Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1905-11-17
CHAPTER XXI.


Polling paused and looked attentively
at the young man. He knew there was
not much generosity in giving Ethel up,
ms he could not marry her himself dur
ing the lifetime of his wife, and, hav-
ing plenty of true manliness, he did not
mean to make any show of the misera-
bic pain that was gnawing at his heart;
but he felt he should like to know what
sort of man this was whose path he
intended to smooth for him as far as lay
in his power; and, while he thought of
this, the memory of Ethel's face, panied
and SOrrowful as he saw it when she
made to him her confession of love for
this Dornton came suddenly before him,
and he knew that the greatest kindness
he could do her would be to restore her
lover. Presently he said, abruptly:
you have 'learly broken EtheTs
heart"
Jack flushed furiously, and half rose
from his chair. Polling motioned to him
to keep calm.
L asked you to be patient with me-"
lie reminded Jack. My motive should
excuse me to you. The pith of the whole
matter is this--was the enga cement be-
tween yen and Ethel broken off in con-
sequence of your infatuation for my
wife, or had you ceased to care for her
before you met Pauline? AS man to
man, / ask you for truthful answer"
L can't for the life of me understand
by what right" began Jack, hotly.
For heavens sake, don't waste time
in splitting straws when so much is ct
stake" Polling said, impetuously. ''You
can't understand my right to interfere t?
| will explain. | love Ethel Mallett n
I never loved, never shall love, never be-
lieyed it possible to love; and until this
morning l had the hope of making her
my wife some day, when she had had
time to forget you. l think my love for
her gives me the right to do what can
to secure her happiness; and / believe her
happiness rests with You. | can't have
her myself, or | do not think I could
be unselfsh enough to give her up. |
might, but | don't think It. Now to re-
turn to our pOint-was your infatuation
for my wife the only cause of the es-
arrangement between you two?"
Jack was greatly impressed, as he IN
derstood now why Polling spoke with so
much effort and he felt touched by his
devotion Added to this was the feel
ing OF shame JnaI nau oppressed nm
ever since his talk with Lord Summers
"Come-you needn't mind confessing
your weakness to me-" Polling went on.
encOuragingly. BLESS you, man. l know
how Pauline can twist any man round
her finger if she likes to try! | sup
pose she was smitten with you. and
spread her nets to snare you. and YOU.
not seeing the snare found Yourself
enamored of her without knowing how
it happened. And / dare say, if the
truth were known, when the first mad
burst was over, and you thought out
things quietly, you would have given q
good deal never TO have seen her at all,
and wished you had behaved differently
TO Miss Mallett.
Jack jumped up. his face beaming,
and wrung Pelling's hand.
81 could not say it myself, but that
is really just how it has been with me.
l am not good at expressing my feelings;
but / know you are behaving very well
to me-much better than | deserve-and
I thank you. And now what do you wish
me to doT
$50 right away for a few months.
Write to me now and again, and l will
take care that Miss Mallett hears what
ever is likely to be of use to you. Give
her time to forget the indignity you have