Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1906-01-26
SCRUPLES
~
A Novel by
THOMAS COBB
Author of
MI. Passingham," "The Judgment
of Helen" Etc.
CONTINUED from last week. }


FHow?' he der lded.
1 asked wha you thought, not
what you hoped.
pin my faith to Amabel,' he re-
torted
L see
'Amabel insists that Pauline is i'm
mensely fond of Strachan.'
What a strange confidence to make
to you!' cried Joan.
Well, you see, the circumstances
were strange
No doubt said Joan dryly; and,
of course, you couldn't have had
more judicious adviser
She ought to know Wray insisted.
But anyway Joan continued, 1T
could make no possible difference to
you
What couldn't?' he demanded.
If Pauline threw Sir Gilbert over;
of course, one would feel immensely
sorry for him, but you would stand
just where you do at this moment
oh, we'll
Why not? she said
But she won't do anything of that
kind Wray insisted. She simply
lost her temper, and, after all, Mrs.
Cathcart didn't treat her we'll Any
how he continued, L congratulate
myself on one score
It's well you can congratulate your
self Joan returned.
I'm immensely glad / took the
precaution to go to Gloucester Place
All. there you were wrong, Wray!'
You would have risked the scene
IN public, them he said. But any
how it is over now, and | confess |
feel relieved
Yet a week ago how differently
you hoped 1t would end!' she ex-
claimed.
L felt like that when | landed at
Southampton, it's true he admitted.
For how long after?' she asked,
forcing a smile
Not very long!'
oh. Wray. Wray, was ever man
so feeble! she cried.
He rose and held forth his hand:
I wish you would try to get rid of
that notion, he said, looking down in
to her face.
How can I, when you daily give me
fresh evidence?'
You must think me a little con-
temptible.'
No. no. she protested.
But if
oh, we need not take you too seri-
ously | don't blame a butterfly be-
cause ii goes from flower to flower
You See he returned, want you
to take me seriously
She looked up at him gravely.
I fear you wouldn't stand the test
she said And why should I?-espe-
eially as you are nice enough to fly
my way now and then. At all events.
size Efded. L am glad YOU have got
over today-it must have been a
rather trying experience
IL was he answered, but now
we've cleared the air
j fancy it must still be a little
,hunderous in Gloucester Place, said
Joan, with g laugh. 49,
:. CHAPTER XVI.
While Wray Waterhouse was dis
cussing with Joan his recent visit to
Gloucester Place, Sir Gilbert Strachan
alighted from train at Charing Cr..oss
Station, Having seen his portman-
tteau placed in a haGsom, he ordered
the caDmar TO the private hotel in
Brook Street, where he usually stayed
during his visits to London.
In order to reach Gloucester Place
n time for dinner, he had not many
minutes to spare. He certainly had
nc desire to dine alone. he deplored
every hour which could not be spent
with Pauline; and once in his room,
he began to dress with eager haste.
Though he had parted from Pauline
only at breakfast that morning, he
looked forward to seeing her again
as eagerly ss if they had been sepa-
rated for many weeks.
Gilbert was not a JEALOUS man. In
this regard nobody could have been
more different from Bernard Vena-
bles A month ago he had insisted
that he did not know mat jealousy
was.
But the fact was, Pauline had con-
Quoted the case against herself in a
manner which left it's mark She had
protested that he trusted her implic-
lily, and so in a way he lid trust her.
She, however, had urged her doubts
so forcibly that he almost took them
TO himself He had plighted bis
open-eyed, yet her own suggestion
often occurred to him. If she had
the opportunity to choose between
himself and Waterhouse, how would
she have chosen?
He tried to silence his incipient
doubts, her demeanor during her WIS.,
1t to Horsemere assuredly assisting
He told himself that such thoughts
were unworthy and ungeperous; they
left him with sense of guilt which
only her presence could entirely re.
lieve.
He took a cab to the house, alight.
ed, rang the bell, removed his coat
and hat, then followed the servant