Los Angeles herald., 1906-10-14
III I


III
Fanny and Mabel, despite their snub noses,
married within the year; and Victoria, the beau-
ty, from whom the house Of Buace had hoped
to reap such golden benefits, ofdciated as their
chief bridesmaid. II was not for want of asking
that she had need of bridesmaids of her own.
She refused Lord Csrwell; she refused Philip
Gey. Charlie, assuming the privilege Of the eld-
er brother, began to chaff her upon her hard
heartedness.
mo ones good enough for you, Vic" he said.
u believe you've got your eye on a big catch
you're waiting for somebody"
Perhaps l am" she said quietly
She waited for over a year; but the big catch
did not come. For the big catch had his pride,
just as she had hers. Then, one day, her pride
broke down, and she sent for him; and when he
read her note his pride also broke down--and he
came.
She saw him in the blue drawing-room of Bull
lace Conquest. 1t had been shabby when he left
it last-it was shabby still for she had never al
lowed it to be altered. Perhaps il stood to her
for something more than room--for that old,
fine honor of the Bullaces. which Valentine Bull
laces hand had dragged down before her eyes into
the dust of triokery and shame.
"You sent for me-" Monty said.
eyes. I knew you would never come unless
sent for you. want to beg your pardon--I have
"
nocent all the time-it was Valentine who cheat
ed; and you knew it, and never accused him,
never tried to clear yourself"
II was not easy to speak calmly of Valentines
triekery, even now. She broke off, and he watch
ed her with the wistful look she knew so well.
''He did it for you" he said, "And you loved
him-how could expose him? He was your
cousin-he had your name. What would you
have thought him if you had known"
'rWhat think of him now"
"And what would you have thought Of me?-
wanted you to be happy. thought if you had
the money-and him"
He saw the slip he had made--tee late And
he colored as though he had been detected in a
crime.
II see. The money Cousin Geoffrey left me
was yours-you arranged it with him" She pa,s-
ed with a sort of sob. "Isn't there something
in the Bible about-about Goals of freY
Monty Montague was not apt at Scriptural quo
tation. He shook his head.
'I don't know l wanted you to be happy" he
said lalnely. "What was the money to me"
'But can't keep it-now l know"
"You can't give it back to me"
She was silent He stood before her, awkward,
speechless, as he had stood once before; but to
her his awkwardness was the modesty Of a great
and generous spirit, his silence was eloquent.
II can't give it back to you," she said, "and !
can't keep it. And, however hard l tried, don't
think can ever repay you puC Wouiu Wy ~
repay you--if you asked me-"
'You want to-repay me?" he asked slowly.
Victoria Bulace, the hardhearted, the unap-
proachable, put out her bands with sob.
'Tf YOU will let me, Monty" she said.
Long afterward Victoria Montague told her
husband the title Charlie had given to the story
Of his discontinue at the hands Of Lord CarwcH
and Valentine Bullaee; and Monty Montague
laughed.
"But you see the Cad's Tragedy is all very
wall he said: "but it wasn't a tragedy at all. -
Neither were you the cad" said Victoria.