Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1906-03-24
CHAPTER XIV


caught her eye presently and smiled at
her reassuringly, for she had contided to
him her dread Of the awful occasion.
You are an old friend of theirs, are
you notr Bertha was saying to the
captain. "We all think Miss Mailing
quite charming. | 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 as hostess; but 1t is impos-
sible to gush with her She has 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 it, | dare say,
but have adopted the habit of trying
to talk seriously when she is listening"
Il think that is the greatest compli-
ment yoa could pay her. win you adopt
the same practice with me?"
Il should not dare" she replied with
mock gravity. IF | were to get repu-
tatiOa for seriousness l should probably
die an old maid. Men always prefer
frivsleus takers for their wives. There
Is the dinner bell. Are you to take me
DOWN.
Later in the evening Miss Collins drop
ped into quiet corner and discussed
the things with tho utmost freedom with
an intimate friend whom she had not
seen snce the end of the season, She
was describing the breaking up of the
party when Pauline's intended maria ge
had been discovered.
Now tell me-could there be ANYTHING
more ridiculous than her running awav
from her own house and marrying. or
there was no one to prevent her doing
1t openly? 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 hrst everybody looked very sur
prlsed, and then the absurdity of the
whole proceeding struck us. Why could
she not nave 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 ?"
"Awfully! 1t must have been terri
Die blew 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 Sic Geoffrey when he was in less
afiuent circumstances, l believe"
Things seem bit mixed. From what
/ could make out, he had believed him.
self widower. just as she had thought
herself a 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 Maling?'
Il believe you are right" Bertha re-
pied, energetically, "for | 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 wife! 1t looks like
the finger of Fate, doesn't it-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 to have it over. Lord Sum
mers stayed behind, talking earnestly
with Sir Godfrey.
Il admit | was disappointed when I
heard that she had taken the family
Jewels with her." he said. In allusion
TO Pauline. I'm afraid she has inner
tied some of her fathers want of prin-
ciple. The Luftons were never particu-
larry distinguished for honesty. What
do you mean to do about IT, Geoffrey p
Nothing openly. l am In communica-
ton with her waiting maid, who had
promised to let me know IL there Ia any
Idea on Pauline's part of selling them.
and shall, unknown to her, become the
purchaser"
An excellent idea and a very rener-
Gus one. BY the bye, as things have
turned out, how fortunate 1t Is that the
engagement between our charming Ethel
and young Dornton was-"
He stopped suddenly as Ethel and
Polling came back from bidding farewell
to Miss Collins. They both caught IN.
drift of his words, and Ethel glanced al
Pelling's face; but 1t WAS calmly IN
conscious. Thinking this a good openins
to talk of Jack, he said:
IF you are not 700 tired, | want II
show you a delightful style of title pag,
that l came across this morning.
thought you might elaborate the idea fo
lOI youN 1chlIhl II - on tll
table somewhere"
81 am afraid my share of Contra
Africa wal not be anything TO be prou,
Of" he replied with a smile.
That is nonsense, and you know II
Captain Pellingl l have made up m,
mind that your sketches are 10 be TN
principal attraction of the book. II /
really unkind of you to make light o
your work after all our interest in itr
That is just it," he returned, laugh
ingly. Il have become so accustome
to working in company that l find
can't move a step by myself"
You would not be offended at any
thing ] should say for your good?"
go on" be 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
judged" she began, smiling at him
hide the trembling of her lips. "Yo
say You have become so used to workin
IN company that you cannot move a ste
by yourself: but | say you must take III
one needful step by yourself that will 5,