Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1906-02-16
CHAPTER XXl.-(Continued.,

A'SA S'SI III luc SIl IIeSl ueBTee, Inere
was nothing upon the face of the earth
which hoy was not prepared to do, or
dare, or en- lure. BIT the question was
not what he would do, but whether Fe-
iicia would feel disposed to sacrifice her
self to save the reputation of a woman,
whom she knew but slightly, and to
whom she owed nothing whatever.
BY degrees, as he thought it over. as
he>pondered upon Margaret's suggestion.
turning it over and over in his mind, an
entirely new and original idea flashed
into his brain.
Why should he not pretend to be en-
gagged? And what good reason could Fe.
licia bring forward to refuse her consent
to a merely nominal engagement which
should last couple of months at the
longest? There really seemed nothing
impracticable to him in the idea. Felicia
and he had always understood each other
perfectly and were quite capable of keep
ing secret between them.
The more Roy thought about it the
more sample and easy did the whole thing
seem, and the less it entered his mind to
imagine that his cousin could refuse to
cooperate with him.
Felicia Grantey went about all one
summers day with a cloud upon her
brow, a burden of horrible uncertainty
in her heart, and a most singular letter
from Roy in her pocket.
Mr.. Raikes had sat for half an hour in
her drawing room, balancing his stick
between his knees, and staring gloomiy
at the carpet.
What do you think" he asked her
for the twentieth time; shall l go abroad
with Brian, or no"
you must be the best judge of that
Mr.. Raikes." Felicia had answered cold
livery coldly.
The measured tones struck ice into his
soul. How could he possibly guess that
her heart was in a tumult, and that she
had a difficulty in keeping back her
tears?
Edgar Raikes looked at her gloomily
and miserably. She did not care then,
he supposed, whether he stayed or went.
ii made no difference to her; and how,
indeed, could he expect it, or now dare to
frame in words the miserable thoughts
that were surging in his heart; he who
was a pauper, to this girl, whose money
and whose fears of being sought for her
fortune, seemed to stand like a forbid
ding angel between him and his chiefest
desire.
81 suppose then l had better co." he
said miserably, with an infection that
was almost question in his voice, and
something wstful in his eyes which it
was a pity that Felicia was so engrossed
with her red and yellow silks as not to
see.
THAT is for you to decide" she said
coldly.
Her very coldness should, perhaps
have shown him that she did care, hut
he did not understand that. Few men
know women well enough not always to
take what they say for what they really
mean. Edgar Raikes merely supposed
that his case was hopeless. He shook
hands with her in silence, and left her
and when the front door had been slam
med upon his departing footsteps, Fell
cia flung her silks and her plush on to
the ground, laid her head upon the table
In front of her and burst into tears.
All this took place in the morning. And
then came Roy's letter, and Felicia went
about her daily business, her shoppings
and her visitings, with a load of anxiety
on her mind. In the evening she was to
give Roy his answer.
They were to meet at some private
theatricals, and it was there that he
would ask her for her decision, to surely
the strangest proposal which a man ever
made to a woman.
When dinner time care Felicia was
still undecided. For wonder she was
dining at home with her father. They
took their places in silence opposite each
other. And Mr.. Grantley began his usu-
al comments.
"Why didn't you ask Raikes to din
nerY"
He is staying with poor Mr.. Des-
mond; didn't like to ask him to leave
him."
That very morning Mrs. Talbot saun-
tered down Bond street, when she al
most stumbled into Brian Desmond's
arms as he came quickly round the cor
ner of Grosvenor street.
Here was a chance of mischief making
which our friend Gertrude was not in the
least likely to neglect. She laughed and
stood still, so Immediately in front of
him that Brian had no chance but to
stand still, too.
you nearly knocked me down" she
cried playfully. Then asked quickly:
"Any news of that naughty little truant,
Mrs. DesmondW
81 have not heard from my wife to-
day." answered Brian frowningly.
"Oh! of course you know where she
ISL" she cried lightly. 81 tell everybody
so. I've been fighting her battles for her
everywhere. OF course, there is not an
atom of truth in all the unkind things
people say, as tell everybody. No truth
about her, that is to say. Of course, you
are a very naughty, bad man indeed!'
Brian's brow grew black as thunder.
No one had dared to breathe word to
him of scandal concerning his wife. 1t
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