The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1905-12-07

PLEASE don't think I blame o In
any way; it was only one Of those mis-
takes that everybody Is liable to make.
Ever your sincere friend,
ETHEL MALLETT."
Poor Ethel! How she cried over that
letter! How she hoped against hope that
Jack might not be willing to end the
engagement! How carefully she read the
words through to be sure that she had
not definitely settled the matter-that,
in fact, she had lone only what she In
tended-given Jack a chance of accept
ing his freedom IL he wished for It!
Had the matter-of-fact little epistle
arrived at a more favorable moment.
had jack had leisure to read etwee the
lines and discover the wounded pride
and self-respect that had dictated every
word, his manhood might have asserted
itself in Ethel's favor. As it was Jack
read the letter impatiently at first, but
as its meaning dawned upon him he
turned back to the top of the leaf and
read it again, assured himself of the IN
equivocal nature Of the offer of freedom,
thrust it into his pocket and went of
whistling enegetically to meet Miss Mall
ing at the station on her return from
town.
Pauline saw at q glance that some
thing had happened. and. knowing what
she knew, guessed shrewdly what that
something was. Sac had not been FIVE
minutes in Jacks society before she felt
a subtle difference In his manner toward
her.
Il am 50 glad to find you still here.
NJ na-ptop aha soiH NJ luuchoou
glancing at him bewitchinEly between the
leaves Of a palm plant. I'VE were 30
afraid that you would not have been able
to endure a fortnight of this terribly dull
place. Weren't we, Mrs. Sefton?"
You forget that Mr.. Dornton has
had a real occupation to make the dull
ness endurable. His life is not passed In
killing time, as yours is, dear"
L be sure. I had forgotten to ask
how the pictures have progressed"
'The view OF the house from the
woods is finished as far as 1 can finish
it here. The rest of the work must do
in Newman street.
That is where your studio is. is II
not? l should like TO see some OF your
completed pictures. VIII you ask Us up
some day to look at them?"
ANY day you please. Say the day
after tomorrow"
II cannot 60 back to dusty London
again so soon. l expect my first batch
of visitors on that day, too. At last ]
shall be able to do something In the way
of entertaining you, Mr.. Dornton. and
show my gratitude to you for enliveninl
our solitude in the past"
0V0u - too bind Drxr H.. -
arrangements for returning to town to
morrow"
Nonsense. You speak Of arrange
ments in such a serious way that ont
might imagine you had a wife and chill
dren; instead of which you are the en-
viable creature man without a tie."
She paused an instant, dreading hii
reply. He made none: but a dull rec
crept slowly up his face to the roots Of
his hair. She read this sign to suit her
self, and went on:
THAT being the case. as you have M
one to claim your presence as a right
why not favor me with it as a pleasure
l should advise you to stay, Mr.. Dorm
ton. There are some really charming
people coming on Thursday whom 20,
should know"
Mrs. Seton was the embodiment o.
discretion, a very model for lady-com
panions. She walked away, and Jacl
followed Miss Mailing to the pictur'
gallery.
They were standing In front Of tn,
easel on which Jack had placed his paint
ing of Mallingford House. 1t was
charming picture.
ssV..- xa1cf do M q on@U ~ <lf~ NJ
Dornton," said Pauline, las a mement,
of that first morning when / found yol
asleep in the wood"
And awakened me-"
The words were simple enough, bu
Jack threw a great deal Of expression
into them, and his eyes conveyed a worl
of meaning. Dliss Mailing flashed
glance at him as she asked:
did 1 wake you? 1t was quite unin
territorial on my part"
And involuntary on mine"
Pauline, fearing that the converse tiol
was getting beyond her control, turne,
quickly and caught up the first pictur
that came to her hand from the opel
portfolio.
As was to b. expected, Jack had spen
many Of his spare hours during the las
lonely fortnight in painting her portal
from mem~-y; and 1t was this that sh
caught up in her nervous haste.
"Oh, Mr.. Dorntoni" she exclaimed. 4
rapturous tones. Even her vanity wa
satisfied, and she blushed genuinely a
the lovely picture Jack had made or he,
!, II am sorry you found s.ar. You vii
perhaps think 1t gross presumption; II %
can destroy It. 1 can't wish It ndone
for it has given me SO many pleasan
hours"
"Presumption7 No, indeedl I feel as
tonished at the truthfulness and the fiat
terry you have managed to combine i
the picture"
After that there was an awkwar
pause. Pauline half wished to hear JAG
say that he loved her, and she half dread
ed it, for she had not yet made up be
Her wish was fulfilled sooner than sh
anticipated.
Jack showed her his sketches one afte
another, and they were discussed, crit
cised and replaced. As he put the las
one back into the portfolio he turned an
addressed her abruptly. With such In
. petuous force did his words fow tina
: she was compelled to listen to the enc
with regard to my staying here, Mis-
Mailing, / did not care to discuss tn
matter further before Mrs. Seton q
: luncheon; but / must 80 90 now" $
He drew a deep breath, and cltnche
his hand firmly on the hack of a chair.
Il cannotII dare not stay here witt