Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1903-06-17
The next moment her aunt raped at

The next moment her aunt raped at
the door and entered.
II cannot say that approve" re-
marked Miss Vynor. In her precise
way, "of the habit that young people
of the present day seem to have form
ed of spending so much time in their
own apartments. In my own young
DAYS bedroom was n bedroom, and
was not intended to be used as sit
ting room also; and 1t appears to me
that the habit Is conducive to a great
waste OF time, for there seldom seems
to be any visible result from 1t.
came to propose that we should walk
this morning. 1t is pity to waste
the best part of the day indoors. and
especially is 1t wasted IL spent in ones
sleeping apartment"
With the help of the walk and other
small occupations the hours somehow
passed, but never before had a day
seemed so long to Lettice Vynor. AT
length, however. the afternoon drew to
a close, and she found herself alone,
her aunt having an Invitation to spend
the evening with an old friend. Per
haps Lettice had counted on this when
she dispatched her notes In the morn
ing, but now the time was drawing
near when the favored lover might be
expected. she would have given great
deal to be able to delay his visit.
| Twenty times did she wish vainly that
she had sent different answer, even
IL 1t had resulted in the loss of both
her friends. VIII Haywood as de-
voted friend and admirer had been
everything that was pleasant; but now
1t came nearer the idea of Will Hey.
wood as a prospective husband-oh,
that was different affair altogether!
For she knew that that was what she
had meant her message to imply, and
that lie would be quick so to under.
stand it.
Then Mt last the doorbell rang, and
Lettice heard footsteps crossing the
hall. The drawing room door opened
and shut again, but her heart was
beating so loudly that she did not hear
the name that had been announced
and she advanced to meet her visitor
without raising her eyes from the
| ground.
The next moment she felt herself
caught In strong pair of arms, and
kisses were being rained upon hel
face.
My sweetheart-my sweetheart q
mans voice whispered passionately
again and again, rs If 1t would never
tire of that delightful repetition.
But what-whnt was this? The
room whirled round, her eyes closed
and for moment she could make NJ
effort to releas' herself. For this maj
who held her So masterfully, who wa.
showering his kisses on her face, ant
whispering passionate endearments IL
her ear, was not the Will Haywood
she had expected, but Humphre,
Forde! Humphrey the grave, TIL,
quiet, whom she had imagined to b,
afraid of her! Why was he here? Ant
why, why had she not known befor,
what those kisses all at once had mad
clear to her-that this was the maj
she loved after all. and had loved al
along?
Then suddenly 1t flashed across he
what had happened. In her haste sh
had doubtless inclosed the notes in tn
wrong envelopes, and~he had receive,
the one meant for VIII Haywood! Blu
he must know the truth! To the girl
delicate sense of honor no other cours
was possible; even IL 1t meant the los
OF his love she would not keep 1t b.
acting lie.
"Oh, you mustn't, you mustn't! Nv
made dreadful mistaken she gaspe
almost incoherently, finding voice a
last, and striving frantically to diser
gage herself.
. Humphreys arms suddenly loosenet
, and he held her away from him I
look into her face.
"a mistaken" he repeated, slowl,
incredulously. "Was that what 70
j really said, Lettice? Do you mea1
then, that you do not love me afte
all"
The color flushed over the fair littl
face from brow to chin, and she hun
her head in silence. No, she could nc
! say that!
Speak, Lettice!" he said. his voic
I grave and almost stern. II insist o
, your telling me this. You knew whe
| you wrote 1t what your letter mus
/ imply. Do you mean you were mil
taken in thinking that you loved me?
mo. no, not that!" she whispered
, as IL the truth were being forced frol
| her.
Humphrey could feel how the slIgt
: form trembled. He placed her gent
) in low chair, and drew another b.
side her.