Heppner gazette. [volume] (Heppner, Morrow County, Or.) 1892-1912, 1905-12-07
CHAPTER NJ.

Jack was by no means hea artless, and
his conscience pricked him more often
than was pleasant with regard to Ethe
Mallett. He wondered a little if she had
really ceased to care for him, if she had
yet found a successor to him. or if pique
alone had led her to offer him his free
dom. She had sent him back the little
ring he put on her finger when they were
SO happy together, and, with a strange
inconsistency, he carried it about with
him continually.
Just about this time Jack began to
think that he ought to call in Bucking.
ham street, if only to show his gratitude
for Mr.. Mallett's many past kindnesses,
for the old gentleman had often been able
and always willing to do Jack good
turn in past days. Once convinced that
he ought to do a thing, Jack did it.
The morrow would be the first of Sep
tember, and the house was full of peo-
pie who had been invited to enjoy the
abundant sport Mallingford offered. A
number of amiable young men were
lounging about the corridors and billiard
room all day, who talked of nothing but
the probable weather on the morrow, the
chances for and against good sport, ana
the respective merits of their own ana
other mems guns. Jack obtained few
words with Pauline before breakfast, ana
carried his point.
Il must have several things for to-
morrow" he said. Il know you would
not wish me to be different from Others
and | cannot get what | want WITHOUT
going to town myself
Pauline would have dearly liked to go
with him, for she had ndrrible fear
that he would find out something II he
should call on the MallGttS. She was
not supposed to know Of the existence
of such people-for Jack had never
sDoken of them to her-so he could nH-
we'll as him not to call on them; ana
she could not leave her guests without
some very serious reason; consequently
she was forced to feign compacehcy
she was far from feeling as she an
swered:
..Of course, if you must go, there Is
nothing more TO be said; but you Will nor
stay one half-hour longer than is abso-
lutely necessary? If | don't know where
YOU are. | have srch a feeling of unrest
and anxiety that life becomes a sorrow
for the time being"
There was honest truth in these words,
and Jack was flattered and grateful for
her love. He kissed the beautiful lips,
and promised to be back at the very
earliest moment possible.
When Jack was in the train, with a
ouiet half hour before him for thought
he felt curiously cloyed with the sweets
of love and was ungrateful enough to
wish that Pauline would leave the love
in hands and
+bot ber affection was Of less assertive
character.
Two or three hours later, when he had
rushed through the business OF the day
ord stood in the Malletts' sitting room
shaking hands with both father and
daughter and exchanging cordial greet
incs. he felt as if he had been living Ill
bot house of affections for the past
weeks. and had just regained the lnylg
Grating open air, where the harder
healthier class Of feelings flourish.
He wondered a little at Mr.. Mallett'
ganialjty. knowing nothing Of Ethel ,
Generosity in taking the entire responsi.
b;Iitv of their separation upon herself
ond still less Of her fathers hope that
She had got rid of a nameless nobody
ins, in time to leave the road clear foi
suitor more worthy of her in every
way; and Jack felt somewhat piqued tha'
Mr.. MaIlett should make 50 light OF the
whole business.
pnt he did not let his annoyance ap
near upon the surface. lie told OF th'
success of the paintings for Lord Sum
,nars. of his hopes for the future, OF th'
GOV life at Mall.ngford. and impressed
Re hearers with the fact that he wa'
trimming over with good fortune and
Etbel did not say much; but she ap
,,aarad TO be quietly. kindly interested
"a ,bough she was paler than she usec
o. he she did not give one the idea o.
love-lorn danssL She sat listening