Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1900-05-23
A Dangerous Game.
- ARL. don't believe you truly

ARL, | don't believe you truly
~ love me.
~ Mildred Reynolds looked at her
lover half-archly. as If she defied him
to say he did not love her, half plead
ingly, as If she lopged for him to con-
tradict her warmly.
Carl Langlois reddened under her
gaze. What nonsense, Mildred, of
course l love you. Why else would l
come hundred miles to spend an even
ing with your he replied a trifie i'm
patiently.
Then, why"-Mildred began brave
ly, but she in turn colored and looked
embarrassed. Surely Carl knew that
twice postponed their marriage, and
on this visit, when she had expected
him to ask her to set the day for the
ceremony, he had not done so. True,
he had brought her q beautiful brace
let and had seemed affectionate and
loving; yet somehow Mildred felt that
caresses, and the fact that he did not
broach the subject which she had hoped
he would settle on his visit vaguely
alarmed her. For she loved Carl deep
ly and was unhappy in the home of
relative upon whom she was partly de-
pendent and longed to have a home of
her own.
Carl had said. the last time he had
visited her, that they would arrange
their plans for the future when he next
came, but when Mildred had made the
remark that she did not believe he
really loved her he was on the verge of
departure and still had not asked her
to name the day which would make
them husband and wife. He must have
known what the question was she
wished to ask, yet he did not help her
out, and so the question died, unasked.
upon her lips. Instead, he turned sud
denly to the clock. I'll have just
time to make my train," he said, hur-
riedly, 80 good-by. my sweetheart.
Give me a kiss and take good care of
yourself, for my sake so tenderly that
for a time all doubts as to his fidelity
were dismissed from Mildred's heart.
Only for a time, however, for while his
farewell kiss was still warm on her
why does not Carl, if he really loves
me and wants me to be his wife, claim
me for his own? Perhaps he is growing
to love some one else. l believe l am
strong enough to bear 1t if 1t is true
better to know now than when it is too
late-and uncertainty is hard to bear.
| must find out, and If 1t is true that he
no longer loves me as he did | will re-
lease him. But IL / have wronged him
by my doubts, / will atone by giving
him added love and affection"
Carrs mother had often sent her kind
messages, and had also sent by Carl
some very beautiful table linen for Mil
dred to embroider for use after mar
riage. She knew that Mrs. Langlois
was her friend. although they had
never met, and determined to go to see
her and discover whether Carl had
confided in her any change in his de-
sire to marry Mildred. She shrank
from the trial, yet felt it must be made
for the sake of her future happiness.
Accordingly, a few days after Carts
visit she took a trip to his home, ar
irving there, as she had planned, when
Carl was absent at his business. When
she introduced herself to Mrs. Lang
lois she was warmly greeted, but when
she told the object of her visit her host
was visibly surprised and disconnected
"My dear child" she exclaimed,
"there must be mistake somewhere
Carl assured me only yesterday that
you kept putting him off whenever he
mentioned your marriage. 1 can
not understand It"
81 can, Mrs. Langlois," said Mildred.
proudly. Your son has grown tired of
me and is seeking in some way to free
himself. But, thank heaven, his fetters
are not yet riveted, and are easily
broken. l will release him from an en-
gagement which is no longer a pleasure
to him."
s'My dear Mildred" begged his moth
er, "do not speak so bitterly. am sure
there Is some misunderstanding.
Mildred had turned very pale, and an
overwhelming conviction that Carl
was false TO her came upon her with
crushing force, but she summoned up
ge to face the truth.
I'VE must nn0 out, Sne Sdlur very
gently, for the mothers distress was
also very great. whether he is atten
tive to some one else. Have you ever
noticed his taking pleasure in the So
ciety of any girl here?"
"Oh, no." Mrs. Langlois replied, has
tily, but suddenly her face changed.
Surely" she said, as if to herself,
"he cannot care for Marion Reed? And
yet, now that my mind is drawn to 1t.
1 have noticed him often with her. But
Marion is such a gay little fiirt, and
then she knew of Carrs engage
ment-"
"Ahr' Mildred said quickly, that Is
Aot enough to keep some girls from
trying to win away a mans love. 1t
may be that she has drawn him away
from me. But We mast make sure my
dear friend-for feel that You are my
friend-and If II is true / will willing
ly give him up to her X It Is for his
happiness"
They arranged 1t that Mildred's pres
ence in the house should be kept a Sc
cret from Carl and that his mother at
meal time should question him in a
way not to arouse his suspicious; so.
as the two sat alone at dinner, Mrs.
Langlois carelessly said:
what a charming gfrl MarHsa Rasd
Il Carir'