Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1906-01-05
|SCRUPLES.
-
A Novel by
THOMAS COBB
Author of
"MI. Passingham," "The Judgment
of Helen" Etc.
Continued from last week. }

judgment rematis suspended A hate
full condition.
But IL assure you
She shook her head decidedly
OF course, you were sorsly tried.
she went on. What man could re-
main obdurate, knowing a beautiful
woman was in love with him.?
Upon my word, joan
You are going to Gloucester Place
tomorrow, you know
Simply to avoid the risk
oh, l know really haven't the
least doubt you believe all that If
placed a needle on this table, said
JoanS and held a magnet half an
inch away, what do you suppose
would happen?'
think you are in a provoking
humor this EVENING" he cried
Wouldn't the needle be attracted
to the magnet?' she demanded.
We'll, yes
1T would be interesting to hear how
1t accounted for its movements she
said. But depend upon this: it
would never admit the power of the
magnet
Wray rose and offered his right
hand little coldly.
Now l have annoyed you, cried
Joan.
oh, well!' he muttered
L have let my tongue run away
with mel! She stepped quickly to-
wards the door and placing her back
hor 10
looked an enticing figure. a whimsical
expression of woe on her face, her
eyes shining with excitement re.
fuse to let you 60 she said.
There's a window, you know he
answered, turning towards it. 1t
opened to the garden.
Not while you are angry with me,
Wray!' she cried, with a laugh.
One can't be angry long, he said.
Then approaching her, he added, I
remember-you carry my memory
back many years at a stretch
How long?' she demanded.
You were seventeen.
'Ah' she said with sigh.
I forget what we had fallen out
about, cried Wray.
Shall / tell your asked Joan.
You recollect it tool he said
You had been lecturing me-you
know you were rather prone to lec-
ture one in those dear dead days.
Wray
1 was bit of a prig,' he suggested.
You had high standard. You
were pleased to think ! did not quite
reach it. SO you lectured me on the
whole duty of woman. And think |
resented it
Still, we were very good friends
in those days he urged.
Until you went back to Oxford-to
do the duty of mani
Wray stepped towards the low,
open window.
No, no, don't go now, she cried
Stay to dine. You can help me
raise poor Bernard's spirits.
CHAPTER XII
Having a day off duty on Monday,
Mr.. Cathcart determined TO meet his
wife and Pauline at the railway sta
ton. After breakfast he retired to I,
his own den with the newspaper,
which he was still reading when
Amabel entered the room with a
telegram.
L suppose it's from mother, she
said, holding the envelope towards
him.
Open it, Ap.~h-I' - -------A.
Eead II aloud
Amabel broke the cnveropv az unce.
"Unavoidably detained she read.
with you about four Gilbert COM
ing"'
HIM, very unfortunate said Mr..
Cathcart. We certainly do not want
Strachan and Waterhouse here at the
same time
He began. to look forward to Mrs.
Cathcart's return with some slight
land, on the whole, he de-
cided not to go to the railway sta
ton.
1t was four o'clock when the cab
stopped at the door Mrs Cathcart
was the first to enter in excellent
spirits. and looking the better for
her visit. Nothing could have been
more satisfactory from beginning to
end. Lady Strachan had been cor
dial, the estate appeared worthy OF
Pauline, who for her part was more
tractable than Mrs. Cathcart had
ever found her before. So that, HE
visit having proved distinct sue, ess,
Mrs. Cathcart returned to London |
without a single regret, and never
perhaps had she been more free from
he anticipation OF evil.
AS to Warehouse, she knew that
le would appear on the scene ~ooner
r later; but having observed Paul
le's dsmeanor rather closely during
he past week, Mrs. Cathcart felt
on vinced that she - nGoh1n0 ~
YER to fear
Amabel met her in the hall. She
ung her arms round her mothers
eek. she embraced Pauline.
Hasn't Gilbert come after all?
he asked.
He will follow us presently said