The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1903-02-13

sound"
ITO think that should have hated
you oncev said Maurice 10 her one
day.
II knew you liked me against your
will at first" said Mrs Geoffrey. "Why
was itT'
IL never liked your Photograph
isn't IL good one Der'-demurely.
Good? Wen, suppose il is as far
as features go. But IL isn't you. The
expression Is altogether wrong"
Mrs. Godfrey got up and turned the
photograph in question toward the
wall
There! Let IL stay So never
liked it myself, but Geoff thought il
was excellent"
One day Maurice made discovery.
II was nj Mrs. Anderson's garden
party. where Mrs. Godfrey carried on
Scott. She was somewhat more given
TO such an amusement, people thought,
than a young woman who had a hus-
band exploring Central America ruins
ought to he. But Mrs. Godfrey was
serenely Indifferent to public opinion.
She smiled at Charlie Scott with eyes
and lips, talked TO him In her velvety
undertones, and finally disappeared
down n shady path with him.
Maurice had been watching them
with n scowl. When they passed out
Of his sight he went home. II was of
no use 10 pretend TO himself that he
was angry at Mrs. Geoffrey's hirta-
tions on Geoffrey's account. He knew
that he loved and he was honestly ap-
palled. He shut himself up In his room
for the rest OF the day and tried TO
think the matter squarcly out. Even.
tually he came TO "A resolution and by
way Of keeping II he began to avoid
Mrs. Godfrey whenever it was posi-
bic and to treat her with grave, cold
polteness when IL was not
That unrepentant young person had
come home from the garden party i'm
radiant spirits. At first she looked
upon Mnuricc's chilling attitude ms the
result OF pique. When she realized
that il was something more serious,
she held council of war with herself.
This won't do. Oh. dear, what n
mess! | might have known some such
predicament would result from my
folly. What will he think OF me-?
What will they all think of me? And
oh, what will Godfrey say when he
finds IL out-for of course he will find
II out now? He will be drcadfully
angry"
And Mrs. Godfrey cried n little
not very much-for she wanted to look
her best that night, and il would never
do to spoil her eyes.
81 must go home next week" she
announced sweetly as they rose from
the dinner table that night "Oh. yes:
IL is more than time. have stayed
too long already. Geoff will soon he
getting back to civilization, and l must
be home before he is"
Maurice followed her miserably into
the music room. Mrs. Godfrey sat
down at the piano I'm the mingled dusk
and moonshinc and sang tender old
ballads In alluring succession until
Maurice could endure il no longer. He
came up behind her and put his hands
on her shoulders.
"Oh, Muriel. Muricl, l love you! l
have no right TO say It, but | must say
IL once. never will again"
"Why not?" asked Muricl softly.
"Why not?" cried Maurice. He had
never thought that Mrs. Godfrey was
N nplu IN M hn
could not believe that she was the kind
of woman her words would indicate.
Because l have no right to! You are
my brothers wife"
II am not" She got up and faced
him tragically. 81 am Muriel Heath
the cousin of Geoff's wife-and free as
air" S.,.,a.
"Muriel" gasped Maurice.
"Oh. know you'n think IL terrible"
said Muriel with sob I'm her voice.
"Wc never meant to tell you-but |
must now. And Muricl Longworth
will he furious at me! Gcoff's wife and
| are ridiculously alike, SO far as fea-
lures 60. but there the resemblance
ends. She is small and fair. while
am tall and dark. You see when Geofr
decided TO 60 on this Central American
expedition he said Muriel must come
down here because your mother wished
IL. Muriel didn't want to come hut
Gcoff insisted and she had To give In
with very bad grace. Muriel is fond
of gayety, and she thought IL would be
intolerably dull here. Just after Geoff
went away the Havilands invited Muir
icl 10 spend the summer with them at
their country place. Then Muriel came
to me and-and-begCed me-to-to-
come down here in her place and pre-
tend TO he Geoff's wife oh. | know
what you will think OF me for con
senting! But II seemed just joke NJ
the time. Muriel was determined on
it-and l was just wild. thoughtless
girl. So came. When got here and
your mother and the girls and every
one were so kind and good TO mc-oh,
| felt dreadfully about it. But IL was
too late. / had TO carry out my i'm
posture. We never meant to let Gcon
know-but he will find Il out now. and
so will everybody-and you will all
dcspse me-"
Murlel finished her confession with
a Gownfall OF tears. Mauri q stepped
forward and clasrcd her in his arms
And you're not marriedY' he ex-
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