Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1903-07-18

ment.
"Have you seen Harry Lamar late
ly?" asked Gladys suddenly.
The question seemed to force itself
from her. 1t was a relief to say some.
thing which approached the subject
mot since the other evening"" replied
Grace, referring to some small social
occasion. ''Tve just written him let.
ter. He's going to give some sort OF an
affair in his roOms-like a college
spread with his two aunts as patron.
esses of the festivities. He asked me to
make some suggestions about the mu-
sic. I have been writing to him and to
my mother"
"To your mother!" echoed Gladys,
her face suddenly flushing.
'I've made up my mind to tell you
about it." said Grace. Il am not good
at any sort of concealment. The plain
way is the best way for me always.
Gladys, we have never been friends in
any proper sense Of the word. You
have never given me any right to do
for you what a real friend would do
to advise you and try to help you"
"Do you think need any helpY'
"My mother thinks you do" said
Grace gently. ''She is a great mother,
and she knows everything. That's one
reason why ought to help you now
because / have such mother and you
haven't any. When my mother was
here with me week before last she
learned a great many things. I'm sure
I don't know how. She did not learn
them from me, and we did not discuss
them. But she has written to me about
them She thinks that you are not do
ing right, Gladys. You are engaged to
Frank Leland at home. He is one OF
the best fellows in the world, and he
trusts you absolutely. That engage
ment is not formally announced, but it
is we'll known at home 1t is not known
here. You have asked me not to speak
of it,
81 don't want you to speak of it"
said Gladys. II shall probably break it,
and the less said the better. l have
changed, Grace; we have both changed.
Our horizon is broader than it used to
be. Frank Leland is nothing but lit
tie storekeeper in country town, and
he will never be anything else. Do you
suppose 1 will go back and bury myself
thereY
"You will probably break your en-
gagementv' rejoined Gladys. Mean
while you are encouraging the atten-
lions of two men, neither Of whom
81
whom is known to Frank, neither OF
whom has any idea of the favor that
you are showing to the other. Gladys,
this isn't honest. 1t isn't honest
enough for me nor for my mother"
Gladys suddenly bent forward in her
chair.
"What did you write to her?" she de-
handed.
81 stood up for you," replied Grace
earnestly. Il said that you were over
excited by your life here; that you had
lost your balance just little, but that
you would not make any serious mis-
take. I went over the whole case. |
had to because she had done it in her
letter. 1 said that you really loved
Frank Leland
81 don't! exclaimed Gladys, with
seemingly unnecessary vehemence.
"Well, I said SO anyhow" returned
Grace, land believed it. l said that
you were fascinated by Mr.. Barnes, but
that the man was a mere trifier and
that you couldn't help seeing it. AS to
Mr.. LAMAR don't want to hurt your
feelings, Gladys, but the truth must be
told. 1 told it to my mother. You are
dazzled by Mr.. Lamar's money. You
care nothing for him ~
"Did you say that?"
Certainly" answered Grace. cts
true Mr.. Lamar is one of the most
honest hearted, sincere and admirable
fellows who ever lived but you prefer
more brilliant qualities. You have an
eye for handsomer man, Gladys, and
Harry Lamar, whatever else he may
be, is surely not handsome. Now, l
don't mind red hair myself" she add
ed, with laugh. II think his hair is
quite magnificent, and he is such big,
sturdy, manly mani But he doesn't
appeal to you. Just to illustrate that
point and set my poor mothers heart
at rest I told her what you said about
Mr.. Lamar yesterday"
81 called him an italian sunsetw
gasped Gladys, with horror. "Did you
put that inY'
eyes, l put it all in. Mother won't
tell Oh, it's all joke, Gladys. You'll
go back to Frank Leland and make him
the best wife in the world"
81 never willv' exclaimed Gladys.
''You don't know me. 1 will not throw
away my life in that little country
town. You know nothing about my
sentiments toward Harry Lamar"
"You haven't any, Gladys" respond
ed Grace you haven't sentiment
of any sort for Harry Lamar. That's
exactly what l told my mother"
"What did you tell him?"
"About you? Nothing, Of course.
l.-1 II