The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-05-04


want to ask embarrassing questions, but
l warn you | have a pretty shrewd idea
or the facts of the case, and am quite sure
you ought not TO let things go on an in
slant longer than you can help, so the
sooner we talk matters over the better. / am
more experienced than you, and may find a
way out of the difficulty"
Too wretched to resist Amabel allowed
herself to be carried off.
L suppose this all came about while /
was in switzerland this winteT?" Frances
began when she had administered to her
cousins creature comforts. and been told
in ~despairing tones that it certainly would
be a relief to discuss the case in point.
Before that. i found out l did not care
for Luc as l used to do that time he was
over for a couple OF days, but it was not
until | met Denis that
You found out you loved some one else, ="
put in Miss Bachelor, drily. why did not
you write to Luc and tell him SOP
Because until last week, the day we
were both nearly drowned on the river, L
had no idea hat Denis cared for me. He
would not let me suspect, for nothing would
induce him TO be disloyal to Luc, but when
that boat. upset and he feared that he could
not save me, the words slipped out almost
not love hin He riSked his life for mine,
France But for him L should not be here
now"
Eyes, 1 know" replied the other. with a
shudder. He has behaved nobly in everv
way, for it's harder for a man to suffer in
silence, week after week, than do a gallant
ueeQ OH the spur OF the moment. You must
put him out of the question, though, just
at present, and think of what is 10 be done
about Luc."
There is only one thing to be done: 1
And spoil three lives?"
What else can l do? He says that nv
love has been the one hope that has carried
him through these six years of hardship.
His great regret is that he has not been
able even yet to provide a home worthy of
me. and that L shall have to what h calls
trOlOh If q hit , hnnfG &c rich 90 - L l--r
off the engagement, now what can Luc
think but that L have thrown him over for
the sake of the position Denis offers me?
He will say directly: You never found ont
you did not care for me till a man well off
came across your path l mad not met
Denis when Luc was over here last. YOU
see. If it were not for the money it would
be easier, but as 1t is. what Will everyone
think of me?"
Miss Bachelor suppressed the reply that
rose to her lips: The world win say you
peaceful, sheltered life, and was not well
acquainted with the world and its WAYS.
Frances, early thrown or her own re-
sources, was old for her twenty-seven
years.
you will say" Amabel went on. that I
ought TO have written whether Denis had
spoken or not, but Luc was so fond of me
and | thought 1 might make him happy
even If l were not happy myself"
"A fallacy, my dear. A man soon finds
out If a woman has ceased to care, and
~then-heaven help them bothi You are I'M
dOubtedly in a most uncomfortable position
between your two lovers. Still, my advice
is-tell Luc the plain truth. He will be ter
ribly cut up, poor fellow, but better the
bitter awakening now than later on when
you are bound together for life"
There was silence for a minute: then
Amabel SAID: What about mother? She
does not suspect anything is wrong, 1 am
sure"
Aunt will be torn asunder between sor-
row for Luc and JOY at keeping you near
her; but when the first surprise is over Joy
will win the day"
Il cant fell yet that il would be the right
thing to 90" sighed the girl YEARLY. ut
seems so mean
Frances talked to her long and earnestly
until she made her promise that at any rate
Luc should be told the main facts of the
case. Then, if he still held her 10 her
word But he won't, or / am very
much mistaken in my man" Miss Batch
elor concluded. There goes Miss Calvert's
carriage. Run and tell aunt everything. so
that when the poor fellow comes Tomorrow
she will have had time to think over how
best TO break the news"
Don't cry so, Amy, my darling. It's not
your fault. rot one bit. 1 ought never to