The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-01-29

Il Miss Give trying to deceive him, as sht
once deceived Meg?
| is 1t another fraud-an invention-or has
Gervais Golding beer seen in the living stat,
at Avonlee?
Did you speak to him?" he says, after
painful silence 1T is odd that he should
have been seen by no one but you, Miss
Give"
He seemed to shrink from recognition,
she returns, drawing largely upon her imagi
nation Perhaps he has reasons for no
wishing to be seen at Avonlee No. 1 did no
speak to him, not having the chance as h,
hurried out of sight
ct may not have been Golding," Bruce
says, in tone Of relief. you were mistaken
doubt"
His tone is dry, and his eyes, piercngly
bright, scan Rotha mistrustfully, but she doe
not betray the slightest trace of ambarrass
ment.
She has firmly made up her mind to set tn
village astir with the report of Gervais Gold
lng's return, ard, although the doctors man
ner arouses her ire to burning pitch she
manages to keep her feelings we'll in check.
| Il was not mistaken, she emphatically
| declares. He has come to steal his wife
second time from Rokeby. He is afraid t.
meet Mr.. Gerard, I expect, and anxious tt
keep out of his way
The cold doubt clutches at Bruce Filing
! toms heart again.
There may be some foundation in Mis-
Gives unwelcome statement.
IHSIe IS every pOSSlD1Hty OF the m1SSlnE
husband having come to claim Meg unde
circumstances that would prevent his openl,
arrearing at the homestead.
Rotha sees that her stragegy is bearing
/ fruit.
Bruce has an ashen shade on his face tina
/ is as, grey as the cloudy mass gathering owe
the red glow in the sky.
VIII she become victor in this contest?
You may be right in thinking that 20,
saw Mr.. Golding," Bruce says, and he set
his teeth, looking at her fiercely. II am glat
that you have told me this; but I beg 70,
will say nothing more of your suspicious un
/ til ! have prepared Mrs. Goldng, if she doe
not already know all that you have stated
L will leave you to explain Rotha agrees
''ft is a task 1 would rather avoid Mrs Gold
ing seems too happy at Rokeby, and I am tn
! last to wish to throw any shadow upon thi
New Year"
Bidding Bruce goodbye she enters thu
gate of her own home, and he strides on, un
Convinced, yet disturbed and wretched.
CHAPTER VII.
Rokeby is white and shining in the clea
moonlight, when Bruce enters the gate of tn
old dwelling that same evening.
A year has passed-one long year-sinct
Meg struck him that mental blow in tellin,
him of her secret engagement.
How we'll he RENT mbers the scene follow
ing the changing of the bells-the blurr O
drifting snow, and the dull hollow thud O
horses hoofs
Is he to break The peaceful harmony o
Megs quiet life by repeating Rotha Give
story about the sudden appearance of a miss
ing mana man unworthy of so sweet a wifi
as Margaret?
IF she does not know, why should I tell he
tcnlght?' he reasons; and when he enter
the room in which she is standing, talking t.
pink-robed Ida, with a smile on her face, h
decides that it would be cruelty to remint
her of her marriage ties-ties that may no
really exist.
He has brought her a spray of fragran
vlolets, and she takes them with a fieetin.
blush, and places them in her white bodice
unconscious of Rotfa's jealousy.
"A widow indeed" is Miss Gives scathin,
comment, as Ida passes her, having jus
caught sight CT jamie, and an immense DO,
1 of crackers, the contests of which he il
scattering broadcast She is "a Their too sur
o. that. Do you see how she encoura ges tn
poor doctor to imagine that she's free?"
I'm looking after my bonnie jamie i
/ I1a's laughing retOrt. 1T isn't fair to Watcl
Mrs. Golding as you do Rotha, especially il
one, and she is not likely to forget that, il
ali probability, she is not a widow
Widow, indeed" again breaks scornfull,
from Miss Gives invictive mouth.
Ida does not wait to exchange more con
fidence with her embittered friend.
1t is greater fun to be with jamie AM
she fits towards him, a rosy cloud with
mop of yellow curs and provokingly- mirth
full blue eyes.
As she approaches Jamie, he tauntingl,
f1ourishes a green cracker, which she instant
ly seizes.
There is a sharp tussle, an explosion and
uncurling scrap of paper swathed round
burnt-sugar almond, he reads
Fair one, adieu! I must away;
Since thou art blessed. I'll not repine,
But near thee I can never stay
My heart again would soon be thine
They break into merry laughter, and Id;
says Wickedly-
You are decidedly frank, Jamie, to tell m
S, ingeniously that your heart isn't mine a