Troy weekly news. (Troy, Idaho) 1897-1933, 1906-01-26

had given her instant consent. She re-
membered only that her mistress had
been cruel to her in the time of her
trouble; and she registered a VOW that If
there was. any secret in Pauline Mall
ing's past life, she would hunt it out and
humiliate her.
A letter lay by Ethers plate; but she
did not touch it. Mr.. Mallett, self-ab-
sorbed as ever, did not notice how his
daughter was struggling to preserve her
usual composure all through the break
fast time.
Jack Dornt0n had not intended to be
cruel when he wrote; but, after destroy
ing dozen sheets of paper in his desire
to be neither too soft nor too hard, he
decided at last that the shorter and plain
er he made it the better; and this was
what he had written:
My Dear Ethel 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 DORNTONT
II am glad-so very glad l wrote it.
married, and Jack had found out that
no did not care for me afterward. Now
| had better destroy that anonymous
letter. thought that perhaps Jack
might have wished the engagement to
continue, in which case l should have
sent the letter to him and asked for an
explanatio
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 l sorrow for him if he
can throw me off without one word of
regretT' 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 resolute-
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 II on the lawns at the Wigwam that
morning. Captain Polling was fond of
these small bros, and liked to see them
ABOUT the place, and he had determined
10 do what he could to tame them dur
ing the hard winter weather, should he
decide to stay on in the Wigwam, which
ne mad taken furnished for six months.
lie did not take much notice of the little
creatures this morning, though. He was
IN a brown study" and sat so motion
less on his comfortable cane chair under |
the yeranda that the more courageous of |
the birds hoped about within 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, to settle their visit on the NOR |
row.
Even If they do not care to come.
he told himself, they might have been |
civil enough to send some conventional |
excuse"
After awhile 1t occurred to him that
perhaps the Mallets had written. and |
that the letter had miscarried-and he |
Ielt somewhat relieved at the bare idea
lie made up his mind that he would 90
up to town in any case; and as he went
along he would decide upon what conrse
ne would pursue. And all through his
REGULATION he never once admired to
himself that it was his longing to see
Ethel again that had for the moment
him into a human shuttle
,ock.
Notwithstanding a short notice. the
phaeton was ready minute before the
appointed time, looking perfect in every
ietaI. Polling had the reins in his hand
md his foot on the step. when he noticed
telegraph boy coming toward the house
liml III
rom Godfrey Mallett, Buckingham
rt bloomsbury' to Captain Polling.
'ou at o'clock tomorrow. Get sketches
n inspection order"
And the man of thirty felt a lad again
n his light-heartedness as he sent bis
handsome bays along the road.