The Coeur d'Alene press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1892-1907, 1906-01-27
! (f The W5s's Secret,
- OR BITTER RECKONING
NNEkSkNM By CHARLOTTE N. BRAEMR
OR A BITTER RECKO
By CHARLOTTE N. BRARMR

Ank uuA1u STREETS VI payer IN IN 1g4AK@
to be neither too soft nor toe hard, he
decided at last that the shorter and plain
er he made it the better; and this was
what be had written:
My Dear Ethel-I should not have
had the courage to do as you have done;
but perhaps you are right-as indeed you
always are. For the future will you
allow me to consider myself
Your faithful friend,
JOHN DORSTONT'
II am glad-sO very glad l wrote il.
II would have been dreadful II we had
married. and Jack had found out that
he did not care for me afterward- Now
had better destroy that anonymous
letter. l thought that perhaps Jack
might have wished the engagement 10
continue, in which case | should have
sent the letter TO him and asked fer an
explanation"
So Ethel went bravely about her home
duties, though her very lips were white
with the restraint she was putting on
her feelings. She tried With all her
strength Of mind she possessed TO put her
humiliating grief away from her.
why should | sorrow for him If he
can throw me of without one word of
regretY she asked herself. angrily.
Still, In spite Of her determination TO
crush her love under the weight Of her
self-respect. she now and again felt as
if her heart would break. She resolutS
ly denied herself the relief Of tears, and
suffered far more intensely in cOnse-
Quence.
The thrushes and the lively robins and
perky sparrOws were having a good time
Of il on the lawns at the WigwGm that
morning Captain Polling was fond Of
these small birus, and liked to see Them
about the place. and 10 lad determined
to do what be could to tame them dur
ing the hard winter weather, should he
decide to stay ca in the Wigwam, which
he had taken furnished for six months.
He did not take much notice of the little
creatures this morning. though. DE was
in 'brswn study" and SAT- so motion
less on his comfortable caRs chair under
the veranda that the more courageous Of
the birds hoped about within q yard
Of his feet.
The fact was Captain Polling was dis
appointed. He had expected a letter
either from Ethel or Mr.. Mallett that
morning, 70 settle their visit on the NOR
row.
Even il they do not care to come, 81
he told himself, they might have been
civil enough to send loms conventional
excuse"
After awhile it occurred to him that
perhaps the Mallets had written. and
that the letter had misca rried-and hi
felt somewhat relieved at the bare .dea
He made up bis mind that he Ecaid g
up to town in any case; and as be weni
along he would decide upon what c0urs,
! he would pursue. And all through hi.
Vacillation he never once admitted u
himself that it was his longing to se'
| Ethel again that had for the moment
transformed him into a human shuttle
cock.
/ Notwithstanding a short notice, tn
| phaeton was ready = miaurs before tn,
| appointed time looking perfect in eyerl
detail Polling had the reias in his haR,
and his foot ON the step, when he notiee,
telegraph boy coming toward the house
/ He waited a moment. Yes, it was 70
/ him.
From Godfrey Mallstt, Buckingham
street, Bloomsbury. to Captain Polling
| The Wigwam, Wimbledon. Shall be Will
| you at 2 o'clock Tomorrow. Get sketche
in inspection order"
And the man Of thirty felt lad agafi
| in his Hght-heartedness, as be sent hi
handsome bays along the road