The Saint Paul globe., 1900-04-10
:. III Dangerous &ame.

The Columbian
Carl, I 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. -pleadingly. as
II she longed for him to contradict her
warmly.
Carl Langlois redeemed under her gaze
What nonsense. Mildred, of course I
love you. why else would come a hun
dred miles to spend an evening with
you?" he replied trifie lmpatiently
Then. why"-Mildred began braveIy
but she In turn colored and looked en-
barrasSed Surely Carl knew that she
longed to ask him why he had twice
postponed their marriage, and on this
Visit, when she had expected him to ask
her to set the day for the ceremony, he
mad not done so. True, he had brought
her beautiful bracelet and had seemed
affectlonate and loving; yet somehow Mil
dred felt that there was something lack
Ing In his caresses, and the fact that he
did not broach the subject which she had
hoped he would settle on this visit va
guely alarmed her For she loved Carl
deeply and was unhappy in the home of
relative upon whom she was partly
dependent and longed to have home of
her own.
OAAh tboo oolNI tic icIoI llIil6 lie Hdu
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 as on the verge of departure
and still had not asked her to name
the day which would make them hus-
band and wife. He must have known
what the question was she wished to
ask, yet he did not help her out, and so
fIo tioyod tod cd hnr inc
Instead, he turned suddenly to the clock.
'Ill have just time to make my train"
he said, hurriedly, $50 good-by, my
sweetheart Give me q 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 Mil
dreds heart. Only for time, however,
for while his farewell kiss was still
warm on her lips the question returned
to her mind:
'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 I am
strong enough to bear it if it Is true
better to know now than when 1t is too
late-and uncertainty IS hard to bear.
l must find out, and If 1t is true that he
no longer loves me as he did I Will re-
lease him. But If I have wronged him
added love and affection"
CarPs mother had often sent her kind
messages, and had also sent by Carl some
very beautiful table linen for Mildred to
embroider for use after her marriage.
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 desire to marry Mildred.
She shrank from the trial. yet felt 1t
must be made for the sake or her future
happiness. Accordingly, a few days after
Carts visit she took a trip to his home,
arriving there, as she had planned,
when Carl was absent at his business.
When she introduced herself to Mrs.
Lnaglois she was warmly greeted, but
when she told the object Of her visit
her host was visibly surprised and dis
concerted.
my dear child" she exclaimed. there
must be a mistake somewhere. Carl as
sured me only yesterday that you kept
putting him off whenever he mentioned
your marriage. I cannot understand
it."
ST 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 brok-
en- 1 will release him from an engage