The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1906-02-08
CHAPTER XIV.

as she received the guests. Captain
Polling was watching her in the pauses
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 nOt? Bertha was saying TO the
captain. 1--WE all think Miss Mailing
quite charming. / took to her from the
first; but, do you know, she is lot easy
to get on with. OF course she is all one
could wish as a hostess; but it IS impos-
sible 10 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 ofense.
You would hardly believe it, | dare say,
but / have adopted the habit of trying
to talk seriously when she is listeni. &.
Il think that is the greatest compli-
ment you could pay her. Will you adopt
the same practice with me:"
II should not dare" she replied, with
mock gravity. IF | were to get a 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 M
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 Maria &c
had been discovered.
Now tell me-eould there be ANYTHING
more ridiculous than her running away
from her own house and marrying, or
trying 10 marry a man secretly, when
there was no one TO prevent her doing
It openly Ny 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. 10 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-looking artist if she chose
to do So
Was she very rauch gone Oh him -
"Awfully, 1t must have been a terri
bic blow TO her when her husband turn
ed up
Rather, Isn't it odd. his being
here:'
Il don't think so. He was very good
to Sir Godfrey when he was in less
affiuent circumstances, | believe"
Things seem bit mixed. From what
could make out, he had believed him
self a widOwer. just as she had thought
herself widow, until they met in the
church Don't you think it probable
that. while he was under the impression
that his wife was dead, he may have
had liking for Miss Malling:'
Il believe you are right Bertha re-
piled. energetically, ''for | saw him look
ing at her before dinner with his heart
ia 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 wife. 1t looks like
the finger of Fate. doesn't Though
which way the finger is pointing | 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 10 have il over Lord Sum
mers stayed behind, talking earnestly
with Sir Godfrey.
Il admit | was disappointed when |
heard that she had taken the family
jewels with her." he said. in allusion
TO Pauline. I'm afraid she has inher-
tied some Of her fathers want of prin-
ciple- The LuftOns were never particu-
lsrly distinguished for honesty. Wbat
do you mean TO do about it. Geoffrey p
Nothing openly. am in communica-
ton with her waiting maid. who had
OffaiS a6 r0 LET ~
idea on Pauline's part of selling them
and l shall. unknown 10 her. become the
purcha ser"
AN excellent Idea and very cener.
Gus one by the bye. as things have
turned orr. how fortunate il is that the
enga gement between our charming Ethe
and young Dornton was"
He stopped suddenly as Ethel and
Polling came back from bidding farewell
to Miss Collins. They both caught the
drift of his words, and Ethel glanced 81
Pelling's face; but it was calmly IN
conscious. Thinking this good openins
TO talk of Jack, he said:
IF you are not too tired, / want r.
show you a delightful style of title pac,
that l came across tho morning.
thought you might elaborate the idea FOL
for your Central Africa 1t Is on thi,
table somewhere
II am afraid my share of Contra
Africa will not be anything to be proud
Of, he replied with a smile.
THAT is nonsense. and you know II
Captain Polling. 1 have made up II,
mind that your sketches are to be IN,
principal attraction Of the book. II i
really unkind of you to make light O
your work after all our interest in it,'
THAT is just IT," he returned, laugh
ingIy. II have become so accustome,
to working in company that / find
can't move a step by myself"
You would not be offended at any
thing l should say for your good:''
''Go on" he said. and waited witt
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 b
Judged she began. smiling at him Z
hide the trembling of her lips. "Yo
say you have become so used to workin
La company that you cannot move a ste
by yourself: but / say you must take tn
one needful step By yourself that will sc
cure you good company TO work in TO
the rest OF your lie. 70 TO farlS
once, seek out your wife, and give her tn
protection of your presence. She wi
yield You must not judge her by he
words when you last met. You had he
at a cruel disadvantage. Think what a
awful shock your sudden appearance
must have been to her. 1t is very. yer
hard for me to say this to you, after a
your kindness TO US in the past; but yo
will not misjudge my motive. | al
speaking for your good. By and by. whe
you are quite happy with each other. 20
will be thankful TO me for sending 20
away in this abrupt manner"
lyon wish me TO go at once?"
asked.
THAT is a very cruel way 70 put it.
she answered, gently. You know | d
not wish you to 90 at all True friend
are not so plentiful that one can a