Camas Prairie chronicle. [volume] (Cottonwood, Idaho) 1901-1917, 1906-01-26
By CHARLOTTE M. BRAEME


membered only that her mistress had
been cruel to her in the time Of her
trouble and she registered vow that, if
there was any secret in Pauline Mall
ing's past life, she would hunt it out and
humiliste her.
A letter lay by Ethel's plate; but she
did not touch it. Mr.. Mallett, self-ab-
sorbed as ever, did not notice how his
daughter was struggling to preserve her
usual camposure all through the break
fast time.
Jack Dornton had not intended to be
cruel when he wrote; but, after destroy
ing a dozen sheets of paper in his desire
to be neither too soft nor too hard, he
decided at last that the shorter and plain
er he made it the better; and this was
what he had written:
My Dear Ethel should not have
had the courage to do as you have done;
but perhaps you are right-as indeed you
always are. For the future will you
allow me to consider myself
Your faithful friend,
JOHN DORNTON?'
"I am glad--so very glad l wrote it.
1t would have been dreadful if we had
married. and Jack had found out that
he did not care for me afterward Now
had better destroy that anonymous
letter. | thought that Perhaps Jack
might have wished the engagement to
continue, in which case l should have
sent the letter to him and asked for an
explanation"
So Ethel went bravely about her home
duties, though her very lips were white
with the restraint she was putting on
her feelings. She tried with all her
strength of mind she possessed to put her
humiliating grief away from her.
''Why should | sorrow for him if he
can throw me off without one word of
regretT' she asked herself, angrily.
! Still, in spite of her determination to
crush her love under the weight of her
Self-respect, she now and again felt as
if her heart would break. She resolute-
ly denied herself the relief of tears, and
suffered far more intensely in conse-
quence.
The thrushes and the lively robins and
perky sparrows were having a good time
of it on the lawns at the Wigwam that
morning. Captain Polling was fond of
these small bros, and liked to see them
about the place. and he had determined
to do what he could to tame them dur
ing the hard winter weather, should he
decide to stay on in the Wigwam, which
he had taken furnished for six months.
He did not take much notice of the little
creatures this morning, though He was
in brown study" and sat so motion
less on his comfortable cane chair under
the veranda that the more courageous of
the birds hoped about within a yard
of his feet.
The fact was Captain Polling was dis
appointed He had expected a letter
either from Ethel or Mr.. Mallett that
morning, to settle their visit on the NOR
row.
Even if they do not care to come,
: he told himself, they might have been
civil enough to send some conventional
excuse"
, After awhile it occurred to him that
; perhaps the Mallets had--written, anC
that the letter had miscarried-and he
: felt somewhat relieved at the bare idea
} He made up his mind that he would e
= up to town in any case; and as he wen
along he would decide upon what cOurs,
t he would pursue. And all through hi
+ vacillation he never once admitted t
< himself that it was his longing to SCI
$ Ethel again that had for the momen
+ transformed him into human shuttle
:, cock.
Notwithstanding short notice, tn
> phaeton was ready minute before tn
appointed time, looking perfect in ever
> detail Polling had the reins in his han
. and his foot on the step. when he notice.
telegraph boy coming toward the house
u He waited moment Yes, it was 70
: him.
From Godfrey Mallett, Buckingham
y street, Bloomsbury, to Captain Polling
st The Wigwam, Wimbledon. Shall be wit
you at , o'clock tomorrow. Get sketche
IS in inspection order"
TT And the man Of thirty felt lad agai
le in his light-heartedness, as he sent HI
r handsome bays along the road.