The Dupuyer acantha. [volume] (Dupuyer, Mont.) 1894-1904, 1897-11-25

very good time tonight" observed
Lady Carew as she strolled into the
conservatory with Eric Fawcett; 'she
appears to be enjoying herself tre-
~mendously.'
NOT half as much as I am" replied
Eric, with a laugh. 1T is quite like
old times, isn't it?". he added, draw
ing a ow seat forward for his COM
panion.
%, my dear Eric, don't try to be
sentimental! But, really, 1 begin to
think my warning to Maggie was not
uncalled-"
"Eh! what w~arning?"
We'll, 1t rather seems to me that the
Old Adam is returning. my friend;
that domestic joys are palling, and for
hidden fruit is becoming terribly at
tractive."
rs that a challenger"
Not at all; besides, Maggie is my
cousin and my friend, and think it's
right to warn her."
Are you in fun or in earnest? What
do you mean by warning herr"
Lady Carew broke into a laugh.
Only that I told her to beware of
a husbands presents-that a magni-
hcent diamond and emerald bracelet
often meant more than met the eye
when 1t was bestowed a propos de
bottes."
Really. l haven't the smallest idea
OF what you meant"
Mean? Why, the lovely bangle you
gave her yesterday"
Il gave Maggie a bangle yesterday? %
Certainly. She is wearing it to-
night"
you must be dreaming
Lady Carew looked into her COM
panion's face with frank establishment.
I am very sorry" she said quietly.
Il am afraid l have been indiscreet;
but how was I to guess? o, what are
you going to do?"
For at that moment Mrs. Fawcett en-
tered the conservatory on the arm of
her partner, and Eric Immediately rose
to his feet. Laura caught his arm.
Eric, don't be ridiculous, it is some
absurd mistake! I'll 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,
1t was not SO easy to take that man
away" and while the futile, frivolous
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 gilt
tered maliciously before his 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
obvious to 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 music struck I'D. and
Lady Carew led off the intruder, hav-
ing succeeded in ~persuading him that
his calculations were out, and that il
was precisely this dance she had given
him.
Maggie rose, too, but her husband
laid his hand on her arm.
NO; stay here. l want to speak to
you"
Il can't help engagements or any
thing else. ] must speak to you now"
What Is it," asked Maggie, looking
up at him. why, Eric, what is the
,matter?"
Il wish to know who gave you this
BANGLE
The color flew over Maggie's throat
and face, and her lips ,trembled.
IL can't tell you"
so l suppose. or O wouldn't have
lied to Laura Carew about it"
<..Eric!"
There was something so pathetic
about the girls expression as his name
burst from her lips-she looked so
childish, SO helpless, and so miserable
that the anger in Eric's heart died
suddenly. A whole world of thoughts
surged up in his mind. Why had he
left this child SO lonely? The fault was
his. Maggie, DEAR he said gently. Il
know I've not been as l ought to the
best little wife in the world. I've set
you a bad example, and you are SO
young O don't understand things
you. don't know what men are; you've
been a little foolish. perhans hut that's
all, I'm sure-do you hear, dear?-I'm
quite sure of that. But you must tell
me the story of that bangle"
To, Eric, I'm ashamed" and
she turned her. face away.
Tell me, dear"
There was a. moments pause.
+ We'll, then, l bought it myself"
"Maggie!"
Yes O., don't think want to
blame you. Eric, but the other women
/ know were always having presents
from $ their Observation-Disclosures and
sweets and trinkets-and so as you-as
you did not think of them, / bought
them myself. and said you'd given them
Eric held her at arms length. She
raised her face suddenly and looked al
him.
Il wanted people to think you spoilt
me-that you were in love with me
STILL"