Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1896-01-02
feelings, Capt. Rowe" added signifi-
cantly. "No; do not come near me.
You are cruel-cruel!"

feelings, Capt. Rowe" l added signifi-
cantly. "No; do not come near me.
You are cruel-cruel!'
My resolution was fast oozihg away
Il felt it slipping from me-and as
Dick still continued to advance adopt
cd the most strategical move could
think of ran out of the room. Up
stairs l sped to my bedroom, locking
myself in and pouring out my misery
in bitter sobs.
| When mother came to look for me l
told her / did not feel well-that my
head ached badly. / could not bring
myself to tell her the CHASTITY truth
| just yet. She had, knew, set her mind
On the drive to Barstone cliffs, which
had been arranged for the morrow's
| afternoon, and / did not see why my
troubles should deprive her of the an
| ticipated pleasure. Time enough to in
form her of my discovery on her re-
turn. We could leave Norfolk on the
following day. Yes, that would be
best.
Dick sent up dozen times in the
course of the evening to know how
was, but beyond a laconic mo BETTER"
he got meager intelligence. Twice he
had the hardihood to come upstairs
himself, tap-tapping at the door and
breathing my name through the key
hole. But to these overtures, of course,
I made no reply.
1 do not think am naturally of a
ind nj l,,t
there is some shred of wisdom in the
theory that those whom you have loved
the best,when once you have seen cause
to detest them, you end by hating the
most. So, at least, it seemed to me
with regard to Dick. He had deceived
me; why should not give him tit for
tat-why should / not also play the
double game? Moreover, circum-
stances invited me to the attempt. Less
than week ago l had received a COM
munication from Freddie Walcott,
dated from Venice, in which he had
virtually made me an offer of marriage.
Now Freddie-pleasant, vivacious and
wealthy-had known me almost all my
life, but as he had spent the last six
months upon the continent he had not
as yet heard of my recent engagement
to Capt. Rowe. In my simplehearted-
ness l had already shown this letter to
Dick, and both he and / had laughed
hugely over it. But now L thought
better OF it. l began to suspect / had
behaved rather shabbily toward Fred
die. His constancy, at all events, mer-
tied due recognition.
All tAat night, my conscience grow
ing hard, ! pondered over my plan.
Next morning I still pleaded my head
ache US an excuse for not appearing at
breakfast and lunch. Nor had any
appetite for the food sent up to me.
Mothers anxiety induced her to de-
clare that she would forego the excur-
sion to the cliffs, and it required all my
persuasion to convince her that it was
unnecessary-that would soon be well
again, and all l needed was rest and
quiet.
An hour later / heard the rumble of
the carriages as they passed down the
yew-fringed drive to the high road. Ex-
cept for the servants, was alone in the
house. Now was my opportunity. 1
went straight to the morning-room,
took up sheet of note paper, drew pen
| and ink toward me and wrote deliber-
ately this:
my DEAREST FREDDIE: 1 can never
forgive myself If you have formed the
opinion that am neglecting you. Really
L think quite frequently of you. If l have
not hitherto shown the sympathy feel
you must take my word for it that there
are difficulties in the way which may not
be apparent to you. However, intend to
| make amends from this day forth. We
will at once resume our friendship. if 1t
please you, and the oftener we see each
| other in the future the more 1 shall be
| gratified. But l must warn you before
hand to beware of the ogre! When we are
in the company of others / shall expect
| you to be on your best behavior-none of
| the rapture and endearments with which
| in The old reckless days you were wont to
hahass JENNIE"
In the midst of my writing mothers
spaniel came into the room, but as the
sensible little animal saw l was preoc-
cupied he simply leaped into my lap
and curled himself up there good as
gold, until 1 had finished my scrawl
ately 1 sprang to my feet with a cry of
dismay. Evidently the dear pet had
broken bounds again; of surety he
had been in the fshpond too. His coat
was still wet and plastered thick with
mud. And my dress-my dress, was
irretrievably ruined.
While 1 stood thus in CONSERVATION
the sound of approaching footsteps
struck upon my ears. would never do
to be seen in such plight; 1 must
change my dress at once. For that pur-
pose 1 darted upstairs to my bedroom,
forgetting, in my haste and oxidation,
all about the letter to Freddie which
lay exposed to the prying gaze of any
one who CHANGED to enter the room.
Presently a hurried tread echoed
along the corridor; it stopped outside
my door. Dic]1-who afterward found
mad not gone with the coaching party
at all-Dick called to me in a loud i'm
perious voice:
Jennie-Jennie, say!"
MHy IL