New Ulm review., 1901-04-24
"ALAS! HOW EASILY
THINGS GO WRONG."
BY MABEL Fl. EsOBINS.


Neil Chester's eyes flashed danger
ously, and there was an authorita-
tive tone in his voice.
Alyne Fortescue raised her head
with a naughty gesture.
81 am going out riding alone with
Mr.. Bowden," she cried, willfully,
''and will you please remember, be-
fore you call him names, that you
are speaking of friend of mine!''
Friend or not" angrily, II will not
allow such a thing. I forbid you to
go.''
Alyne's eyes blazed.
''You seem to be anticipating mat
ters," she said. s'You and [ are not
married-yet. I have not promised to
obey you-yet."
AT least" his tone softening, ssan
engaged girl should respect the wishes
of her fiance.'
''Not when they are unreasonable"
Unreasonable? hotly. ''Do you
think it unreasonable because I re-
fuse to allow you to go out with a
man with such a reputation as he
has?"
''Allow. Allow!" she cried, pet
tishly. II will not listen to such a
word from you!"
A flash of anger again crossed his
face.
Then you persist in going on this
excursion, contrary to my wishes?"
Most certainly [ do
sfT'beo - ,,oec;ora+oJxr <s,-o,,
choose between us. 1 will not marry
girl who has anything to do with a
scoundrel like Osbert Bowden. I'm
less you promise to give up this ride,
shall break off the engagement
''That is a matter" she said, proud
ly, Gin which you can do as you like.
I certainly mean to ride this after
noon with Mr.. Bowden.'
Neil's face grew very pale.
Think of what you are doing,'' he
said, warningly. II am not boy to
be tossed aside like woman's play
thing. If you send me away now I
shall not come back
Alyne shrugged her shoulders.
"You can do exactly as you please"
she answered, defantly.
She was the darling of her fathers
heart. All her life long she had been
spoiled and allowed to have her own
way. She never imagined for mo-
ment that Neil would not give in at
once.
He looked at her with stern, angry
eyes.
''Then you persist in going out with
Osbert Bowden?" he said.
Il have told you SO many times,''
GROSSLY. "Of course, I am going. I
promised Mr.. Bowden, and I am not
one to break my promise. I only
wish [ had never told you.''
''Then," slowly, ''there is nothing to
do but to say good-by," and he took
UP his cap and strode toward the door.
"4ou mean to say that our engage
ment7 has come to an end?" she said
mean to say that our engagement
has come to an end"
'This is what you have been work.
Ing for she cried, passionately.
You never loved me, and YOU catch
at the smallest excuse to break it off.
You want to marry Amy Tilden, I
suppose; she has more money than [.
Oh" recl1lessly, ssit is just as we'll
just as well. It is better to find out
our mistake beforehand"
'Just as WELL" he said, in white
rage. For you could not have loved
me much to go out riding alone with
another man-and such man! Good
by"
And he turned the handle of the
door and went out, and, as if in a
dream, she listened to his retreating
footsteps until she could hear them
no longer.
And then, with sudden impulse,
she sprang up to call him back. But,
alas, it was too late. She only caught
a glimpse of his tall, straight figure
as it disappeared down the drive
Should she run after him? Should
she stay him? For a moment it
seemed as if she would go, and then
pride rose up to deter her.
Nevertheless she concluded that
she would not go out riding with
Oshert Bowden.
She wrote little note and sent IL
round, and then she wondered what
she should do. There seemed nothing
in the world to do. She wished Neil
would come back.
But the day dragged on, and week
dragged on, and still he did not come !;
terrible fear began to spring up in
Alyne's heart. And then she met the
friend with whom Neil had been stay
ing the last few months.
She was too proud to ask him after
Neil-she would not allow the world
to know they had quarreled. But at
last he alluded to him himself.
No. he said, in answer to a ques-
ton Of hers, .'I have done no shooting
since Chester left
'sLeft!'' repeated Alyne, almost be-
low her breath, while her heart
seemed to stop beating.
Yes since he went on this mad
expedition of his to Central Africa.
told him he was a perfect lunatic to