Rosebud County news. [volume] (Forsyth, Mont.) 1901-1906, 1902-03-20
himself by, Clarice's sofa, and devoted
himself to her for the rest Of the even.
CHAPTER v.

yOuT CuFlStlan name and you can call
me Clarice," announced Miss Seymour
the following morning.
Janetta looked up from her writing
with a swift shake of the head. Il
should like you to call me Janetta,
but l prefer to call you Miss Seymour.
I've been waiting for your faults to
crop up. l feared you hadn't any:
but I've found you out now-you've
a very nasty PRIDE"
Janetta laughed merrily. How have
l shown it?''
Twice already. You didn't put on
that new dress last night, you decline
to call me by my proper name today"
Janetta's colors came and went. Ibid
1t seem horribly ungrateful? l had a
hard struggle with myself before |
knew what to do, and then it seemed
quite clear to me that l must keep my
independence, and wear my own
clothes as long as l can earn money
enough to provide them. You are so
Kind and good to me that you ignore
my true position; but l must remem-
Der my own, and respect it's conditions,
1t does not seem fitting to take your
gifts and call you by your name when
am really your paid companion. We
are not on equal terms"
1T seems to be as if we were on
very equal terms; both Of us are or
phans-at least, think you told me
that you had neither father nor mother
living"
Yes, they are both dead" said jan
eta shortly.
And because happen to have more
money than you, why should you mind
II now and then it pleases me to give
you things? l have not many pleas
ures.'
You don't really know me, you see.
IN your generous, impulsive fashion,
you've invested me with various quail
tiles which. as you know me better,
you'll find do not possess"
You think my friendship is like
Jonah's gourd-that it will wither in
day or So" said Clarice petulantly.
Whatever topic of conversation
might be started, Janetta noticed that
1t always veered round to one or two
subJects-either Captain Merivale, or
the likelihood of Clarice's recovery.
With heart at leisure from itself,
she grew day by day more painfully
interested in what the future might
hold in store for the two whose love-
story was being enacted before her
eyes.
Sometimes she suspected that the
passion OF devotion must always have
been more on her side than his. His
manner to her was gracefully affection
ate; but for herself she felt that she
would have demanded something
warmer from the man she was going
to marry.
Il shall 60 to India with much
easier mind now that l know Clarice
has some one with her who will make
her life so bright" said Captain Meri-
vale one afternoon, as they were re-
turning from walk by the sea.
1T is good of you to say that" Jan.
eta answered. Il need not assure
you that I'll do everything l can to
make Miss Seymour happy. She's the
kindest friend l ever had, and I'm
glad I've got to know you SO well.
like to think that, when she gets bet
ter and you marry, shall feel that
l may keep you both as friends
Captain Merivale did not answer for
minute, and Janetta glanced up at
him little uneasily, and saw that
he had turned rather white.
YES" he said carelessly, we've
been capital friends ever since we met
in that curious way on the railway,
and pulled you through the window"
Janetta felt puzzled and hurt by his
manner. His tone was studiedly in
different, and he referred pointedly to
what had been, rather than to what
might be in the future. She thought,
with bitter modification, that in her
eager sympathy with him and Clarice
she had proffered friendship which had
evidently been regarded as an impert-
inence.
With all my boosted independence,
I've forgotten my position" she said
to herself reddening with vexatien;
but her resolve was taken at the risk
of vexing Clarice, she would have no
more walks or talks with Captain
Merivale.
She did not make her way as usual
to Clarice's room that afternoon when
she came in from her walk. She felt
as in her inward annoyance might find
expression in her face. She was con-
siderably surprised as she entered her
bedroom to hear the quick shutting OF
q drawer and Mason with some an