Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1906-01-12

wish to know. I was not permitted
| to choose
1T is absurd to say you had not al
ready chosen. Pauline
oh. Wray!' she cried. I don't
know what to say to you!'
"A great deal too much has been
said already urged Mrs. Cathcart.
4 cannot attempt to tell you how
sorry l am
oh, not at all! he interrupted. with
the most offhand manner he could
assume. Believe me, when say
hope you will be perfectly hap
Ply
But you! she murmured.
You need not feel a moments un-
easiness on my account he said.
You are merciful,' she answered.
You try to make light of your pain.
But | shall never be able to forgive
myself
'You have nothing in the world to
reproach yourself with he insisted.
'Ah. that is like you she returned.
You are always generous. When you
went away | tried-I deliberately set
myself to forget you
'Pauline! cried Mrs. Cathcart in
warning tones.
why should I pretend to hide the
TRUTH demanded Pauline.
A little disguise is the merest de-
cency' Mrs. Cathcart retorted.
i tried to put away every thought
of YOU Pauline went on; 4 spared
no pains
The only thing which concerns Mr..
Waterhouse is your SUGGEST exclaim.
ed Mrs. Cathcart
But said Pauline. 4 would have
given the world to know the truth
before | decided. | ought to have
known. 1t would have been the COM
monest honesty! 1t was shameful to
deceive me-
Mrs. Cathcart, at her wits end,
afraid to what lengths Pauline would
go, yet powerless to restrain her, be-
gan to make pantomimic gestures to
Wray. She nodded her head and
frowned at his hat, then she glanced
at the door.
L fear must be going he said, and
murmured something about an APP
pointment
Shall you return to Africa? asked
Pauline in a different tone.
oh, think not he answered, with
short laugh.
All, Wray,' said Pauline, you hurt
me-
He held forth his right hand
Goodbye he said cheerfully. Once
more, | hope you will be very happy
Then he turned to Mrs. Cathcart,
and in another minute Wray was
descending the stairs.
CHAPTER XIV.
Amabel had been waiting impatient
ly for Wray's departure. She woald
have liked extremely to be present at
the interview. No sooner did she
hear the street door open and shut
than she made her way to the draw
ing-room.
There an unusual scene was pre-
sented. On the sofa sat Mrs Cath
cart, sobbing Historically, while Paul.
of intense agitation. Amabel had
never seen anybody quite SO excited
before.
Why, mother dear!' she exclaimed,
bending over Mrs. Cathcart, what
is the matter?'
You must ask your sister, said
her mother in a broken voice. ANA
bel looked interrogatiNe ely at Paul
inc
4 have been the victim OF the mean
est conspiracy, cried Pauline.
Dear me, how dreadful answered
Amabel.
4 have been tricked, entrapped-'
oh. nonsense!' said Amabel. You
make a great deal more fuss about it
than Mr.. Waterhouse'
You don't understand him. Paul.
inc retorted.
My dear, he's simple as simple A
B. G. said Amabel with = pdcihcatory
hand on Mrs Cathccrt's honlder.
With her head thrown back, and
with a dignlfied gait. pauline walked
her Mrs Cathcart uncovered a tear
fu! +; CO AMI fro:;rea upon Amahel.
An immense rl.v you could not be
sa;sfed without making SO much
mischief she said.
" nv, wha; have I done? demanded
Amabel; and whilst Mrs. Cathcart
g 9-,l' 'eiief for her feelings ~ ex.
planning that Amabel had caused all
the mischief by telling her sister of
Wray's return. Mr.. Cathcart entered
the drawingroom.
No husband had more confidence in
his wIfe's resourcefulness than Mr..
Cathcart Ills face looked bland and
inquir!ng; il wore a smile which, III
the circumstances, Mrs. Cathcart
found irritating. He rubbed his palms
together comfortably
Well, has Warehouse gone? he
| asked.
He had no business to comet! ex-
claimed Mrs. Cathcart.
Obs CRYING her troublouS face, his