Kootenai County Republican. (Rathdrum, Idaho) 1899-1903, 1902-03-14

his eyes went no rartner tndN hdtos
face. He was oblivious Of Amy's pres
ence.
us your father in? l must see him
at once. have discovered a daw
which | am afraid will necessitate
great delay in the work Part Of 1t
will have to be constructed on new
plan"
"You will find papa in the library, Mr..
Austen" The color had come back into
Katc's cheeks, and her eyes were
bright 1.-THE drafts and plans seemed
perfect. One little flaw may not sig
Nifty SO much.'
There must be no weak spots. A sin
gle flaw In the contraction condemns
the whole structure"
He spoke in rapid, repressed tone.
'"That Is a cruel view! Why should
whole beautiful edifice be condemned
because of one small weakness"
Hates eyes flashed. and she held her
self proudly erect.
I'VE judge a bridge by its weakest
point. Its abutments may be solid and
massive. but flaw In the construction
renders it unsafe-and it stands con-
demned"
He was very pale, and there was Il
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.
"Harshness is not always cruelty.
Some things require it." he said in the
same rapid, repreesed tone, and turning
OH his heel walked quickly to the lower
end Of the hall, where he disappeared
in the library.
80 that Is young Austen. Of whom
have heard 30 much!' exclaimed Amy,
as soon as the door had closed upon
him. "Well, can't say much for his
manners! He never even saw me. 1
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.
wasn't aware you knew this wonder.
Kate"
Yes, have known him a couple Of
months. He has been doing some work
for papa, and spends one OF 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 is engaged"
When the outer door closed upon her
friend Kate went back into the draw
ingroom, and dropping into an easy
chair before the open CRATE stared with
unseeing eyes at the glowing Goals, her
hands clasped tightly in her lap, and a
pucker Of pain between her drawn
brows.
Hugh Austen'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 throbhing heavily-each beat
stab-and through It all she saw a pref
ty smiling face In down town store
happy. innocent face, whose possess
sor was Hugh Austen's affianced wife.
She had known Of his engagement
from the first-he himself had mention
ed 1t early In their acquaintance-bl
1t had never seemed vital thing to
her until that morning. She was doing
some shopping. and while waiting for
her change her attention was drawn to
a sweet-faced girl by oyerhearing one
clerk remark to another:
Eyes, Maggie does look happy. She's
a lucky GIRL You know she's engaged
to Hugh Austen. the architect. He's
one of Gods noblemen; there isn't a
better man in the city. believe they're
to be married some time this winter"
lone Of Gods noblemenw Kate re-
peated the words softly to herself, then
added in whisper. burying her burn
ing face in her hands, And my king"
No word of love had ever passed be-
tween them, but eyes have way of
betraylng secrets sometimes. She knew
his heart was hers even though his
word was pledged to another-and she
exulted in the possession.
He was so different from the mon she
met In society that he interested her
from the first. He was quiet. with that
reserve which betokens strength Of
character as we'll as strength of will
She remembered the day she first met
him. He was in the library when she
went in to get book and her father IN
troduced him. He acknowledged th,.
introduction by curt little bow. hard
~ giving her glance, and continual