Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1906-02-16

| ne udy dltcI toiuOiioW dohcu
Bernard.
Yes, stay till Tuesday, or as much
longer as you can. There's a good
train at six o'clock
Bernard promised to CO. and having
accompanied Gilbert to the gate, he
entered the house TO tell Joan. who,
I'm fact. felt rather pleased at the
prospect of a few days relief from
his society.
She had not seen Wray since the
afternoon when he had heard OF Gil
bert's dismissal by Pauline. Until
that day, he had been frequently at
her home, but he had held persistent
ly aloof ever since.
No doubt Joan could easily have
met him, she could easily have
thrown herself in his way. But his
absence annoyed her; and far from
intending TO cross his path, she as
sured herself that she would go out
of her course to avoid him, and she
decided that from every point of view
il were better.
Yet, CHANGING TO see him on Bond
Street on Thursday morning, she or
dered her coachman to stop the
horses.
| Which way are you going? she
asked as Wray stood on the curb.
To the devil l think, post haste
he answered.
Come to lunch with me instead
she urged and after moments hest
tation he stepped into the victoria.
You are a stranger he said. as
they were driven rapidly homewards.
Joan's horses were always driven at
a smart pace.
| Whose is the fault?' she asked.
| Anyhow, it's my misfortune
Then we won't talk about it. Let
us taboo every painful topic. How
have you been amusing YOURSELF
dwell on the brighter side of things!
| have had occasional news of you
from Bernard
i met him the other evening said
| Wray.
And Amabel.' she suggested.
All, that girl certainly belongs to
the brighter part of life Wray ex-
| claimed. L think Venables is to be
envied.
We tabooed painful topics. Envy is
one
That is just as well, said Joan.
But am abominably covetous,'
Wray insisted.
What is the difference?
You covet the desired object, you
envy its owner
Isn't it easy to become a little mix
ed, Wray?'
Not if there happens to be no own
err he suggested.
But if you covet mere flotsam,
what prevents your putting forth your
hand and grasping it?' Joan demand
ed.
oh. well, ones hands are tied said
Wray
! They were driven along Baker
Street, they crossed Marylebone Road
and entered Regents Park by Clar
ence Gate.
A cockney Paradise. cried Wray,
looking at the boats on the ornament
al water at the waist-coated rowers,
at the children and nursemaids on the
brink.
1 hope you can endure a tete-a-tete
luncheon, said Joan; the fact is,
BeTnard's too restless TO stay at
home
They entered the gate, and pres
emily alighted at the door of the
large. rather gloomy-looking, old-fash-
toned house
Now. | must leave you for five
! minutes she said in the drawing
room. And when she had gone away,
Wray flung himself with a sense of
profound satisfaction into a corner of
the sofa.
After a short absence, having re-
moved her hat, Joan returned, and
presently the gong sounded, and he
gave her his arm TO the dning-rooin.
She made the most charming hos
tess, talking of commonplace, safe
subjects. indeed. but Illuminating
them by her own gaiety 1t was not
until the meal ended, and they were
sitting in the shade of the elm-trees
III lllN SsAlh'ils NlllN Juan iNhihi NCN
that she had seen Sir Gilbert yesteI
day
He came to say farewell, she ex-
planned He lords it over a sort of
model village at Horsemere. you
know Sir Gilbert has a great many
acres and a great many views OF his
own.
now happy couid ne De wun
either!' cried Joan, rather wistfully
OR with neither
She looked brightly into Gilbert's
face.
You think that Wray--'
OF course, he knows she has
thrown me over said Gilbert; that's
the maddening part of 1t. He doesn't
care-to him, it's q kind of game.
and to me -
Well, yes said Wray.
TO leave the field clear for you.
she suggested. How is Pauline?' she
,sked. after a short silence
Oh, she seems all right
There has been no fresh develop
ment! asked Joan.