The Dupuyer acantha. [volume] (Dupuyer, Mont.) 1894-1904, 1895-08-08

1t was Lena. and she was not Ion
A man walked by her side, too, whom
he GIerbertD 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 were turned. But, sharpened to
abnormal a%cuteness, Herbert's senses
could divine, as it were, 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 l~istless, 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 Herbert's
heart, and at that instant the two
faced about to retrece their steps and
saw him advancing.
Lena was the first to speak. She
had turned from white to 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 to be
we wereT"
Herbert's white, dry lips framed two
words shortly.
Mrs. Percy"
Reginald Mansfield raised his tyeE
brows.
"Ah, yes. To be sure, she would
know. You had a jolly outing, 1 sup
pose, Latimer?"
Calmly he met the glare of Herbert
Latimer's eyes.
But Mrs. Latmer. laughing nervous
ly, had touched her husbands sleeve.
She turned her glance to Reginald
Mansfield, and there was something
like a wild, depressed appeal in it.
Did he read it's meaning Alright? He
took off his hat.
"Will YOU permit me to withdraw,
Mrs. Latimer? l am sure that after
your separation your husbands COM
panionship must be the only one
acceptable"
He nodded to Herbert, but received
no look from the latter in return.
liz HtAI luStdlJ AuoDuDu ohu VII
were alone. and then the food-gates
of Herbert Latimer's jealous rage and
Indignation were opened.
Lena stood silent, with downcast
eyes, as the hot words poured owe
her. She was, then, he asked, like
every other woman? The great trust
he had had in her truth, believing it
so perfect hat not even the shadow of
a frivolous Irritation could touch it,
was, then, proved to be unfounded?
He had, perhaps, not been a model
husband himself. He acknowledged it.
He had been in the wrong. He had
gone after his OWE pleasures. He had
seemed to neglect her. He bad, in
fact, neglected her. He had 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 unassailable.
Mrs. Percy, however, had suggested
to him, by exasperating ~innuendoes,
all that had been going on for weeks.
And a 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
stunned.
"Herbert!" she suddenly cried out
with a rapturous note of joy and love
She ran after him, she chung to him
all her sweet. Madonna face was GOV
cred with tears and smiles. Her
bert. Beloved! beloved! 1t was only
to test you,O only to teach you. by youl
own pain what mine has been! Truly
truly. | have given no thought to Mr.
Mansfield say such thought as one
gives Il good, good friend. He has
seemed very attentive as the wOrlt
speaks of such things, but he has beel
only kind-Oh, so kind! You see,
look like-like some n he loved once
and so he was my friend from TIN
first. He saw how miserable l was
dear. about yOur going off on that tril
to which l objected. He realized tn,
pain | felt at your seeming indiffer
~ence-for, indeed, thought you caret
nothing for me any more. Oh, was
not foolish? Do | not see row in you
eyes-do l not fee by the clasp o
, your arms. how much you loved me il
truth? But | was wretched, and MI
Mansfield discovered it, and becaus
he felt as a friend to me he thought o
this plan. He and Mrs. Percy. She
too. has been. oh, S o good to me. TO
gether they combined it all. She wa
to see you and tell you when you ar
rived. and | was to go off with tn
Wentworths on the yacht, and wit
Mr.. Mansfield. 1t was all to keep III
the appearance of the comedy w
were playing. And it was to hav
been kept up much longer; | was no
, to divulge the truth to you until yo,
l were well tried. But | cannot, canno
; play this farce another moment whel
I | love you so! l see and feel that yo1
!, so love me!'
She was weeping now. in his arms
Tightly clasped, Herbert held hel
When, at length, she locked up, hi
face was changed-graver. cOlde,
firmer than she had seen it.
Yes, dear Lena, the comedy wa
f played long enough. child. lon
: enough. The lesson has been we.
learned. 1t has beAn taken to heart"
, Il 1t + u 81
Two weeks later Reginald Mansfiel'
! Gturned to New York. In the even
! ing he went to Mrs. Percy's She gret
= ed him with an exclamation:
, Where have You been all this time
In hiding? In every | hay
| tried to get news of your where