Bonners Ferry herald. [volume] (Bonners Ferry, Idaho) 1904-current, 1906-03-24
By CHARLOTTE M. BRARME

! ENef your hluctFe lTltuus
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 done only what she in
tended-glven Jack a chance Of accept
ing his freedom II he wished for Ill
Had the matter-of-fact little epistle
arrived at more favorable moment,
had Jack had leisure to read between the
lines and discover the wounded pride
and self-respect that had dictated every
word his manhood might have asserted
itself In Ethels favor As II was Jack
read the letter impatiently at first, but
as It's meaning dawned upon him he
turned back to the top Of the leaf and
read il again, assured himself Of the I'M
equlvocal nature of the offer Of freedom
thrust It into his pocket and went off
whistling enegetically to meet Miss Mall
ing at the station on her return from
town.
Pauline saw at a glance that some
thing had happened and, knowing what
she knew, guessed shrewdly what that
something was. She had not been FIVE
minutes In Jacks society before she felt
a subtle difference In his manner toward
her.
Il am so glad to find you still here,
Mr.. Dornton," she said at luncheon
glancing at him bewitchingly between the
leaves Of a palm plant. 1--WE were so
afraid that you would not have been able
to endure a fortnight Of this terribly dull
place Weren't we, Mrs Seftonr'
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
"ro be sure. l had forgotten to ask
how the pictures have progressed"
The view of the house from thu
woods is finished as far as | can finish
1t here. The rest Of the work l must do
in Newman street.
'rhat is where your studio is, is it
,, notl l should like to see some of your
completed pictures. viii you ask us up
some day to look at themT'
ANY day you please. Say TIE day
after tomorrow"
II cannot go back to dusty London
: again so soon. l expect my first batcl
of visitors on that day, too. At last
shall be able to do something In the way
of entertaining you, Mr. Dornton, ant
show my gratitude to you for enlivenini
r our solitude in the past"
'You are too kind. But | have mad,
! arrangements for returning to town to
: morrow"
= Nonsense. You speak Of arrange
= ments in such serious way that on,
I dren; instead Of which you are the en- en-
viable creature man without tie"
She paused an instant, dreading hi
+. reply. He made none; but duh re,
crept slowly up his face to the roots o
+. his hair. She read this sign to suit her
self, and went on;
"That being the case, as you have n,
= one to claim your presence as a right
= why not favor me with it as pleasure
l should advise you to stay, Mr.. Dorm
ton. There are some really charming
A people coming on Thursday whom yol
should know"
q Mrs. Seton was the embodiment O
= discretion, very model for lady-com
panions. She walked away, and Jacl
followed Miss Mailing . the pictur,
=. gallery.
They were standing in front of tn,
easel on which Jack had placed his paint
ing Of Mallingford House. 1t was
a charming picture.
!. "You must do me a copy of this. Mr.
q Dornton," said Pauline, las a mement,
: of that first morning when | found yoi
asleep in the wood"
"And awakened mev
:, The words were simple enough, bu
= Jack threw great deal of expression
/ H. a.. l. e.
. of meaning. nalss Mailing flashed
=. glance at him as she asked:
Did l wake you? 1t was quite unin
a territorial on my part"
!, "And involuntary on mine"
!, Pauline, fearing that the conversation
+, was getting beyond her control, turne,
4 quickly and caught up the first pictur
= that came to her hand from the opel
portfolio.
AS was to be expected, Jack had spen
many of his spare hours during the las
= lonely fortnight In painting her portrai
- from memory; and It was this that sh
y. caught up In her nervous haste.
n "Oh, Mr.. Dorntong' she exclaimed. h
i rapturous tones. Even her vanity wa
a satisfied, and she blushed genuinely n
the lovely picture Jack had made or her
p perhaps think It gross presumption; if Sc
| can destroy it. l can't wish 1t undone
for it has given me so many pleasan
A hours"
= presumption? No. indeed l feel as
tonished at the truthfulness and the flat
| terry you have managed to combine Il
. the picture"
y After that there was an awkwar
. pause. Pauline half wished to hear Jac
say that he loved her and she half dread
ed it, for she had not yet made up he
mind as to how she would answer hin
"a Her wish was fulfilled sooner than sh
anticipated
Jack showed her his sketches one afte
r. another, and they were discussed, crit
q cised and replaced. As he put the las
8 one back into the portfolio he turned an
addressed her abruptly. With such i'm
!. petuous force did his words flow tina
70 she was compelled to listen to the enc
r with regard to my staying here. Mis-
4 Mailing, l did not care to discuss tn
a matter further before Mrs. Seton a
n luncheon; but must do so now"
e He drew a deep breath, and clinche
his hand firmly on the back of chair.
N Il cannot dare not stay here viii
II out telling you the truth; for, If ! allo'
,e my feelings to become any stronger tina
~ they are. and meet disappointment in IN
Is end, I'm afraid / shall not be responsible
b. for my actions. Miss Mailing | loy
$. you-madly. While | am telling 20
J. this know the chances are that you wi
a. presanflv furn vaur hack and say rs w