The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1905-11-16
/ - !, 7: w. M;';, ,., Secret:
&/SSzM By CHARLOTTE M. BRAEME

OR A BITTER RECKONII
By CHARLOTTE M. BRAEME

In the meantime Jack, stretching him
self after his spell of work, noticed q
small natural mound covered with soft
velvety grass. The more he looked the
stronger became the temptation to take
ten minutes rest. He yielded at last
and found the mound an excellent pillow
Before he had enjoyed two Of the al
10 ted ten minutes rest, his open locket
containing q portrait Of Ethel, dropped
from his hand, and a myriad of gnati
buzzed and whizzed In happy freedom
round his head. Jack Dornton was fast
asleep.
At that moment q woman came Gid
Ing by in full view of the easel. She
was a woman Of SURPRISING loneliness
tall, stately, with mass Of golden plaits
coiled round and round her head, full
melting brown eyes and ripe red lips, q
skin rivaling the peach in Its delicate
coloring, and carriage queenly In Its
every movement Her dainty cambria
gown, cunning]y made to more express
than hide her FORM" trained carelessly
among the ivy roots and brambles be-
hind her. Her simple straw hat she car
ried In her hand, and her whole air sug
gested the pretty maiden meditation
fancy free"
She gave a well-feigned start when she
had come well in view of Jacks easel
1t was not pleasant to watch the swift
change that came over the beautiful face
as she marked the vacant seat and
thought herself alone. 1t revealed un-
mistakably the defects of her character
as indicated In the cruel little curves al
the corners Of the mouth, which were
generally concealed beneath the pretty
confding smile that from long practice
had become habitual with her.
Advancing cautiously, she glanced
around, and soon discovered Jacks
whereabouts. She went quickly to the
easel, and critically examined the morn
ing's work. Turning aside, she remarked
to herself, with such decided talent
and such an appearance, he would be
sure to succeed If he were properly taken
up" She then walked on tip toe to
Jack, and scrutinized him quite as crit.
ically as she had scrutinized his work,
and evidently with as much approval.
Then her quick eye detected the open
iocket BY 6iS side;
She looked carefully at the sleeper and
having assured herself of the soundness
Of his slumbers, went down upon her
knees by his side, the better to examine
the portrait.
She started visibly when her eyes fell
upon the sweet face smiling at her from
the tiny trinket. She rose quickly and
walked away a few yards.
80 she Is this landscape painters
village maiden!" she muttered vindic-
lively. Surely there Is some fatality in
his coming herel / can't be mistaken.
face that Lord Summers pointed out to
me in the park the other day. And she
loves this Apollo, does she? And per-
haps he thinks he loves her. Well, we
shall see what we shall seer
There was significant glitter In her
fine eyes, aud an instantaneous tighten
ing of the red lips seemed to tell Of a
hard, cruel heart beneath the fair ex-
terror. But the expression Of her face
changed as Il by magic when Jack roll
ed over on tc his side and showed signs
of waking. She had posed gracefully
before the easel, and awaited him.
Il believe I've been asleep" he mur-
INJURED drowsily, raising himself on one
elbow, when his eyes fell upon the daz.
zling lovelipess Of the girl so earnestly
regarding lis picture: and In the FIRST
glimpse Of Pauline Mailing, Jacks senses
and artistic perceptions were alike rous-
ed, and, springing to his feet he went
toward the easel.
II beg ycIr pardon for the liberty
I have taken in examining your picture, -
murmured the woodland nymph melodi-
ously. II hope I did not disturb you.
May be allowed to continue my inspec-
tion?"
Jack, hardly awake even yet, NUT.
tered something about ''too much hon
or"
"You are Mr.. Dornton, are you not p
she continued, still looking at the pic
ture, and giving Jack time to pull him
self together. Lord Summers told me
he was going to ask you to make a pic.
ture of my house."
1t was Miss Mailing then, and NO
woodland nymph, after all. Jack felt dis.
appointed, though he could not tell why
II suppose you Will remain here fol-
some days. May offer you a little hos.
pitality during your stay7 The village
inns arc, believe, wretchedly uncomfort-
able, and / should not like a friend OF
my guardians to be driven to their shell.
ter while am at home. We are two
lonely women just now, and but dull com
pany, fear; but we will do our best to
make you comfortable for this week al
least Next week 1 am off again until
the end of the season, and shall have
to leave you to the mercies Of the ser.
wants. Say you will come"
THANK you very much" Jack began
hesitatingly; 'but / did not anticipate
in fact, / made no PREPARATION"
"Is that the only dihlculty?" she In.
terrupted gently. pray don't let that
stand In the way. Mrs.. Seton and ]
will shut our eyes to the enormity of q
morning coat at dinner, and will promise
to think no less Of you on that account
We dine a. half past seven, so that We
MAJ have an hour or two Of these lovely
summer evenings IL the gardens"
Jack raised his soft felt hat, and
watched her graceful figure as she glided
away down the dim leafy vista Of the
wood. He wished that she had stayed
longer, that he might still be looking into
her glorious eyes, watching the eveI
changing lights that came and went al
rapidly az scudding clouds across sum
mer sky. When at last q curve In the
path hid her from view he turned again
to his work with a heavy sigh, wishing
1t was already half past seven
CHAPTER III.
Nov you are to consider yourself
quite at home, Mr.. Dornton," Ais Nal