The Chanute times. [volume] (Chanute, Kan.) 1897-1913, 1907-01-11

Winslow was perplexed by her man
ner, full of fond meaning. Here was
another loose end of the tangled thread
which had begun its simless spinning
with the mothers words: You, whom
she loves"
But, puzzled, he replied, without hes
itation: "No, had not intended go
ing at all this year. l had decided
upon remaining for the school work,
but now there will be business mat
ters in connection with the claim I
have taken, and-and my plans are
incomplete" He finished, vaguely.
A mystified silence fell, but in a
flash the situation was clear to Law
ender, when her mother said, coldly:
when | was i'll, one day, you said
you were going back east, and-and-
well, you held out other hopes. You
have, then, changed your mind?"
II am afraid there'i some mistake,
Mrs. Creighton; until very lately l
had no means, no hope Of going. l
am quite sure have mentioned none"
In silent wonder the mother lis
tened, but before she could speak, Law
ender whispered: Say no more, dear
est, I think l understand" and the
talk was of other things.
But constraint lay upon the little
company, and it was relief when
America came in and insisted that the
invalid go to bed Lavender walked
out of doors with the guest, and to-
gether they leaned over the garden
hedge. The tall trees hemmed them
close as in cage over which the
stars peeped curiously.
Winslow was first to break the long
silence: l am distressed at your
mothers GOODNESS tonight. l cannot
understand it."
81 think / can," she said.
He bent nearer, trying to see her
face, but she kept it from him, her
eyes on the mock orange she was idly
lingering.
you understand it? Then please
let me into the secret"
With an effort she met his eyes.
"She is hurt because, well, because she
thinks you are forgetting promise"
81? A promise? Surely never prom
Used her anything l would not gladly
fulfill" and he seemed mystified.
She paused to gain courage, listless-
ly twirling the fragrant fruit. "The
promise was made by another" she
said, "but-but in your character
whether Intentionally or not, we shall
never know"
"No, it would never be clear" she
sighed to herself, land it need never
be. 1t was a part of the hopes and
fears, the sins and sorrows of the
lead; a part of the final tragedy in
which they all lay buried beneath the
new-piled turf within the tiny church
yard"
From this short, sorrowful reverie
she reused herself to say: During |
illness she did not always |
recognize those with whom she talked |
She once had a conversation with
with one whom she supposed was you;
t is all clear to me now"
But it is not clear to me-" Wins
ow returned, gravely, land, pardon
me, it is only simple justice that you
make it so. If am to be held re-
;ponsible for the promise of another,
lave not the right to know who that
,ther is, and what the promise?"
His manner was so masterful as to
make obedience easy, and she an
,wered, frankly: "Of course you have
every right. But l, too, am puz-
.led-or was until tonight. | have
believed that mother knew of my en-
to marry Senior Gonzaga."
Lavender said this bravely, boldly.
n spite of the effort it cost her, she
would not repudiate him now; she
must not deny the dead. But her eyes
lrooped before the gaze which dark
med the eyes of the living.
Nervously, rapidly, she talked: "But
when she heard the news of Senior |
death, and received it as
stranger, with only the