Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1900-05-19
CHAPTER NNNU.

Arva stood where he had left her for
moment, trying hard to fight down Il
lump in her throat. She walked back to
| the window after a little; but on seeing
Miss Hart coming up from the street.
slipped hastily ont and hurried to her
own room. Locking the door behind her,
she dropped into Il chair and leaned her
forehead on a table She had come near
~ to the end of the old order of things
and must shortly give up keene. That
| is. she must relegate him merely to the
place Of a good friend. and nothing more.
The whole idea with just its present
force had not occurred to her before. To
the extent she had thought of it there
had been sense of something disagree
able. yet something which might be miti-
gated (she had not thought how. and
which. ut least, was Of quite a time in
the future Now ii began to show itself
as very uncomfortable idea, indeed.
and one at her very door as it were. 1t
was a great deal worse than she had an
ticipated. DO without Keene? Without
one glimpse of his manly, honest face all
the day long? Come. this would never
dc. 1t was weakness, and foolish.
She must be more sensible. more
practical. She would look at
the situation in its true light.
The best of friends must part-merc
friends, like keene and herself That
hotherSome lump and that fast winking
to keep back tears was a positive injus-
tice to Arkley.
She got up and began to pace the room.
Then her busy and very rebelliuus
thoughts went on. Ktc:iC would some
time overcome this diSapp0intment-sh she
almost thought he had overcome it al
ready-and would marry. His life would
20 on as smoothly and perhaps aS hap
PLY as that of other men who had asked
aud not obtained. lie at least was prac-
teal She must be practical, rs well
And this woman that he would marry
well, .Arva hoped that She might be w0r-
thy of him; somehow she feared, She al
most doubted that she would But he
must love her. or he would not marry
her; that was beyond qu, sti0n. Aud If
le loved her how good and how kind
and patient he would be. How loving
also-s she should have put that in ut first
As loving aud tender rs be would have
been to her. Arva Lake Oh. she feared
anew that this other woman would not
be worthy of him. He was 50 good. 50
thoughtful. so noble and so many wom-
en- We're shallow and undrserving Then
would he he quite able TO give this wdm-
an all the love which wife tleservedI
Would he not sometimes think of anoth-
or face. and of time when his heart
beat quicker at the sound of another
voice. Would other eyes seem to be-
looking into his and woud he hear the
echo of hygone vows What terrible
thing thus to marry with A divided heart,
Yet perhaps such forcbodings as these
were needless. Keeue might never mar
ry at all. but live on in quiet faithful
ness to the old love. Such course
might be the best for him. everything
considered: and. indeed. the more she re-
iiected upon it the more it seemed so.
Very likely his own judgment-ycs, and
the strength of the old affectlon-Would
confirm him in such an idea.
As for herself, she would always think
If him as Of dear brother, and il would
20 hard with her. hut she would con-
vince Arkley Of his v0rthiness. also
Thus an enduring bond # friendship
might be established between the three.
and the future would be the happier and
Sweeter for it, Why. yes. tn" more she
thought Of it the more plausible the idea
seemed Certainly. upon very brief re-
Election. il was clear that she should not
be- called upon 10 treat this man TO whom
she was so much indebted. a. a mere or
binary acquaintance. At first some pos
sible jealousy on WIS part and ,uudry
other reasons had sugc sted this hard
necessity, but it appeared no longer such.
No she wouid retain keene in the inner
circle of her friends. and his lonesome
bachenrhood should be cheorcd by the
companionship Of herself and her gener-
ous husband.
BY this time something Of her former
spirits had returned, and she felt that she
was sufficiently herself To begin her let
ter to viii. She discovered at this point
that she had been shedding a few tears.
hut this must have occurred AT time
L q
state. aud she now hastily wi-.d them