The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1898-04-17
/ L.

| He was sitting at a big desk, heaped
with papers, and looked uneasy. not to
say out OF temper Miss Kemp sitting
! bolt upright on a wooden chair in front
OF him, was flushed and unusually I'M
| tidy.
| Unreasonable" said Miss Kemp,
when | have violated confidence and
| torn the veil from the heart of a young
tglrl SO that you might know the treas
lre that you were casting to the
winds" .
mat would be all very we'll if you dlti
not forthwith want me to marry the
young girl, said Wyndham. Perhaps he
was less cynical than he seemed, for his
face flushed as he spoke. You know
IN not responsible for this very I'M
fortunate ending to a pleasant acqualnt-
ance. L never tried to gain the--the-
| a1ectonS of--the-the lady. Really.
the position is too absurd! With the
/ pest intentions, my dear Marian he
called her Marian" sometimes when
| ne wanted to be on very confidential
terms-"you must have made a mis-
take. L cannot believe that ! am any
thlng more than any other man to the
iady or whom you speak, and l shall be
Obliged to you if you will disabuse your
mind of the idea
And the poor child is to break her
heart, and go through life with a slur
lpn her reputation because you cannot
believe what 1 say to you:"
Wyndham's brow grew dark. "There
is no slur possible" he said I went
| with yourself, and I have never been
there before or since True, / walked
nome !, ff:,t
but we live in civilized days, ana men
ana women are not, after all, natural
enemies
am not so sure about that said
Miss Kemp. grimly.
The best way would be to threaten
this Sossiping, evil-speaking landiady
with an action for libel, should think"
said Wyndham, serenely. And con-
sole your little friend as nicely as you
can, Marian. l think she is Il pretty
little thing, but if she is going to fall
in love with every man who speaks a
| civil word to her, the best thing would
be to send her back with all convenient
speed to the place from which she came
wherever that NAV be-"
You are offensive, Mr.. ScudamOre."
She then gathered up her bag and
her papers and her umbrella and swept
out of the office in a white heat of
rage, leaving Wyndham to lift his eye
brows in pity and surprise. Il really
thought that she had more SENSE he
said to himself. But women are all
alike when it is a matter of sentiment.
As to the little girl-Well whether the
thing was true or not, Marian had no
business to give the poor child's secret
away, and l only hope she won't com
plicate things further by repeating
what / have said. For a really clever
woman she is the most complete fool 1
ever met" With which severe comment
he applied himself to his work and was
annoyed to find that he was too much
disturbed by what he had heard to ap
ply himself seriously either to Ntera-
ture or law.
Meanwhile Miss Kemp made her way
back home, where she had let her
friend in the depths of woe. She Was
good deal overwhelmed by the turn
things had taken. In fact, Miss Kemp
had been simple enough to think that
Mr.. Wyndham Scudamore would be
so much flattered and pleased by the
intimation that Effie had lost her heart
to him that he would reciprocate her
affection without loss of time. In which
Miss Kemp showed herself more ignor-
ant of men than she had any idea of
being.
Efie had remained at her friends
house, as she did not feel equal to con-
fronting the grim Mrs. Gilbert any
more, and Miss Kemp began to 'esol-e
plans for keeping her there Miss
porous woman, and she was rich enough
to rent a house which, although not
very large, was big enough to afford
accommodation to several of Marian's
friends. In fact, the house was we'll
known in a certain set by the name of
the refuge for the destitute" Miss
Kemp's hospitality was not likely TO
fail her on this occasion.
My dear child" she said, with much
commiseration in her tone, and how
are you getting on?"
why do you look so odd?" asked the
girl, laying down her book and sur
veying Marian with attention. Now
you are coloring. You look-yes, you
look guilty; where have you been?"
'Nowhere-at least, on business in
the city" faltered Miss Kemp with the
guiltiest look in the world
Effie sprang up with a startled cry.
Il know what you have been doing!
You have seen Mr.. Scudamore? You
have said something's" And as Miss
Kemp achieved only very feeble mega
tive and not one in which Ef1ie felt
that she could put the slightest conf
dence, she went on questioning more
and more excitedly. you told him,
perhaps, what Mrs. Gilbert had said?
You told him? oh, Marian, could you?
But you didn't go step further, did
you? You spared me any other berray-
al? Speak, Marian, L will know
Child, what a storm about nothing"
cried Miss Kemp, in obvious difficulty.
"Of course. I-I-did not say anything
that was wrong"
Marian, you did not let him know
that THAT I,-oh, you did-you did
1 can see it III your face: Oh, I shall
die of shamei"
And burying her face in her hands,
Effie burst into bitter weeping, and then
proceeded to pick up her things. She
left the house without telling Miss
Kemp where she thought of going
probably she did not quite know her.
self-and Miss Kemp saw nothing more
of her for many long day.
Wyndham was at first considerably