The Hope pioneer. [volume] (Hope, N.D.) 1882-1964, 1901-04-25
! story.-Dear Mrs. Fitz Haven! So
lclighted! Yes, looks charming. does,

he was jealous and she was proud
Mrs. Northrop and dear Lillian! So
afraid you were not coming. Yes, aw-
fully warm:-She had some good looks
and some old beaux. Why not? Did
he think nobody could appreciate her
till he met her? And after he had
deigned to tell her that he looked upon
her with favor, one of the old beaux,
who had hoped to win her for a long
time, met her in the conservatory alta
ball. They always do meetin conserva-
tories in stories.-What a sweet gown,
Mrs. Talcott. Imported, of counsel!
my modiste an awful bill. Where was
I? Oh, and he, the man, saw the old
beau crush her in his arms and kiss
her. She couldn't help it, and besides,
she felt sorry for him, for she had just
told him a final no and he was all cut
up.-Mr. Hasbrouck, the pink gown
that you are straining your eyes to find
in this kaleidoscope is in the tea-room.
Don't mention it!-Well, and he, of
course, would not ask for an explana-
ton OF anything. and courteously re-
leased her. Oh, we'll. she released him,
if you think it sounds better. Same
thing. But aewoman who is not dense
can feel that. something is wrong and
does not need a wall to-er--does not
have to be told some things.-Where's
that big husband of yours, Marion?
I'll pick you up tomorrow and We'll
drive to the club together. I want to
talk over that nomination. It's all
wrong, you know. ClubIl go to pieces
under that woman! All right, dear.
At three.-And he found that his jeal-
ousy was a poor substitute for the
woman who was the one woman in the
world for him. and she smiled proudly
and bravely like a gentlewoman, and
ate her heart out in secret. Keep
quiet! It's my story. And then some
body, who had no patience with. the
two of them, but who felt sorry and
was soft enough to interfere, because
things got mixed in her own life once
and were not cleared till it was too
late-she put her oar in and tried to
prevent another shipwreck.-Yes, Mrs.
Trevelyan is here, Mr.. T%revelyan. No.
I missed Saturdays game. My new
golf suit was not finished. And it's so
cold and I look a fright when I'm cold.
OF course, you enthusiasts will play all
winter, I suppose!-Thank the pow
ers, they've nearly all gone. This con-
versational strain on my intellect is
awful. Society talk is harder than
Ibsen and Tolstoi. Get Kate a glass of
wine Tie Huntleigh. girls and Maud
Norris want to talk art class with me
in the tea-room. That means half an
hour, at least"
Mrs. Stanard turned to the tall
man bending over her. with the smile
faint on her lips and the eyes strained
and weary.
eyes, I am tired she said. mo, !
do not want anything. only to rest a
moment. The heat has made me dizzy.
Where is Betty?"
"Betty is in the tea-room," he said.
"She is talking cooking-school, or medi-
eval art, or something of equally vital
Importance with Miss Norris and the
Misses Huntleigh. Betty told me a
story about a conservatory this even
ing. Will you let me take you there
now? I want to tell it to you. 1t is
quite interesting. You lookverytired
Comet"
In the conservatory he placed her in
a long, low chair, and she sank back
with a long sigh of relief. The man at
her side leaned forward with his ell.
bows on his knees. Slowly closing and
opening her little empire fan. and in
a steady voice, he told her Mrs. Yves
toms story.
Then he turned and looked at he1
pale face with his searching eyes.
81 was wrong-utterly wrong" he
said. slowly. "But l have suffered sore
ly. Can you forgive me. Youare great
enough-for that?"
A keen anxiety vibrated through the
quiet strength of the low tones, and
the fan fell to the floor with a little
clash of the ivory sticks. as he bowed
his head on her hands, lying motionless
in her lap-and waited.
She looked down at him with a great
wistfulness, and then gently lifted his
head till his eyes met hers.
eyes. we have both suffered, DEAR
she said. Sand it was all so useless!
But at such a time a woman can dc
nothing. Her hands are tied. You
doubted me-and when a woman is
doubted. she can but be silent. To ex.
cuse is to accuse To enter defense is
but to add to her indignity. You doubt.
ed me, and I forgive you, because, so
doubling, your pain was greater even
than mine. And you will doubt again
Ah,. yes!' laying her fingers on his
lips as he would have spoken. "'Be-
cause the defect is in your own vision
But I will forgive you then, as I forgive
you now-because I love you So"
She bent and kissed him lingeringly
on the eyes, then added. with a low
laugh that ended in assigh: "And who
will play Betty tben?"
An Old Custom in ClOyne.