The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-01-09
I'm ENGAGEMENT.
By SIR ROBERT PEEL
Icopyright. 1896. BY Sir Robert PoelI

In his veins.
He descended early. His room cooped
him, and the freshness of the air out
side harmonized better with his mood.
She also was out. He caught n
glimpse of her white frock in the shrub
berry, and overlook her with delight.
"Good morning, sweetheart" he said.
She blushed with pleasure, and sur
rendered her lips baShfully.
"And have you been thinking of me"
she asked.
$50 much! And yet / can hardly
credit my good fortune"
No need to set down what they said.
1t was not until later in the day that
Miss Drillingham spoke of Bella, and
questioned how he intended TO act, ard
then she declared that he must write to
her at once.
She was in fact beginning TO tell her
self that she had played n shabby part.
she wanted to admit il to Arnold, but
was 10th to humiliate herself in his
ewes. and when he demurred to sending
the suggested letter, and proposed 10
see and speak to Bella instead, she did
not press the point.
Hopetoun, who was not coward, in
tended calling upon the Carstairs on
the morrow, when Bella, who was on a
visit 10 her relations ut Morecombe,
would be back i'm town.
Kate had therefore several hours be-
fore she was required to abase herself
before him. and until the time arrived
she abandoned herself 10 the charm OF
their new relationship as completely MS
possible.
Nevertheless her doubt obtruded
itself constantly, and lastly new
terror came. Had she the right 10 .ct
Arnold jilt the girl?
Che could not determine.
AS result she resolved TO leave th,
decision To the man. She would ex
tenuate nothing, and sctnaught downin
malice. III he could say: II love you:
j don't care what YOU have done-you
are the only woman | can be happy
with" she would be his wife; if he re-
preached her, and said: 1T was un-
womanly. petty, it was not worthy of
you, Kate" nothing should ever induce
l.er to marry him.
The pauses in the conversation of the
cousins became painfully frequent, and
woefuliy prolonged. 1t was relief To
both when Drillingham broke in upon
their tete-a-tete, and then a semblance
OF cheerfulness returned until dinner
time, when Kate said to Arnold:
'Afterwards l want TO speak to you
come into the drawing-room as soon as
you can." Her face was very pale as
she whispered the words. He wondered
If anything was amiss.
When he joined her, She was standing
on the hcarth-rather desolate figure
in the big room, ii struck him all at
once. She did not respond to his smile
ofinquiry; obviously she was disturbed.
Had something happened7
"What is the matter?" he asked; lis
anything wrong?"
Arnold" she said, 81 have some
thing TO say 60 you--something / owe
10 you and to myself-and to Miss
Carstairs.".
''To Miss Carstairs?" he echoed.
She nodded. Her lips trembled, and
he looked at her with dismay.
Kate" said Hopetoun, ''you Gre
talking mysteriously, uncomfortably,
child What's it all about?"
Arnold, you remember when went
10 Miss Carstairs, and didn't tell you ?"
81 remember" ne answered. "Well ?"
IL did not tell you because did not
like her. / am anxious not 10 say any
thing in her disparagement, but in
Justice TO myself-to make my explana-
ltion clear must say that found her
ungracious, that il did not seem TO me
she cared for you as much as she did
for herself. She-she got on my
NERVES"
II suspected It," said Hopetoun,
"yes?"
''When | left her IL made a VOW all
40 myself in the cab. sworc / would
lake you away from her"
WHAT"
al swore would take YOU away from
her-that things should happen just as
they have. I've done il, and now I'm
ASHAMED
She stood looking at the carpet in si-
lence. Iopetoun crossed over to her
before he replied
why ne said; "why, what was your
imotive?"
She hesitated. Say IL was vanity, il
you like" she murmured, "or petty
spite! What do you think of me?"
81 shall not say il was either" he said.
''It is for YOU TO say what il was. You
do not wish me TO believe you have ouly
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