Blackfoot news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1891-1902, 1895-07-20

still, showed in the peculiar smile that
parted her lips.
What viii the outcome bey' she
murmured. "And then--alas what
fools, what astonishing fools men can
be, at times, to be sure"
A mist had come up and lay, an i'm
penetrable vail, over the sea. In the
prevailing neutrality of the atmOs-
phere's tints, a woman's yachting
dress of blue and red made a warm,
picturesque spot blurred and deep, in
the foggy perspective. man, stalk
ing along with swift strides, caught a
sudden vision OF this dash of color.
and of the slender, well-known figure
it clothed at an abrupt terminus OF
the walk.
! II was Lena, and she was not alone.
A man walked by her side, too, whom
he CHerbertl could have no difficulty
in recognizing. The tall, loosely built,
nonchalant figure was that of Regi-
maid Mansfield.
The two had stopped now. Their
backs We're turned. But, sharpened TO
abnormal acuteness, Herbert's senses
could divine, as 1t We're, their mental
attitude at the moment, BETRAYED in
the pose of their vague, dark silhou-
cites. Lena, her head bent away from
her companion, seemed to be looking
out to sea, and, as Herbert advanced
rapidly nearer, something listless, de
jected, became more clear in the droop
of her shoulders.
But Reginald Mansfield looked not
at the sea, but at her. He stood near
her, so near that his hand could touch
her elbow.
The blood surged up in Herberts
heart, and at that instant the two
faced about TO retrFce their steps and
saw him advancing.
Lena was the first to speak. She
had turned from white 10 red and
back to white. A suppressed trem-
bling had seized her. But her voice
was clear and steady.
Herbert, dear! You here? How
did you know where the yacht would
be to-day? | thought you were 10 be
in New York? Who told you where
we wereP'
Herbert's white, dry lips framed two
words shortly
Mrs. Percy"
Reginald Mansfield raised his tye-
brows.
~hAA8 sNos IL bG SURF she MOulu
know. You had jolly outing, 1 sup
pose, Latimer?"
Calmly he met the glare OF Herbert
Latimer's eyes
But Mrs. Latmer, laughing nervous
~, had touched her husbands sleeve.
She turned her glance TO Reginald
Mansfield, and there was something
like a wild. depressed appeal in II.
Did he read its meaning arightY He
took OF his hat.
win you permit me to withdraw,
Mrs. Latimer? l am sure that after /.
your separation your husbands com I
partnership must be the only one
acceptable"
lie nodded to Herbert, but received +
no look from the latter In return.
The next instant husband and wife .
were alone. and then the hood-gates
of Herbert Latimer's jealous rage and
indignation were opened.
Lena stood silent, with downcast
eyes, as the hot words poured over
her. She was, then, he asked, like
every other woman? The great trust
he had had In her truth, believing II
so perfect that not even the shadow OF
a frivolous Irritation could touch H.
was, then, proved to be unfoundedY
He had, perhaps, not been a model
husband himself. He acknowledged il.
lie had been in the wrong He had
gone after his own pleasures. He had
seemed to neglect her. He bad. In
fact. neglected her. He Rad the mis-
fortune of having been bred among
people who looked upon such things
as only trivial faults. But, through
all, he had always felt that. faulty as
he might be, she was unassaiIable.
Mrs. Percy, however, had suggested
10 him, by eXasperating innuendoes.
all that had been going on for weeks.
And Irritation with Reginald Mans
field, of all men! A Irritation with his
own friend
In intolerable despair he talked on
And then he stopped What more was
there to say? Sharply he turned from
her.
Was he going from her? She raised
her head, she watched him as he
walked away, blindly, as one who is
Herbert" she suddenly cried out.
with rapturous note Of joy and love.
She ran after him, she chung to him:
all her sweet. Madonna face was COW
cred with tears and smiles. Her
pert. Beloved! beloved! 1t was ONLY
to test you, only to teach you, by your
own pain what mine has been! Truly.
truly, have given no thought TO Mr..
Mansfield save such thought as one
gives good, good friend. He has
seemed very attentive as the world
speaks of such things, but he has been
1nly kind--Oh, so kind! You see.
0ok like-like some one he loved once.
ma so he was my friend from the
trst. He saw how miserable | was I
lear about your going off on that trim q
o which ! objected. He realized the :
laln / felt at your seeming indiRer.
indeed, thought you cared
nothing for me any more! Oh. was / c
rot Foolish! DO | not see row in your r
'yes-do | not feel by the CLASH of I
our arms, how much you loved me I'm )
ruthE But | was wretched, and Mr..
mansfield discovered IT, and because y
le felt as friend to me he thought of &
his plan. He and Mrs. Percy. she. a
90, has been, oh, so good to me. TO. -
ether they combined 1t all. She was :,
o see you and tell you when You ar Il
lyed, and | was to go Off with the a
y entWOrthS on the yocht opd ,,i4h =