The Minneapolis journal., 1902-08-25
HIS FIRST LOVE
By MARTHA NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.

her again if you went back to her?" she
asked, Hartand nodded. Perhaps
is' II there was no chance Of you.
| What is she like?" Avis demanded
eagerly. F- -
! Hartland looked at her with a veiled
twinkle. She is everything that you ars
not. l think that describes her, best
he said. "You see, this is an affair OF
years. 1t goes back almost to my college
days.
Il think you had better keep on with
her, Avis said, drawing little away.
Hartiand laughed. 1T is too late," he
said. 'She knows all about YOU 1 made
up my mind that she must know last
week. -~
You might-might tell her you had
been joking-telling tarrydiddles to test
her temper. . Did she show herself cat?'
Avis asked eagerly. But of course you
can't answer that. I dare say she referred
you to her lawyer
! Nothing of the Sort Hartland said.
/ 'Shes too well bred for such a sugges-
tion-grand dame to her finger tips-the
sort that always makes you think OF
ancestors and old silver and point lace
and velvet gowns. She's worth lot
of money, but has no special income.
I'm going away to see that she's prop
erly placed In life"
Suppose she should find someone
elSe," Avis began.
|
has found someone else" he said, but
there's matter Of money in the way.
No; don't ask another question. shall
be back within q. week. Do you think
that Is too long a time?'
II could send off a dozen men in Just
one day. Avis said, half turning from
him. But 1t may turn out you will not
leave her at all. Anyhow 1 shall be very
nice to poor Vallery-until we see what
| we shall see.'
DO, by all means" Hartland returned.
Meantime hurry with the wedding gar
ments.' ~
That is advisable-with a man SO
icke,' Avis said over her shoulder az
she ran away.
|
Hartland came back a day before the
end SO radiantly happy there was no
gainsaying him. Almost before Avis,
most capricious of coquettes, knew it she
was married and whisked away in a
coach behind four spanking bays. It was
not the least bit romantic, therefore all
the more to her mind, this sitting in the
box seat while her new husband handled
re1ns and whip, and the smiling sum
mer landscape melted into soft dun dis
tances on either hand. They went at a
rattling pace and in the new joy of It
Avis almost forgot her new position and
the unseen rival, thoughts of whom had
haunted her through the nights OF
course she would never speak Of 1t to
! Hartland. She knew he was taking her
to his own big house-a house no doubt
filled for him with memories of that
; earlier love. Suppose he tired of her
of her yellow hair, her baby diInples, her
willful beguiling winsome ways? Sup
i pose even in thought he sighed for the
d other? She could not bear to contem-
t plate it.
They had been silent full five minutes.
: The sinking sun lay full in their eyes.
= Hartland saw it glisten in bright drops
/, yelling over. He smiled under his mus
1 tache, but said nothing-only sent the
q horses through the gate and up the long
avenue at their very best pace.
G Leaping down he lifted Avis and car
a ried her well inside the big hall.
Il thought you would be crying by the
, time we got here" he said, setting her
= down in the big easy chair Now tina,
:, . have you hard and fast. hear the truth
. You had a rival. She used to live on
=, that panel over there between the win
- =, dow. She was only a picture--I picked
n n her up nEurope, called her Marion
II and vowed my wife must look like her
= That was, Of course, before I saw YOU
"Of course Avis interrupted. But
- why did you tell me such dreadful fiba
Is about her?" '
Because ! wanted you 50 very, very
n , badly" Hartland said, gathering her in
l. his arms. You were such a f1yaway
p knew you would never look at sober
citizen such myself unless I could
somehow pursuade you that I was for
is hidden fruit. Confess! You would have
q played with me with all the rest II !
had not given you rival
- where IS she now?" demanded Avis
t I'm retirement, ready to be sent to q
= museum which has been wild to buy her, u
Hartland responded.
d Avis sat up straight. Bring her back!
At once" she said. You know I live
e to set maxims topsy turvy. You shall
$ be off wi the new love until you are
e on again wi the Old