Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1905-09-29


ing lips "Oh. l know all that; you
have told me t.,at before. lie is worth.
less-wortaless his fathers sou, | know;
and IL am not fretting for lim-not /.
hate him; IL despise him more every
day / thank Heaven for my escape
aud know that he is mated TO his kind
that he is as base. cruel, d,shonorable
as she is. as full Of"
-Oh, Trot, TroC" we protested. "You
who have been so brave, so just-you
who have taught us so noble lesson,
don't let your wrongs blind your eyes
now. She is not to blame; she knows
nothing she believes in him as you've
/ all did once; she knows nothing"
| "She knows everything every thing,
| i tell youl" the girl answered, starting
TO her feet with clenched hands. "And
it is the business, the pleasure OF her day
| To wound, TO shame. TOTO insult me-
me. whom she has so terribly and know.
ingly-knowingly, | repeat-wronged,
and yet who received her with kiss, who
meant and tired to treat her-to like her
-aSa sister. who"
you have no proof Of what you say,
Trot, not the slightest! You will be sorry
for having SO misju,'e I'd her. Oh. think
of what you are say,ngl How could she
know after the scene of this afternoon;
what proof can you Iave?"
Il have proof | tell you; have proof
Prom almost the first day / suspected
her, and then-then l became ashamed
of my suspicious; | struggled against
them--struggled hard not to let you OF
her know what / felt I told myself
tw enty times day that il was all jeal.
ousy-nothing but jealousy and envy and
bitterness. l tried to see her as you all
SAW her-a gentle, winning, innocent,
and affectionate girl. But l couldn't-I
couldn't. To me she was but a coarse,
affected, intriguing woman. Her beauty
| could see but that WAS all, nothing else.
| could not see that she was a gentle
woman, even when you.all admitted her
ease OF manner, her tact. her GRACEFUL
'"ss could not see that she was inno-
"nl AMI Winning | fought hard-ol,,
ant i'''.s ". aant Netty. YOU are wit.
nessss that fought hard to overcome
my conviction-kuf. tell You, it was OF
no use; it gather-i s.r-ngth every day,
ind when She SAW That disliked her then
then She did rot spare me, can tell
you-oh. she dill not spare--"
-What!T | burst in, thoroughly
startled. ID you mean to say that YOU
spoke out Trot-tllat sh' admitted she
Was aware of her husbands conduct to
yvu?r
-No-oh. no. There was no quarrel,
no admissions; why, that would have
robbed the situation If it's points
piqnancy. No, no"-with choking
laugh she stabbed me. her arm round
my waist, with her hand casping mine
with words of affection and endearmeni
on her false, cruel lips
My poor child-nly poor child,- in.
terrupted Peggy. crying weakly. What
can have put such terrible thoughts int
your head? Do YOU think that we, who
love you. should not have seen it il such
were the case? 2"
You saw it now and then. auni
Peggy, only you did not understand |
But 1t was not often before you; it wa
more before other peopIe-people whC |
knew how had once loved Ph-her hus
band. 1t was scenes-incidents like tls
one she planned this afternoon for Flor
rvs benefit-Florry. who was to hav.
been my bridesmaid, to HON told
told everything. to whom III olter
showed his letters even
"Trot." said vehementlv. snafc,iat
her hands from her face. 81 can no.
suffer you to talk like this unless yo,
give me some reliable proofs of ties.
accusations. Are YOU aware that vot
are showing up this POOR girl ia the lisls
Of a fiend-simply fi.ud?"
"Proofs-proofs. she mut,ared wear
Ily. = tell you have thousand proofs
only YOU wouldn't see them-understanG
them! | tell You know | am speaking
he TRUTH know 1T know it-there
Oh. leave me alone. then. Don't belev,
ne If you don't like! Believe that AR
blinded with bitterIies and jealousy, M
1t iirst tried to convince myself Per
iaps YOU are right, after all perhaps ru
iaf off my head aud don't know whsi
m saying. Drar-dear aunties. forget
slI-forget Don't mind what Isaid
lon't tell the others!"
-Trot. love- Peggy whispered, bend.
nc over her, -wouid YOU like me ts
axe you away to the seaside for a It'll,
lie! You have had no change at al
his summer. remembers: and think
Month at Brighton or :. uthsea-"
Yes. yes-I think | s,lo,il l. like thu.
ear; but not until after the dance to
MORROW. II don't want her TO know
hat size has driven me from my desu
One-she-"
As we paused at the door. heard lie,
luiter, through fresh storm of tears
oh. why di break down? NJ,
ear. dear odd aunties. how they will fr.l
nd worry over this. Oh. what miser
BILE selfish creature amt
IL was terrible state OF things, we III
reed. rs we sat over the ennlJers OF the
rawing room fire, disclosing with sore
hd heavy hearts tile unexpected out
reak of the storm that Doity's sagaciou,
rs had detected ~ the sky So long ago
What could he doney After man,
iggestions and much discussion. we l,ae
confess that. for the present at least