Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1906-01-20

sence you have written me four letters,
and those have evidently been an unwel-
come task. Do you guess what am GO
Ing to say? | wish | were sure you
knew, that | might be saved the pain of
writing the words. | think you have
found out that you do not care for me In
the way you thought you did, and your
sense OF honor alone is keeping you to
the letter OF your engagement to me.
have reasons Of which you know nothing
for believing this to be the case; so we
have both made a mistake, and that. IL
you are willing, our engagement had bet
ter come to an end
Please don't think | blame you In
any way; 1t was only one of those mis-
takes that everybody Is liable to make
Ever your sincere friend,
ETHEL MALLETT."
Poor Ethel! How she cried over that
letter! How she hoped against hope that
Jack might not be willing to end the
engagement! How carefully she read the
words through to be sure that she had
not definitely settled the matter-that
In fact, she had done only what she in
tended-given Jack chance of accept
ing his freedom If he wished for it!
Had the matter-of-fact little epistle
arrived at more favorable moment,
had Jack had leisure TO read between the
lines and discover the wounded pride
and self-respect that had dictated every
word, his manhood might have asserted
itself in Ethel's favor As it was Jack
read the letter impatiently at first, but
as Its meaning dawned upon hin he
fIIFnnH ha 10. h., E
read 1t again, assured himself of the TN
eaHivocal nature of the offer of freedom,
thrust 1t into his pocket and went eff
whistling eRegetically to meet Miss NAH
ing at the station on her returR from
town.
Pauline saw at a glance that some.
thing had happened, and, knowing what
she knew, guessed shrewdy what that
something was. She had not been five
minutes In Jacks society before she felt
subtle difference in his manner toward
her.
Il am so glad to find you still here,
Mr.. Dornton," she said at luncheon
glancing at him bewitchingly between the
leaves of palm plant. I'VE were 80
afraid that you would not have been able
to endure fortnight of this terribly dull
place. Weren't we, Mrs. Seftonf"
You forget that Mr.. Dornton has
had real occupation to make the dull
ness endurable. His life is not passed in
killing time, as yours is, dear"
ITO be sure. | had forgotten to ask
how the pictures have progressed"
The view of the house from the
woods is finished as far as can finish
1t here The rest of the work must do
in Newman street.
THAT Is where your studio is. Is it
not? | should like to see some Of vonr
completed pictures. viii you ask us up
some day to look at themY"
ANY day you please. Say the day
after Tomorrow"
Il cannot go back to dusty London
again so soon. | expect my first batch
of visitors on that day, too. At last |
shall be able to do something in the wav
of entertaining you, Mr.. Dornten. and
show my gratitude to YOU for enlivening
our solitude in the past"
You are too kind. But | have mazda
arrangements for returning to town to-
morrow"
Nonsense. You speak of arrange
"ehts III sucu serious way that one
might imagine you had wife and chill
dren; instead of which you are the en-
yiabls creature-a man without a tie"
She paused an instant, dreading his
reply. He made none; but dull red
crept slowly up his face to the roots Of
his hair. She read this sign to suit her
self, and went on:
That being the case, as you have no
one to claim yeur presence as a right.
why not favor me with it as pleasure?
| should advise you To stay, Mr.. Dorm
ton. There are some really charming
people coming en- Thursday whom yea
should know"
Mrs. Seton was the embodiment of
discretion II very medel for lady-com-
panioAs. She walked away. and Jack
followed Miss Mailing 10 the picture
gallery.
They were standing In front Of the
easel On which Jack had placed his psint-
nag Of Mallingford House. 1t was a
charming picture.
You must do me copy of this. AIR
DerRton,' said Pauline, AS memento
of that first noraing when l found Won
asleep in the wood"
And awakened me-"
The words were simple enough. hut
Jack threw a great deal of expression
into them, and his eyes conveyed a world
OF meaning. ISIS Mailing flashed A
glance at him as she asked:
Did | wake youf 1t was quite unin-
territorial on my part"
And involuntary on mine"
Pauline, fearing that the conversation
was getting beyond her control. turned
quickly and caught up the first picture
that came 10 her hand from the omen
! portfolio.
As WAS to be expected. Jack had spent
many of his spare hours during the LAST
lonely fortnight in painting her portrait
from memory; and it was this that she
caught up in her nervous haste.
oh, Mr. Dornton" she exclaimed In
rspturous tones. Even her vanity was
satisfied and she blushed genuiaely AZ
the lovely picture Jack had made or her.
i am sorry you found wat. You will
perhaps think il gross presumption: if so.
can destroy it. l can't wish il undone
for It has given me so many pleasant
hours"
"Presumption1 Ne indeed. | feel as
tonlshed at the truthfulness aud the aat.
terry you have managed "a ,.or,h;. 4