The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1895-01-24
ALITTLE s24
Comedy \ Of Errors /

COMEDY q EIIOlS. !.
We remained in France until poor
mamma s death last summer; then re-
turned to boston, at the request OF the
administrators, to remain there until
\ the estate could DC settled. In n. the
meantime had learned the truth in re re-
gard to the rulnor that had caused me
to break the engagement, the fatality
that had linked his name falsely and
unjastly to TIC story Of another mans
wrong-doing. ! WIS thankful for his
vindication, even though I might never
\ look upon his face again; and this j.
scarcely expected to do lsaw nothing
of him, heard nothing Of him, until, on
the very first day Of my visit here, we,
met as strangers.
The resolute voice died away here in
something very like a sob. There was
silence for q few moments; then Mrs.
Maynard said, quietly, though with evil
dent emotion: y ~ ig.s
s:It is natural, perhaps, that after the
manner of your dismissal sudden, per-
e1nptory and without amy explanation
whatever-Mr. North should now give
you nothing but a strangers greeting
Remember, he had sufficient occasion
for resentment, being innocent of that
of which you believed him to be guilty,
and perhaps wholly unconscious OF the
supposed fault for which you con-
demned him unheard.
'sOh, know!' interrupted Miss Hill
airy, with sharp accent of pain, that
sounded like impatience, in her voice.
5."There IS no defense for my course; /
was hasty, irrational, unjust, and / de-
serve to suffer all the consequences. 1t
isn't that-it is the evidence of his
fckleness; his treachery, his deliberate
double-dealing -oh, don't you under.
stand me, Mrs. Maynard? Believe me,
it was no jealous curiosity on my part,
but could not help seeing
81 understand you, my dear Myra,"
said Mrs. Maynard, calmly, as the dis
tressed girl paused here, at a loss for
words to continue. ''You rightly di-
vined that Mr.. North was my avowed
sutton; but, happily for me, not yet ac-
ceptedr' : ,>@- r.. ',,
II have no right to complain of that"
interposed Miss Hilary, her pretty head
lifted, her eyes bright with girlish
pride. 1T is not strange that he should
admire you, love you, as his every
glance and tone and action revealed
that. he. did; why he seemed scarcely
conscious of my existence, SO wholly
absorbed was he in you! And to me the
strangest part Of it all was that he be-
trayed no recollection of the past no
resentment toward me, no conscious.
ness that we had ever met before. This
panied me, but I accepted it as only
what I ought to expect, and resolved
to go away as soon as could find any
reasonable pretext for cutting short my
visit here, and henceforth bury out of
sight that dead past in which lie bore a
part. It was only when he looked at
me as he did to-day, as a lover might,
you know, that saw the depth Of his.
sduplicity; and link now that 81
hate him for being so false tosus both
Again there was a little silence, so
controlled that no hint would have
been given a casual observer of the
tragical emotions that were contending
in the hearts of these two women. 1t
was Mrs. Maynard that spoke next, in
aco]d, hard, relentless tone: ~.
1--WE both have great cause to con-
graduate ourselves, my dear Myra, on
having discovered Mr. North's true
character before it was within his pow
err to wreck the lifelong happiness OF
either. l hesitate to tell you the truth
that has recently forced itself upon my
belief 5a m, d.: 's".r.- - 20. -. - ,
The color died Quickly from Miss
Hilary's face again; there was a vague
alarm expressed in her trembling tones
as she responded hurriedly: ~" d. T..
ooh, let me know the worst, Mrs.
Maynard! What is he? What has he
done?' Y,
t.'It would be nothing" continued
Mrs. Maynard, bitterly, "for him to
vacillate between two fancies-to alter
nate and hesitate in his choice between
yourself and me- 49,
:. ':Oh, dear Mrs. Maynard!' came in
tones Of whispered protest from the
white-faced listener. +
SIT would be nothing" repeated Mrs
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