rival. She might set her mind
at rest on that point, IL she did but know
1t. just when that last thought was in
his mind, Miss Saunders justified it by
breaking in rudely:
"Oh, yes! But all your reading isn't as
dry as that. You were reading French
novel when we came in. / saw 1t.
"Yes-I was reading it for the third
time" said Doris simply.
"Ohl I'm not allowed to read such
things"
Linley knew the book, and knew it to
be as innocent as 1t was beautiful He
was angry that Doris did not defend 1t and
herself. Her fingers played with the leaves
indifferently. He saw in the other girls
eyes look Of envy and of curiosity. He
was startled and suddenly realized that If
that other girl got hold of French novel
1t would not be for it's beauty Of style or
artistic merit that she read it. Had he
made the most common of all errors-mis-
taken chaperonage for innocence? He
dropped out of the conversation. The two
women talked. Miss Saunders talked the
most and whenever she finished sentence
she gigglcd. He disliked everything she
said or did; her tone Jared. In the clear
white light of Doris room, she seemed
overdrawn, exaggerated. Her waist was
too small, her coloring too brilliant; her
very youth was aggressive and tiresome.
When the sound of the door bell announced
The arrival Of her mother, he felt relieved
rom intolerable boredom.
"You will take Miss Saunders down
,tairsP" Doris was saying.
The girl protested awkwardly. She
would rather go alone-she didn't want
Mr.. Linley. She grew little incoherent
and submitted with an i'll grace. She
seemed bewildered as II she did not quite
know what had happened, ard yet was
crushed and humiliated by it. Humilia-
ton was unbecoming to her. 1t made her
beauty seem tawdry. Linley's adieu, as
he gave her into her mothers charge,
seemed, even to himself, to suggest final
ty. He hurried back to Doris.
Doris moved q step or two toward him
N the white light. Every fold of the
straight brown gown shook out memories. |
"DorisH he cried. "Doris, what a |
strange girl you are! Why did you do itp |
Why did you have that tiresome girl here |
% spoil our quiet evening? Poor girl9' |
Nonsense. She's all right; she has dozens |
If men in love with her Let her go to |
hem; she shall not trouble us. Why do |
'ou look so sad? Let us forget all about |
Ter. Don't ask her here again. You were |
7ery kind to her, but never in all my life |
aw any one so out of place as she was in |
7our room. Did you want to teach me |
esson? Well, it's taught 1 shan't need |
mother. Seeing you two together once |
vas enough. 1 may have been a fool-a |
blind fool-but you have opened my eyes. |
You need never fear again, never distrust |
ne again. am yours now-yours entire
In his excitement he flung himself to-
ward her. She drew back, with q little |
'ob in her throat.
Don't, Edward, don't! You ought to |
DO angry with me. I am very much
have been OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
,ut you Edward, was very fond of
was why / did it-and il You
had stood by that poor girl tonight, I
night have been fond Of you still. Mora
Vyppe in New Budget.