The Somerset reporter., 1897-02-11
u pipe. linen ne streucneo


indeed she is already eager for your &C
quaintance.
| was steeled, thought, against all
that he could tell me, but upon this
well nigh betrayed myself. Had she ad
mitted that her fancy for mel knew
that she did come near loving me-was
dead, | could have borne my burden un-
complainingly and might have forgot
ten But that she should deny that it
| had existed-that she had ever known
me-that was past liberation.
''Thcy live at Brighton, Dick con-
tinued, 80 that we are not too far
away to visit them. You must come
down some day with me- | want you to
know her,
There are times when it We're unwise
to be sincere.
. shall be delighted " | said even
while l reviewed the excuses upon
which l should be able to rely in the
event Of his some day rendering more
definite invitation. Then I turned the
conversation into other channels, and i'll
little while, somewhat to the disgust
of my friend, who had much to tell,
left.
About month had passed when
had II note one day from Mrs. Luttrell:
DEAR MIR. MoRTIMER-We have taken tickets
for the Lyceum matinee ON Saturday and
three or four friends are to meet us there. /
wonder if you are free that afternoon and
would care to meet us and go with us to the
theater. Yours very truly,
FRANCES LUTTRELL.
1t was "A miserable, foggy day and l
half feared they would not come. But
though their train was somewhat delay
ed they presently arrived, and we took
cab along the Strand. Madge looked
unusually pretty and greeted me with a
disappointing cheerfulness | had count
ed ON little sympathy from her, but
her aspect was one of rather mischie-
vous enjoyment. 1t would have been
timely enough if she had held in store
for me solae very delightful surprise.
She even referred to IL matter which |
had hoped for Il month past had escaped
her observation.
Il did not think that you would de-
scend to theft, she said. Il would
have given it to you. And. of course
you have discovered your mistake "
We We're entering the theatcr as she
spoke, and there was Il momentary press
of people, and l affected not to have
heard her speech; indeed | was not a
little angry. Her clumsiness was OBJ.
viously intentional, for O was well
aware that she i'll nowise suffered from
want of tact
A moment later we We're being shown
to cur seats.
Will you take the inside seat" said
MadgC, and | moved obediently to the
last vacant one, next to the lady whose
face was turned from me ] was Just
taking my seat when she turned and
looked up mt me- She had the grace to
blush, for it was Maud Cameron, but
there was no tremor i'll her voice when
she spoke moment later
"How do you do?" she said politely,
and in the same words | answered her
Presently she leaned little nearer
and spoke to me i'll her soft, pretty voice
You have nothing to say she said.
"You may talk, you know =
/ turned to her with look of despcr.
alton. Why could not she leave me tc
myself? 4 had forgotten, | said. Il
must congratulate you-or Dick, at any
rate.
"Oh " she answered smilingly, you
may congratulate me also Do not fear;
it has happened marvclously well.
"Marvelously WE'LL" l echoed
1
larly in that you are his special friend
1t is so nice for the wife when the hus.
band FREUD is nice But why didn I
you tell him you knew the Luttrells-
aud me-
l stared at her, incrcdulous of hey
cruelty.
How could l tell him?" said indig-
nantly. lyon had denied acquaintance
with me, and, since you had forgotten
do you think | wished to remember"
| was Il triflc startled al the effect of
this speech. 1t should have silenced her
l thought so at least, but ii seemed as
if ] had injured her and now greater
Indignation than my own arose III her
I'll is not true, She saitl What do
you mean? | saw him only fortnight
ago, when | returned from Sandybar
and | distinctly remember telling him
that day that | had met you there
Mother did suggest that he might bring
you down one Saturday;but, of course -
/ interrupted. You only saw him Il
fortnight ago? Why, It's full month
since he told me you We're engaged
And Vct yon have known him only a