Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1905-12-01
SCRUPLES
-
A Novel by
THOMAS COBB
Author of
mi. Passingham," "The Judgment
of Helen" Etc.

Their from your thoughts, he suggest
ed
She darted a quick glance at his
face as she answered.
4 am never astonished to meet any
one anywhere | ran against my par
ish clergyman in the Casino at Monte
Carlo last year. and ! met lame
friend on the top OF the Right! But
I am immensely pleased, Wray.'
He too looked pleased Joan was.
in fact. an agreeable object TO con-
template And whilst she appeared
scarcely a day older for the two years.
he perceived great difference in
hsr.
He remembered that she had worn
mourning on the last occasion. He had
thought two years ago that she had
lost the cheerful vivacity OF her girl
hood. But with her mourning gar
ments she seemed to have put on her
gravity. Perhaps. also, the knowledge
that her husband was but six months
dead had affected his point of view.
1t is stroke of luck TO meet you
here he exclaimed, an suspicious
omen. mere chance, too. that de-
cided TO sleep in Southampton
L arrived only this afternoon from
the Mediterranean, she answered
You have missed the season. Wray
suggested.
Il shall come in at the finish she
said. The fact is, girl in whom
take an interest,"
One of many, Joan!'
i fear she is dying. The cruise
has done no good, and she really was
not well enough to travel TO London
tonight
You are the best woman | know.
ne cried leaning forward in his chair
You know so few.-of the manu-
featured article, at least. Your ex-
perience lately has been of the raw
material
There's less difference than you
may think he said, with laugh.
But I'll vary the phrase: you're the
best woman / can imagine.
Your imagination is not very
strong Joan retorted And your
sympathy is.
is IL possible to have one without
the other?' he asked.
oh dear, you might have been
away only week. Wray! You haven't
altered bit. You try to inveigle me
into one of our old arguments before
you have been here half an hour Now.
tell me about yourself Joan added.
And TO begin with, | hope you can
tell me you have come to stay
Yes, ! think So.
No more excursions and alarms!
No more sensational dIsappearances!
The fact is he said, 4 have lately
become a widower.'
She stared violently; her cheeks
flushed. and she drew a deep breath.
L ought TO have remembered you
didn't know | was married. he ex-
claimed.
Yes, | knew, Wray.'
From Pauline?' he asked.
From Sir Gilbert Strachan, she
i don't wonder that men should
bring you their condolences, he sug.
gested
You did nothing OF the kind
Your letters did not lead me to
suspect that you knew he said
Why should touch on unpleasant
topicsy' she demanded 4 wanted to
brighten your life. Besides, heard
only the bare fact Was it whilst
.S:i were at Oxford?
.n~-...O 0erS-.Sss~~ 60 =. :
a success she suggested
"A particularly CHASTITY failure, he
muttered.
Who was the-the young lady?
Joan asked.
Wray hesitated a few minutes.
She was few years older than
myself-a-a barmaid, he said.
And you,' cried Joan, with your
exalted ideals-your eclecticism-yot
as remember you-could marry &
woman of that kind?
The mistake was antecedent.' Wra,
answered, My marriage was not {
mistake. That was the only possible
atonement
Was there a child?' Joan asked
quietly
1T died few weeks old
'WellY she asked.
We did not live together afterwardl
Il tried. IL couldn't stand it,,
arranged that Norris should pay m,
wife a regular income; then l wen
away
Why Joan asked, did you return
two years ago7
All, that was weakness. I had beef
absent six years or more A Mt of nos
talgia brought me home.
You did not see
My wife,?
Yes
Not since we stood together at tn
little ones grave. She was drum
then. My Cod he cried, and reste
his head on his hands.
Joan watched him in silence
while, then she said
And Pauline Cathcart drove yo
away again.
You see,' he answered. I was b
way OF losing my head little
We all made too much OF you'll
Foley's Honey and Tar for coughs an