Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1904-11-10

with swift change of mood, But you
wouldn't have known IL / had been
little wiser
Indeed l would. l went 500 miles
last summer Just to see you," George
half whispered. $50 l understood the
minute | looked at you tonight. You
wanted to disgust me. to make me
lose a wife and a fortune. l don't
blame you. Women have to fight in
justice with their own weapons. Still
l wish you hadn't done it. You can
say No to me this minute if you like
and get back more than all the money
you lose by saying it tomorrow
Il see. You want to invest in Dres-
den china" Estelle interrupted auda-
ciously. 80 of course don't want to
say it-not now, at least"
THAT must be quite as you please"
George said. smiling over her head.
"You will have to go straight home"
he added masterfully. Changing low
ers would be nothing beside the scan
dal of changing countenances this way
in the face of everybody"
II know it." Estelle said sorrowful-
ly. Fate is playing me tricks-putting
all the trumps in Adela's hands
Not quite You forget shall make
your excuses and take you and Mrs.
Warren home" George said. Don't
keep me waiting either I'm all impa-
tience to see your real SELF"
Grasshope had no end of sensations
through the next six weeks. The first
came when George Gilbert broke the
prearranged engagement, the next
when il was seen that he was disput-
ing with Reed Bronson for first place
in his cousins regard, and the third
and greatest was to find the strange
Gilbert girl truly o beauty, with no
end Of fine feathers and most Ell
chanting way of wearing them. Adela
Evans looked faded and insignificant
beside her. although away from her
she was easily the prettiest girl in
town. But Adela was spiritless these
days. She no longer had hopes of
catching George. He was eagerly,
desperately, in earnest about Estelle,
although she bad given him back, as
In duty bound, rather more than half
the money Reed Bronson was no less
earnest, SO between them they kept
public interest at fever heat.
Estelle was nobly impartial. At first
she had thought herself really in love
with Bronson. That was what had im-
PEELED her to the masquerading. But
somehow Georges grave, hurt face
had made her very much ashamed,
although she would have died rath-
er than admit love at first sight. Then
his freeing her and settling down to
court her anew appealed to something
in her CO like fiber. Altogether she
was hard put to it to decide.
The strain of it all bore hardest on
Bronson His temper, never sweet,
became abrupt and uncertain: He was
barely civil to other women, George,
coptrAriwise continued to be a but
terfiE among the social flowers.
Upon one OF those spring days that
seem made for love the three rode
together through blossomy lanes.
Bronson rode but clumsily, so when
presently his mount bolted II was all
he could do to keep his seat. George,
Q h9rseman born, was after the run
away in a minute. caught him and
checked him so sharply that the mad
creature reared. kicked savagely and
at last fell backward, taking the other
horse with It in a struggling, plungina
heap That anybody came out of il
| alive was little short of miracle. But
| there was nothing worse for either
| than broken arm. AS Bronson stood
ruefully nursing it he said, looking
straight in Estelle's eyes: You neednt
take the trouble to tell me anything.
saw youE faes as we were going
| down. You found out whom you loved
| Just then-George."
| Eyes, George" Estelle said, flushing
| like a rose.