Omaha daily bee., 1902-12-14

I've often thought how strange you
must have thought my visit to your rooms
that night, Ralph. 1t was objectionable,
l know-only l wanted to warn you Of that
man"
"of Sir Bernardo" 1 observed, laughing.
Eyes. But it appears that you have not
needed me-" she sighed. 81 fear, Ralph,
that you will regret some day."
why should l regret? Your fears are
surely baseless."
NO." she answered decisively. They
are not baseless. l have reasons-strong
ones-for urging you to break your connec-
ton with him. He is no friend to you"
smiled. l knew quite we'll that he was
no friend OF hers. Once or twice Of late
he had said in that peevish, snsppy voice
OF his:
II wonder what that woman, Mrs. Court
enay's sister. is doing? 1 hear nothing of
her."
did not enlighten him, for l had no de-
sire to hear her maligned. l knew the
truth myself sufficiently we'll.
But turning to her,I looked straight into
her dark, luminous eyes, those eyes, those
eyes that held me always as beneath a
spell, saying:
He has proved himself my best friend
up to the present. 1 have no reason to
doubt him."
But you will have. 1 warn you"
I'm what manner, then, is he my
enemy?"
She hesitated, as though half fearing TO
respond to my question. Presently she
said:
He is my enemy-and therefore yours. -
why Is he your enemy?" l asked, eager
to clear up a point which had so long puz-
zled me.
II cannot tell" she responded. "One
sometimes gives oftense and makes enc
mics without being aware OF it"
The evasion was a clever one. Another
Illustration of her tactful ingenuity.
BY dint Of careful cross -examination
endeayored to worm from her the secret
OF my chiefs antagonism. but she was
dumb to every inquiry, fencing with me In
a manner that would have lone credit 10
a police court solicitor. Though sweet, in
nocent and intensely charming, vet there
was a reverse side in its character, strong
hrm-minded, almost stern in its austerity.
/ must here say that our love, once &c
passionate and displayed by fond kisses and
hand-pressing. in the usual manner OF
lovers, had gradually slackened. A kiss
on arrival, and another on departure, was
all the demonstration Of affection that nov
passed between us. ! doubted her, and
though I strove hard to conceal my true
feelings, l fear that my GOODNESS was
apparent, not only TO her but to the Hen.
mixers, also. She had complained Of IL wher
she called at my rooms. and certainly sh,
had full reason for doing SO. am not on,
of those who can fem love. Some men can
| cannot
Thus AZ will ha gann that aINhz,h -
tain GOODNESS had arisen between us, in I
manne that seemed almost mutual. W,
were nevertheless the best Of friends. Ono,
or twice she dined with me at a restau.
rant and went to a play afterward, on sucl
occasions remarking that it seemed Iik,
"old times, in the early days OF our bliss
full love. And sometimes she would recall
those sweet halcyon hours, until l felt
pang of regret that my trust in her ha,
been shaken by that letter found amonj
the dead mans effects and that tiny piecl
Of chenille. But l steeled my heart, be
cause / felt assured that the truth mus
out some day.
Mine was a strange position for an,
man. / loved the woman, remember; love-
her with all my heart and with all m.
soul. Yet that letter penned by her haI
shown me that she had once angled 10
larger spells, and was not the sweet, un
sophisticated woman l had always suppose
her to be. II showed me, too, that in he
heart had ranked a fierce, undying hatred
Because OF this / did not seek her so
eiety frequently, but occupied myself dill
gently with my Notwithstanding solace 1
my work, as many another professions
man does where love or domestic Happiness
Is concerned. There are few men in m
procession who have not had their affairs Q
the heart, many Of them serious ones. Tn
world never knows how diflcult II is for
doctor to remain heart-whole. Sometime
his lady patients deliberately set themselve
to capture him. and will speak iIi-naturedl
OF ain II he refuses to fall into their net
Al others, sympathy with a sufferer lead
into a nirtation during conyalescence, an
often a word apoken in ieat N order 4