Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1897-08-18

ridiculous! Here, I'll take this one I
don't suppose you'll have any difficulty
in filling the other; you're looking very
pretty tonight. 1 must go, dear; this
is nv dance with Laura"
Maggie Fawcett bit her lips. She
wouldn't have minded people seeing
h she was in love with her husband
and that she thought him the hand
man in the room, but men were
different very different = and her
heart swelled Is a rush Of memories
came upon her. She answered. her part
ner's not very abstruse remarks me-
c~hanically. 1t was doubtless bad form.
but her eyes sought her husbands fig
ure; he was waltzing with Laura-it
seemed to her that he was always waltz
ing with Laura. But, then, perhaps
Eric might be thinking the same thing
of her, for she had certainly danced a
great many times with this Mr. Dobson
-Dodson-she was not at all sure of his
name, and she really did not care at all
who was her partner. The Darshire
hunt ball was not amusing, she thought,
and it was a little embarrassing that SO
many people noticed and admired her
bangle; she touched it doubtfully.
twisting it on her arm SO that the dia-
mond flashed in her eyes. 1t was very
pretty, but
maggie seems to be putting in a
very good time tonight" observed
Lady Carew, as she strolled into the
appears to be enjoying herself tremen-
dously."
Not half so much as 1 am" replied
Eric, with a laugh. 1T is quite like old
times, isn't it" he added, drawing a low
seat forward for his companion.
20, my lear Erie, don't try to be SEN
timental! But, really, 1 begin to think
my warning to Maggie was not I'M
called"
"Eh! What warning?"
"Well, it rather seems to me that. the
Old Adam is returning, my friend; that
domestic joys are palling, and forbid
den fruit is becoming terribly at
tractive."
us that a challenger"
mot at all; besides, Maggie is my
cousin and my friend, and I think it is
right to war; her."
"Are you in fun or in earnest? What
do you mean by warning her?"
Lady Carew broke into a laugh.
"Oply that 1 told her to beware of a
husbands presents-that a magnificent
diamond and emerald bracelet often
meant more than met the eye when it
was bestowed apprpos de bottes."
Really, l haven't the slightest idea of
what you a
"Mean? Why. the lovely bangle you
gave her yesterday"
81 gave Maggie a bangle yesterday? ?"
Certainly. She is wearing it to-
night"
"You must be dreaming"
Lady Carew looked at her compan-
ions face with frank establishment.
II am very sorry" she said, quietly.
Il am afraid I have been indiscreet; but
how was 1 to guess? o, what are you
going to do?"
For at that moment Mrs. Fawcett
entered the conservatory on the arm of
her partner, and Eric Immediately arose
to his feet. Laura caught his arm.
Eric, don't be ridiculous, it is some
absurd mistake! III take that man
away. Speak to Maggie, but for heav-
ems sake don't look like that"
But, in spite of Lady Carew's efforts,
it was not an easy thing to stake that
man away" and while the futile, frivo-
lous conversation rippled on, Eric stood
by, bewildered and stunned. Maggie,
the soul of truth and simplicity, had
told a lie. There was not the faintest
doubt that Laura had spoken the truth.
and spoken it without arriere-pensee.
The stones of the mysterious bracelet
glittered maliciously before bis eyes, and
yet, had not his attention been drawn
to it, most probably he would not have
noticed it. The details of any other
woman's dress were always more OBJ
vious 20 Eric than those of his wife's,
and Maggie might have presumed on
that.
But Maggie! He was very much in
love with her when he married her, but
he was uncomfortably conscious that he
had paid very little attention to her OF
late. But then Maggie=who would
have dreamed
At last the musi struck up, and Lady
Carew led of the intruder, having sue
ceeded in persuading him that his cal
culations were out, and that It was pre-
cisely this dance she had given him.
Maggie o toe, but her husband
laid his hand on her arm.
mo. stay here. / want to speak to
YOU"
But"
81 can't help engagements n any
thing else. 1 must speak to you now"
"What is IT," asked Maggie, looking
up at him. why, Eric, what is the
matter?"
II wish to know who gave you this
bangle"
The color few over Maggie's throat
and face, and her lips trembled.
IL can't tell YOU"
$50 l suppose. or you wouldn't have
lied to Laura Carew about it"
"Erici"
There was something 90 pathet'7