The Lewiston teller. (Lewiston, Idaho) 1900-1905, 1902-03-13
said In a QucA. eager tone. els dark
face lighting and softening uncon-


| eECe-
is your father in: must Sc hin
az once. have discovered fla y
which | am afraid viii Dece--liate q
great delay In the work. Part Of II
Will have to he constructed Oh a new
pan
! You viii fad papa In the library. Mr.
/ Austen The co.or had come back int
4 ka'e's cheeks. aud her eyes werl
] bright Il he drafts aud plans -eeue,
/ perfect. One little flaw may na sig
Nifty so mucA"
| here must lee no weak spots. 4 sin
| gle flaw In the contraction condemns
| the whole structure"
lie spoke ia a rapid, repr.<ss-sd tone.
That j. II cruel view Why should a
whole beautiful edfice be condemned
because Of one small weakness: ~
Rates eyes flashed. aud she held her
| self proudly er,-ct
I'VE Judge a bridge by It's weakest
point. its abutmeats may be solid and
massive, but a flaw In the construction
renders ii uusafe-and 1t stands con
dernped"
He was very pale, and there was A
peculiar light In his eyes. His words
held subtle meaning, which seemed to
anger Kate.
You are hard and unjust" she said,
and there was a sound OF tears in her
voice which she was too proud to allow
to the surface.
"iiarstne~s is not always cruelty.
Some things require it." he said In the
same rapid, repressssl tone, and turning
on his heel walked quickly to the lower
end of the hall. where he disappeared
In the library.
80 that Is young Austen. Of whom l
have heard SO much" exclaimed Amy,
as soon az the door had closed upon
him. Well. can't say much for his
manners! He never even saw me.
have often heard my uncle speak OF
him. 1t seems he has risen to such
prominence In the architectural world
within the past year that great things
are expected Of him In the future. 1
wasn't aware you knew this wonder,
Kate"
Yes. l have known him a couple of
months. He has btsen doing some work
for papa. and spends one or two even
ings here every week going over drafts
and plans. ! have been quite interested
In the work. You know l always try
to keep abreast Of everything in which
papa Ia engaged"
When the outer door closed upon her
friend Kate went hack into the draw.
lng-room. and dropplug into an easy
chair before the open Crate stared with
eyes at the glowing cuals. her
hands clasped tightly In her lap. and a
pucker Of pain between Der drawn
brows.
Hugh Auten's words were ringing
In her ears and pounding on her brain:
"A single flaw In the construction con-
demns the whole structure" Her heart |
was throbbing heavily--each beat a |
stab-and through II all she saw a pref
y smiling face In down town store
happy, innocent face, whose posses
sor was Hugh Austen's affiancesi wife.
She had known Of his engagement
rom the tirst-he himself had mention
ID 1t early In their acquaintancsA--but
I had never seemed vital thing to
ler until that morning. She was doing
some shopping. and while waiting for
Ter change her attention was drawn To
sweet-faced girl by oyerhearing one
,lerk remark 10 another:
YES. Maggie does look happy. She's
lucky girl. You know she's engaged
o Hugh Austen. the architect. He's
me OF Gods noblemen: there isn't a
letter man In the city. believe they're
o be married some time this winter"
zone OF Gods noblemen" Kate ~
'eated the words softly to herself, then
dded In whisper. burying her burn.
ng face In her hands. And my king"
No word OF love had ever passed be-
ween them. but eyes have way Of
etraying secrets sometimes. She knew
IL heart was hers even though his
1ord was pledged to another-and she
xnlted In the possession.
He was SO differen, from the men sh..
net In society that be Interested her
rom the first. He was quiet, with that
eserve which betokens strength Of
haracter as well as strength OF Will I
She remembered the day she first met (,
lm. He was In the library when she
rent In to get book and her father In.
reduced him. He Acknowledged the l
ltroduction by curt little bow, hard. I
giving her a glance. and continued
he discussion with Mr.. Gordon IA n {
be had not been present She felt
lqus-d and snubisAtl-a novel sensation q
,r the heiresss- and she determined 10 (
low TINS rude young man that she was c
u altogether devoid Of intelligence. I
Kate was an only child. the Idol Of !