Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1901-09-22
He laughed.

to make an embroidered chest protec-
tor for Gerald to hang around his neck.
| happened to know that it was from
her, and it surprised me. for | didn't
even know that she and Gerald were
acquainted He's a silent, subterran-
can customer"
"Who is this Miss Colby?" demanded
Grace. But, of course, it's none of
my business and | really haven't the
slightest. curiosity. Let us speak of
something else"
Irving laughed sincerely for the first
time. Then he checked himself has
tily.
There, little girl, don't cry" be
quoted somewhat bitterly. you'll get
over it, and you'll be sending lock of
your own hair to some other fellow by
the week after next. 1t is the way of
the sex"
Grace Elwood's eyes blazed.
1.-The way of which SEX she de-
handed. There is one false and
heartless woman in a hundred and she
does a great deal of harm. She is the
exception, however. and we must 50
consider her. But in 100 men there
are precisely 100 liars. You will find
that statement in the Bible, and be-
tween it's sacred covers there is moth
ing truer."
She spoke with fervor that gave her
the air of an orator.
"Why, look at your own case she
continued. "How much truth have
you told me in the last five minutes?
] saw you go to that desk and take out
that bag and open it. | knew you rec
ognized the lock of hair when | heard
you groan."
"Ah." said he. so you knew what
was in the bag? l thought you hadn't
been near the drawer
She bit her lip.
We'll" she said e1et us suppose for
the sake of the argument that l did"
Then why fence with me about it?"
he interrupted. I'VE have been good
friends, and, finding you in trouble, I
offered earnest sympathy. You have
let yourself become altogether too
much interested in this rascal. He is
the sort of fellow
THAT you are, Jack" she said, "and
ali the others. l fancy you have had
no more than your deserts. Were you
engaged to her, Jack?"
ooh, no. he answered; mot so bad
as that l was merely
Amusing yourself at the possible
expense of her happiness. l under
stand perfectly. And she saw through
you"
mo, she didn't, he declared. There
was no such matter. l was always alb
solutely sincere. And she made me
think that she cared for me-; she really
did Grace. And all the time she was
merely making a fool of me. Women,
women, Why | saw her working that
rose, though she thought | didn't, and
| was such a driveling idiot that l
fancied it was for me-
Every man has that sort of conceit
in him." said she, ''and it is to crafty
it that he plays this merry game of
hearts with half dozen girls at once"
Half a dozen!" he exclaimed, with
laugh. You do Gerald an injustice.
You grossly underrate his diligence"
The tears came into the girls eyes.
as he that sort of a man." she
cried. rs it possible that | have been
so foolish as to believe =
"Poor little girl" he said, taking her
hand as he sat on the edge of table,
Pm afraid you haven't much of an
eve. Did he tell you that this brown
hair of yours with red bronze flashes in
it was pretty? Did he
At the narrowing recollections which
these words suggested Grace put up her
left hand and clutched the mass of curls
as if she intended to pull them out by
the roots. Irving put his own hand
up to restrain her, and they were in
this posture when the door suddenly
opened, and Bayne entered. Naturally
they sprang apart.
Bayne closed the door and leaned
against it, breathing hard. He touched
his forehead, as one who is confused.
"If an angel had come down and told
me this" he muttered, Il would have
thought an angel had come up, and
not down-up from the father of lies
Told you what?" exclaimed Grace,
who in her complete innocence was to-
tally unable to perceive his suspicion.
But it is worthy of remark, as throw
ing light upon this whole problem, that
Irving knew very well what his friend
meant.
"You are mistaken" he said "and
even if you were not you have no right
to say word"
Bayne paid no attention to him, but
fixed his eyes upon Grace.
Women are curious creatures" he