The Bottineau pioneer. (Bottineau, N.D.) 1885-1895, 1895-03-02

YOU to join our house parIy-lneiS
will only be eight of us, the same
old crowd we had last year"
.rrhe same crowd? How delightful!-
."The same, and not the same. l
won't invite MI. Agrew now"
"And what has poor Mr. Agnew
done?" ~
"What has he doneT Oh, nothing
unusual; they all do it sooner or later,
but an engaged man Is de .trop at an
affair of this kind. No girl wants
him for her partner, and, really, n
can't blame Them"
can engaged mani" 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
svrations and she was conscious that
she was speaking.
$50! 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 men,
tened it to you. I am horribly disap-
pointed. Fancy Charley Agnew mar
ried to a 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
er," quoted Edith lightly. She felt a
longing to cry out, to bury her face
scmt where instead of which she must
smile and look unconscious and dis
cuss this love affair with the indifer-
ence OF a mere acquaintance. IF l re-
member rightly she was q nice little
thing"
"Nice? Heavens! Fancy Charley's
coming to that-actually to marry a
nice girl! His best enemy couldn't
wish him worse luck. He has disap-
pointed me dreadfully. I thought"
significantly, che fancied some one
else, somebody nearer home"
"Somebody nearer home-oh, do you
mean myself? How awfully funny!
Why, we are very good friends, we
have always been friends; but u a
rapid flash Of thought; then with ris-
ing color. "I'm going to marry anoth-
er man.
Her visitors face expressed intense
surprise! "Going to be married. she
repeated; IL had not heard"
mo one has heard" said the other,
with some emotion, land, by the way,
Mr.. Manning is waiting for me in the
library. I must ask you to excuse
me-"
"Mr. Manning!"
did you not guess? I thought of
course you would. Don't speak Of it,
Janet. I only told you because (slow-
ly) you are such a good friend of
MINE"
"And 1 appreciate it accordingly. l
wish you every happhess'-she laid
her hand lightly on Edith's arm--"you
know that dent you?"
"Why, yes-you have always wish.
ed me well, haven't you? See how po-
tent your wishes have been! But to
return to u first subject. | shall be
glad to go with you to Arley. Last
years visit was a dream"
"Then I shall count on you. Come,
you will have to let me out; l am not
au fait. with your latch"
"What a strong wind there is-draw
up your wraps. Goodbye, and again
thank you for thinking of me-"
The front door slammed and Edith
stood a moment in the hall, gathering
courage for what was to come; then
she turned and went into the library.
Manning, who was standing at a
distant window, came forward at her
entrance.
~ am afraid / kept you," she said
giving him a trembling hand, .'but
was detained by an early CALI from q
friend.s
can early CALL" he repeated; then
what do you think Of me-?
"Ah, but I told you to come; tina
is altogether different. I wanted you.
"You wanted me?" he cried eagerly
"my darling may l interpret that af
ter my own fashion? Do you really
care for me q little" t'
She could not speak, but for answer
she came to him, laying her beautiful
head on his breast.
"Love me-" she whispered, passion
ately, ''only love me, and you cal
make of me what you will"
y y y =
do you know" he said to hel
about an hour later, "at first 70,
frightened ME, but when you didn'
say NO. at nee I began to hope.
knew it wasn't, like you to keep me il
suspense-you are too true Of hear
for that
""Too true" she thought, remorse
fully. ooh, Herbert, Herbert"
But aloud. she said, smiling hall
sadly into his loving eyes: "To thing o1
your being afraid of me-of poor little
me-who am not half worthy of YOU