Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1906-02-03
CHAPTER XII.


Jack was by no means heartless. and
ms conscience pricked him more often
than was pleasant with regard to Ethe
Mallett. He wondered little If she had
really ceased to care for him, If she had
yet found successor to him, or If piaue
alone had led her to offer him his free.
dom. She had sent him back the little
ring he put on her finger when they were
so happy together, and. with a strange
inconsistency, he carried it about with
him continually
Just about this time Jack began to
think that he ought TO call in Bucking.
ham street, If only to show his gratitude
Tor Mr.. Mallett's many past kindnesses.
for ths~old gentleman had often been able
and always willing to do Jack a good
turn In past days. Once convinced that
he ought TO do a thing, Jack did it.
The morrow would be the first of Sep
TENDER, and the house was full of PEG
pie who had been invited to enjoy the
abundant sport Mallingford offered. A
number of amiable young men were
lounging about the corridors and billiard
room all day, who talked of nothing but
the probable weather on the morrow, the
chances for and against good sport, and
the respective merits of their own and
other mems guns. Jack obtained a few
words with Pauline before breakfast, and
carried his point.
Il must have several things for to-
morrow" he said. Il know you would
not wish me to be different from others,
and | cannot get what l want without
going to town myself"
Pauline would have dearly liked to go
with him, for she had aorrible fear
that he would find out something II he
should call on the Mallstts. She was
not supposed to know of the existence
of such people-for Jack had never
spoken of them to her-so he could nc.
well as him not to call on them: and
she could not leave her guests without
some very serious reason; consequently
she was forced to feign a complacency
she was far from feeling as she an
swered:
"Of course, if you must so, there Ii
nothing more to be said but you will moi
stay one Aan-hsur longer than is abso
lutely necessary If l don't know where
you are, have srch q feeling of unrest
and anxiety that life becomes a sorrow
for the time being"
There was honest truth in these words
and Jack was fattered and grateful fol
her love. He kissed the beautiful lips
and promised to be back at the yery
earliest moment possible.
When Jack was In the train, with {
quiet half hour before him for thought
he felt curiously cloyed with the sweet,
of love, and was ungrateful enough Il
wish that Pauline would leave the love
making a little more In his hands, ant
that her affection was of a less assertiy,
character.
Two or three hours later when he haf
rushed through the business of the DAY
and stood In the Malletts' sitting room
shaking hands with both father anC
daughter and exchanging cordial greet
ings, he felt as if he had been living II
a hot house of affections for the ma
weeks, and had just regained the inyig
Grating open air. where the hardisr
healthier class of feelings flourish.
He wondered little at Mr.. Mallett'
Een!ality, knowing nothing of Ethel,
generosity In taking the entire respons;
bility OF their separation upon herself
and still less OF her fathers hope tina
she nau kot KAu Oh nameless nobody
Just in time to leave the road clear fol
a sutton more worthy of her in ever,
way: and Jack felt somewhat piqued that
Mr.. Mallett should make SO light of III,
whole business.
But he did not let bis annoyance an
pear upon the surface. He told of IN,
success Of the paintings for Lord Sum
mers, of his hopes for the future. of tn,
gay life at Mallingford. and impressed
his hearers with the fact that he wa
trimming over with good fortune an,
happiness.
Ethel did not say much; but she an
peared TO be quietly, kindly interested
and. though she was paler than she use,
20 be, she did net give one the idea o
. loys-lorn damsel. She sat listenin