The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-07-05


| She was very gracious to him.
After a little conversation, Roland
asked, nervousy, II had been hoping
that might have seen Miss Campbell
Lois returns tomorrow. You must
| come and see her. / do not think you
have met for some time" and Lady
| Beauchamp looked at him inquringly.
II should have been exceedingly glad
to see her again. We used to be very
| good friends, but lately / fancy l have
| bored her She knows so many other
| people" Roland had taken up his hat
| and sat with 1t In his hands, examining
| it closely.
THAT is very odd for, IL you will
| forgive me, l believed 1t was you who
wished to avoid meeting. 1 know she
| noticed It," continued Lady Beau
| champ. Perhaps she is offended"
II should deserve IL If she were, for
| did keep away at one time. ] foolishly
| thought that old friends were not so
agreeable to her as new, and I did not
like to force myself upon her."
"Oh, there you are quite wrong. She
is one of the most constant people l
know. Once her friend, always her
| friend. Your having done that has
most likely hurt her"
II do not see how that can be; for
she wrote me such kind note when
| she inclosed your card OF invitation to
dinner Since then she must have re-
pented, for 1 have never been able to
| get word with her. cannot under
stand her behavior"
| well, 1 should certainly say, from
my knowledge of Lois, that she was
offended" said Lady Beauchamp, alb
sently surveying her shoe buckles. "I
am afraid there must be some misun-
derstanding between you. You had
| better have an explanation"
Il wish l could follow your advice;
| but she gives me no chance of speak
ing to her, and the grievance has not
substance enough for letter. 1t would
be absurd to write: You are treating
me coldly; pray, how have I offended
you?"
Il think the only way would be to
meet her Unexpectedly, when she would
be forced to speak to you. What do you
say to being here when she comes back
tomorrow? What more natural than
that you should come to call? and then
| II there has been any misunderstanding
| you will be able to clear it up. Oh,
| you must come. Be here at g."
| when Lois returned laden with a
| great bunch of roses, she was informed
that Lady Beauchamp wanted her in
the drawing room, and accordingly
she ran lightly upstairs. and came to
a full stop. There was no Lady Beau
champ, but man was advancing to-
ward her from the window. The glare
OF the afternoon sun was behind him;
she could not distinguish his face.
Miss Campbell" he said.
Lois started, and some of the flowers
she held fell to the floor.
Lois" Grey repeated humbly. ct am
sorry / startled you, but I wanted
so much to see you"
She stopped to pick up the flowers.
but rose hastily as he bent to help
her, She wanted to run away, but felt
that would be undignified. Instead,
she said stiffly:
Il did not expect to see you"
Roland left most of the flowers on
the floor but he held one rosebud,
which he twisted nervously in his fing-
er.
NO" he replied, 'but Lady Beau
champ said l might call. ] was so
anxious to see you"
"Why?" Lois inquired coldly.
The door by which she had entered
still stood open behind her, but now
Grey closed it quietly, and Lois drop
ped into seat. They had not shaken
hands.
I'VE have always been such good
friends" he said, until lately. Have I
offended you? 1 am very sorry. What
have done?'
Lois made an inarticulate sound.
Some time ago." he continued, "I
confess that 1 purposely avoided you;
but, oh, Lois! won't you understand?
l wanted you to feel quite free"
Lois remained motionless, and he
went on more calmly:
when l received your letter I knew
how wrong 1 had been to doubt your
friendship, and 1 thought then 1
might"
What do you mean?" she flashed.
"You asked me to come and see you,
and you said that you held friendship
so sacred that 1t could not be lightly
thrown aside. I quite agreed, and"
Have YOU come here to mock me?"
she demanded, rising angrily.
He put out his hand to detain her.
"Why do you say l mock you? l would
rather die than dream of doing So"
Lois gave a harsh laugh. Your let
ter was an insult!'
"An insult? Good heavens! what do
you mean?"
II do not think need tell you"
Il do he said, confronting her.
you shall tell me-"
"Do YOU not call it an insult?" she
asked with a catch in her voice, when
/ tell you of my friendship, and you
rit hnt hnt
the number of your friends, and do no.
need to avail yourself Of my proposal"
Il never wrote such a thing" said
Grey.
Il have the letter." answered Lois.
There was dead silence in the room.
They stood confronting each other.
The girl looked lovely in her indigna-
ton. Her eyes We're large and brighr,
and her pale cheeks were flushed. She
held her chin well in the air, but there
was a suspicious twitching at the cor
ners of her mouth.
a ray of comprehension illumined hi,
face. "Oh, my darling" he gasped,
"and you got that letter? Careless
idiot that 1 am! That letter was never
meant for you. 1t was meant for Mrs.
Lewis"
He tried to take her hand, but she
drew 1t back.
Il don't understand" she murmured
He made her sit down again. IT
shall never forgive myself. 1t has all
been due to my stupidity. Shortly be-
fore l got your note l received one
from that tiresome woman, Mrs Lewis,
informing me that If l were willing she
would be happy to get me into the
very best society She is always pes
tering me by word and letter, and so