Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1905-11-17
SCRUPLES'
-
A Novel by
THOMAS COBB
Author of
Author of
"MI. Passingham, f" "The Judgment
of Helen,' Etc.

OOOOOONONOOOOO OOOOOOOOONJON
Gilbert brought such a solemn face
to the interview that afternoon that
Amabel found il hard to maintain
a suitable gravity.
Let me take you hat, she said;
now please sit down
Have you good news for meg he
cried.
Sit down and will tell you all
about it.
But, my dear Amabel'
My dear Gilbert, | must go my own
way
It's calculated to drive man mad
he muttered taking a chair
I will leave that to Pauline. she
said, with a laugh He was on his
feet again instantly.
Then. you really think she will
marry mel
Gilbert, you're perfectly lovely
Amabel rejoined. What a delicious
thing to say Now, she continued,
4 have been entirely frank with Pau-
inc. l told her everything you told
me-.
Gilbert drew deep breath.
What did she say? he demanded.
She said she liked you-that she
always had liked you. She liked you
two years ago.
You delight in tormentng me, he
exclaimed
Why, of course | do You good
people are so serious. You do make
such fuss about your little feelings!
But, there, Pauline will graciously
listen
'Now-at once!' he suggested with
great eagerness.
She is not at home this afternoon,
you know
May come this EVENING" he
asked.
She has dinner and a dance
am not invited to either Don't you
think it's a shame?' she said. But
II you can come about this time
tomorrow, you will find Pauline alone
CHAPTER Ill.
Gilbert walked from Gloucester
Place to the private hotel in Brook
street where he usually stayed He
was confronted by problem of ex-
IRENE difficulty-to kill time during
the next twenty-four hours.
Ne felt afraid to hope. yet he could
not despair. He asked himself a score
OF times whether Pauline would have
deliberately offered to see HIM unless
she intended to surrender: he spec
ulated whether her only object might
be to deliver his coup-de-grace decent.
ly and in order.
There was no one in London TO
whom he could confide his anxieties.
consequently no one whom he cared
to go to see. He dined alone. he
smoked good deal he went 10 a the
atre, and left at the end OF the first
act. He went to bed at midnight. and
lay awake until five O'Clock in the
morning, and after breakfast he re-
allied that he had still some hours
TO get rid of.
When at last il was four O'Clock. he |
set forth to Gloucester Place where |
he found Pauline alone in the draw
ing-room !
more than usually sympathetic |
expression seemed to add to her
charm' though Gilbert understood her
character too well 10 assume that the
kindness of his reception necessarily
.signifed her surrender.
If she had decided to put him out of
his misery. he knew that her regret in
a manner. would almost equal his
own. His anxiety was too intense 10
oil IN IN nd |
after a short. embarrassing silence.
he began to talk a little vacantly
about about the weather
You are impatient to leave Lon
don, she said presently. i know it
Is always rather a bore TO you You
pine for Horsemere
L know | am wanted there. he an
swered Things seem to have a
knack of going amiss when one is
away
suppose you are a kind OF despot.
Pauline suggested.
oh, | hope mott
A benevolent despot, of course. she
said Don't they say that is the best
kind of ruler?'
He isn't in fashion nowadays Gil.
bert answered.
Because despots haven't always
been benevolent
He leaned forward eagerly
I hope you are going to prove be-
nevolent,' he said
You mustn't suggest that | am de-
spotic. Gilbert
You hold my life in your hands,
he urged. You have done that for
long time. II is yours TO make or mar
as you please
I don't think a man ought to be
able TO say that of any woman in the |
world said Pauline
I am not considering what a man
ought to do. he answered. a little !
brusquely. 4 am stating fact: and
he added. I want you to be my wife
Her tone sounded almost reluctant |
as she said
L am not sure that is possible. Gil
bert
VIII you tell me frankly where the