Bonners Ferry herald. [volume] (Bonners Ferry, Idaho) 1904-current, 1906-05-19

Of his chat with Bertha Collins. He
caught her eye presently and smiled at
her reassuringly. for she had confided TO
him her dread Of the awful occasion.
''You are an old friend of theirs. are
you nOtT Bertha was saying TO the
captain. I'VE all think Miss Mailing
quite charming. l took TO her from the
first; but, do you know. she Is not easy
to get on with. OF course she is all one
could wish ms a hostess: but 1t is impos-
sible to gush with her. She has a way
Of sitting all one says and showing up
anything that is absurd without certainly
in the least intending to give offense.
You would hardly believe 1t, l dare say,
but / have adopted the habit of trying
to talk seriously when she Is listening"
Il think that Is the greatest eompli-
ment you could pay her Will you adopt
the same practice with met"
IL should not dare" she replied, with
mock gravity. IF were to get repu-
tation for seriousness | should probably
die an old maid Men always prefer
frivolous takers for their wives There
is the dinner bell. Are you to take me
DOWN.
Later in the evening Miss Collins drop
ped into a quiet corner and discussed
the things with the utmost freedom with
an intimate friend whom she had not
seen since the end of the season. She
was describing the breaking up of the
party when Pauline's intended marriage
had been discovered.
Now tell me-could there be anything
more ridiculous than her running away
from her own house and marrying, or
trying to marry, a man secretly, when
there was no one to prevent her doing
1t openlyf My dear. you should have
seen our faces when Mrs. Seton read
us the note she had left behind, as we
dropped In, one after another, to lunch
con! At first everybody looked very sur
prised, and then the absurdity of the
whole proceeding struck us. Why could
she not have been married properly? No
one could have OBJECTED to her marry
Ing that good-looklng artist If she chose
to do So"
Was she very much gone on him 2"
"Awfullyi 1t must have been a terri
BILE blow to her when her husband turn
ed up"
"Ratherl Isn't It odd. his being
here?"
Il don't think so. He was very good
to Sir Godfrey when he was in less
eilluent circumstances | believe"
Things seem bit mixed From what
| could make out. he had believed him
self wldower, just as she had Thought
herself a widow, until they met in the
church. Don't you think 1t proba BILE
that, while he was under the impression
that his wife was dead he may have
had liking for Miss Malling?"
81 believe you are right" Bertha re-
piled, theoretically. "for l saw him look
ing at her before dinner with his heart
In his eyes"
1T is certainly very strange that he
should have fallen In love with the girl
who was being kept out of her right
position by his own wifel 1t looks like
the finger Of Fate, doesn't Though
which way the finger is pointing l can't
see"
As the guests. one after another, took
their departure, Ethel felt her burden
tightening. Her first party had been an
unqualified success, but she was none the
less glad to have 1t over. Lord Sum
mers stayed behind. talking earnestly
with Sir Godfrey.
Il admit l was disappointed when
heard that she had taken the family
Jewels with her." he said, in allusion
to Pauline. Pm afraid she has inner.
tied some of her fathers want of prin.
lary distinguished for honesty. What
do you mean to do about 1t, Godfrey p
Nothing openly. l am in communica
ton with her waiting maid. who had
promised to let me know if there Is an,
, Idea on Pauline's part of selling them
and | shall, unknown to her, become tn,
purchaser"
IAN excellent Idea and a very eener
" tLs
turned out. how fortunate it is that tn,
engagement between our charming Ethe
l and young Dornton was-"
He stopped suddenly ms Ethel ane
} Polling came back from bidding farewell
: to Miss Collins. They both caught tn,
, drift Of his words, and Ethel glanced a
: Pelling's face; but II was calmly un
conscious. Thinking this a good openin,
to talk of Jack. he said:
IF you are not too tired, / want I,
I show you delightful style of title paR
! that / came across this morning.
thought you might elaborate the idea 70
/, for your Central Africa 1t is on thi
: table somewhere"
81 am afraid my share of Contra
Africa will not be anything to be prou,
Of" he replied with a smile
That Is nonsense, and you know II
o Captain Pellingl l have made up m
+ mind that your sketches are to be tn
T. principal attraction of the book. 1t
/. really unkind of you to make light o
, your work after all our interest in II!
THAT is just IT," he returned, laugh
ingly. II have become so accustome
to working In company that | find
! can't move a step by myself"
d "You would not be offended at any
G thing ! should say for your goodT'
Go on" he said. and waited wit
.. knitted brows for what she had to say
Ethel. In her short life. had often ha
+ unpleasant tasks to perform. but neve
one so unpleasant as this.
/ ''Out of your own mouth shall you h
Il judged" she began, smiling at him I
Il hide the trembling of her lips. "Yo
>. say you have become so used to workin
>. In company that you cannot move a ste
y by yourself; but ! say you must take III
Il one needful step by yourself that will 81
cure you good company TO work in f
# the rest OF your life. Go to Paris
n once. seek out your wife. and give her II
n protection Of your presence. She wi
:, yield. You must not Judge her by h'
words when you last met. You had h,
l. at a cruel disadvantage. Think what a
= awful shock your sudden appearaD.
< must have been to herl 1t Is very. vel
- 80 N