The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-06-24
LOVES STRATAGEM
By MARTHA NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.

Susan Weir though he has never let himself
acknowledge it,
Jermain laughed heartily. ''In that case
you must need console me-" he said.
Haven't you heard the news? Susan eloped
last night with Allen Lee, and | have been
ready to murder him this last six weeks. was
so sure he had bewtched our fairy here
He touched Fenelas arm reverently al
he spoke. She shrank from him and made
as if to speak. Miss De Vaux put a hand
over her lips, saying: Let me tell him.
Fenela. He ought to know the truth. Our
girl was bewitched, John. That is the true
wor for it. But she had the strength, the
sense, to save herself-would not hear of
secret marriage. She had found him out.
She is going away. because l have been.
cruel. Tell her she must stay"
Il have no right to tell her anything"
Jermain said, paling through all his healthy
tan. Then to Feneila he said: But you
need not 60 dear, to-escape me. ] shall
never force myself on you. love you too
WE'LL a-.za
cit is not that" Fenella interrupted. 4
will stay, and gladly, on one condition"
name it, Jermain said, looking away.
Fenella drew back a step.
THAT / may be my aunt's companion, not
her heiress;I she said. eff you will let her,
adopt you. 49,. .--
She stopped, faltering the least bit Jermain
frowned blackly, but suddenly his face cleared
if by magic. Il believe that is the best way
out, he said with a slight significant gesture
ture to Miss De Vaaux. --.-
| The new order of things made little OUT
ward difference. 1nwardly feneiia cha1eo
over slight and subtle changes. Materially
she had no cause for complaint Her salary
was a little more than her quarterly allow
ance had been. Her duties were less than
| she had voluntarily taken on herself IN tne
| old DAYS She had greater absolute treedonis
but she missed something.
| Miss De Vaux no longer talked to her OF
| the future Now and again she said OF suca
| or such plan, John will keep it up And
| once she fent SO far as to add that IN tne
| event of Fenellas marriage after i've years
satisfactory service she would give ger
wedding outfit and modest II com1ortapis
dowry. Further, she made not the least op-
lection to potential lovers. If they asked hef
| leave to court her niece, she SAID lnVarlaDV
| FenelIa was free to choose for herself
Thus a year passed. Fenella was fnding
! ont things-things bitter to be borne Sne
had thrown away happiness because 1orsootns
she fancied it was to be thrust upon nef.
! Jermain was as kind as ever, as cnlValfously
courteous but nothing more. or course ne
no longer cared for her; Of course, too' No
would marry as soon as he found a lucky
| woman exactly to his mind Until tnas hap~
| pened Fenela meant to stay AfterWafo@
l She stopped there, blind and trembling.
Still it was like knife thrust when Miss
| De Vaux said: "Fenela, John is to marry
shortly, so on many accounts I think It wise
to get another companion. He has CHOSEN
we'll. AS he is to :ive with me after he mar
ries, it is almost certain he would not ike
to have you keep the place.
"I understand. l will co." Feneiia sato
through stiff lips, then, waiting for no an.
swer. stumbled blindly away. In the brlefess
time she was walking down the avenue, look
ing neither to right nor left, her eyes still un-
seeing Half way to the gate she ran plump
into Jernain's arms. They closed about nei
in most posessive fashion as he SAID, WIZ
his lip on her hair. answering her incoeerent
, murmurs: "Of course, Aunt Pam needs an
other companion. You are going to be my
precious wife,