The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-01-08

perfectly justified. / won't repress
my feelings for the sake of that
vulgar piece of modern Sevres-that is
what she looks like! l won't fight
with myself, won't be cool towards
him when don't want to be! IL is
duel between us two, Miss Bella Car
stairs; you have the advantage up TO the
present, for he is silly enough TO care
for you, but shall win and i will beat
you yeti"
The writer is not sure that she was
wrong, but wrong or right, it can only
De recorded that che followed the pro-
Eramme she had laid down for herself
TO the letter.
SlSillfully, oh yes, sldllfully! She
was far too much grande dame, Miss
Drillingham, to fiirt openly, or TO en-
courage with conspicuousness. Hope
toun was never able to say that the
change which occurred between them
hogan at any particular hour, or even
on any particular day. He only realized
by degrees that a change had come.
And IL was difficult TO define what
the change Well, perhaps for one
thing they talked less of Bella---for
hate would have scorned TO disparage
her to him, however artistically. Per-
haps also they did not refer so frequent
ly to their mock betrothal-the jesting
auusions to it were absent from their
conversations now. But still IT was
hard to express the new difference in
words; he merely realized that they
talked togethermore like any other man
and woman who are seeing lot of each
other; for example, ne could not have
told her to-day that she made him
think OF her as "chum'-"a jolly good
fellow He remembered that he had
said that once, md wondered why he
did not think so still.
Not that she was any the less agree
hble--far from it. He had never liked
her so much, never before known she
was so charming, SO graceful, SO witty.
She had not mentioned her fateful
visit to the Carstairs to him, and when
he heard of il, II was fortnight after
wards. and from Bella herself.
He received the news with complex
emotions. Euphemistically as the in
terview was described, he was intelli-
gent enough to comprehend that his
cousin could not have an opinion in it
nitogcthcr favorable TO his fiancee,
and this view was confirmed, more
over, by the silence she had maintained
on the subject.
IL had been very tactful of her, very
nice, 20 have said nothing 10 him.
Another woman would have said: IL
went TO endeavor to further your inter-
ests. and the girl would not listen TO
me" OF course Bella was helpless in
the matter--it was her mothers influ-
cnce that was TO blame-but Kate could
not be expected 10 know that, and she
had certainly displayed great dclicacy
towards him.
Next time he saw her he thanked
her for il. "By the way" he said. IL
did not know of your visit 10 Mrs. Car
stairs and Bella till the other day. 1t
was awfully good of you, Kate. am
sorry you should have had the trouble
--and for nothing"
"Oh," she murmured, with a shrug,
81 was in town, and thought il might
be advisable TO let her know how things
stood. On the whole i think IL was
very plucky of her TO decide 10 wait
for something here. IL will be much
more agreeable for you If you get it,"
lie knew that this was a gracioss false
hood, but, man-like, he continued the
subject, instead of allowing il 10 drop.
"Bnt you never told me of your cali"
he said. II had no idea you had been
there"
didn't IL" she said; II meant to-"
Both paused, and looked through the
window at the lawn.
what do you think of her?" he
esked.
''She is very delightful, very prct-
fy"-it was impossible 10 say less-"I
congratulate you heartily. Arnold"
Hut her tone lacked heartiness, and
ne felt il. She had formed a wrong
cs~mate OF Bella; he must justify the
girl ~ once.
Il hope" he said. you do not think
eho Is acting wrongly in declining 70