Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1906-01-05

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hate to feel anything is being KEEP
from me-
She was standing at the window
and Amabel saw she was considerably
agitated.
I am sorry wray has come she
murmured. He ought not to have
come. II cannot d0 any good. II
must only make things harder for
him. After a moments pause, Paul
inc fixed her eyes on Amabel's face
Did--did You tell him,' she asked.
About your engagement
why. naturally told him. said
Amabel
What did wray sayr demanded
Pauline.
oh. he really bore II extremely
WELL cried Amabel with a laugh,
which Jared on Pauline. No doubt
he was little astonished.'
Acknowledgment faltereG Pauline
But only for an instant
He must indeed have been aston
ished, said Pauline.
He got over it very quickly though,
Amabel insisted. And / am quite
sure 1t was nothing more than aston
ishment.
All, know Wray so WE'LL murmur-
ed Pauline. He is a man who would
smile under the torture. 1t must have
been the most excruciating torture
to him.
She spoke very sadly. She could
not refrain from self-reproach. Whilst
she perceived, with her present infor-
| nation, that Wray ought not to have
approached her, she regretted that
since he had come she should be
found wanting. And from his point Of
view she must appear inconstant.
He did not seem to suffer very
acutely,' said Amabel lightly.
DO you imagine that Wray would
parade his suffering before your
Pauline demanded.
He did not, 1t is true answered
Amabel.
wish he had not come said Paul.
Inc. 1T was not right to come
We'll. you see
Pauline shook her head sorrowful-
ly.
can realize his temptation, she
cried. but | wish he had not yielded
to it.
Mrs. Warehouse is dead. said ANA
bel, rather abruptly. If that makes
any difference
Dead gasped Pauline.
Yes
Pauline sank backwards to the bed.
She looked like one who had listened
to a shocking story. She was pale
to the lips.
'Then-then that was why he came
she whispered. Il wondered
oh, | imagine he felt little home
sick, YOU know cried Amabel. He
had been absent a good many years.
1t was only natural he should come
home again
Two years. said Pauline: Imagine
the fervent longing of them! Imag-
inc his feelings now! AS soon as he
was free he came to me. And what a
reception after travelling these thou,
sands of miles! What a welcome to /
meet with! His disappointment must
be almost ceivable-terribe!'
She spoke under the stress of deep /
emotion. But whilst Amabel began
TO fear for the outcome, she could
not, for her life, avoid a feeling Of
amusement Not that she ven 'ured
10 betray il.
1t was evident that Pauline took
for granted the fact that Wray was
still deeply enamoured of hes Where
as, Amabel felt convinced that what
ever might have been the case two
years ago, Pauline was nothing to
him at the present moment
OF course, Amabel said. he ex-
pected to find you-well, in different
and | daresay he was
a little disappointed
Do you suppose lou can lessen his
misery by calling K something else?
cried Pauline, a little scornfully.
1T is no use to exaggerate it,, ANA
bel retorted
TO exaggerate it,, said Pauline,
would be impossible
We'll, you know, my dear, it was
who saw the man. And | told him
abodt your engage nent. If you mag I
lie he was anything in the remotesl !
degree like a brokeD-hearted swan.
we'll. you never made a bigger mis-
AXE in your life :
That is Wray to the life Pauline ;
exclaimed. He would smile away
IN agony. | have seen him-not in
similar circumstances, there never
we're any so cruel. but | have seen
lin in the depth of hopeless misery
md II know how he can bear it,
OF course, if you won't be con
'inced, can't help it, said Amabel
ather petul2ntly. 1 can only tell
'ou the truth; and If you persist in
EXPLAINING 1t away. what can I do?'
How long is ii since Mrs. Water
louse died?' asked Pauline.
II don't knnu oyantlu Aha,,s 49,