Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1907-02-06
CHAPTER XIII.

Jack Meredith and NIillicent We're at
the fireplace. There was a heap Of
disordered paper and string upon the
table, and few wedding presents
standing in the midst of their packing.
Millfcent's pretty face was quite
white. She looked from Meredith to
DISCARD with n sudden horror in her
eyes. For the first time in her life
she was at loss, quite taken aback.
"Oh-hw she whispered, and that was
all.
The silence that followed was tense,
as If something in the atmosphere was
about to snap. and in the midst Of it
the wheels of Sir Johns retreating car
rlage came to the ears of the three per-
sons in the drawing room.
It was only for a moment, but in
tlnt moment the two men saw clearly.
1t was as IL the veil from the girls
mind had fallen-leaving her thoughts
confessed, bare before them. In the
same instant they both saw-they both
sped back in thought to their first meet
ing, to the hundred links of the chain
that brought them to the present
moment-they knew; and NIillicent felt
that they knew.
Are you going to be married tomor-
row." asked Guy Discard deliberately.
He never was man to whom sue
cessful appeal for the slightest mitlga-
ton of justice could have been made.
His dealings had ever been with men,
from whom he had eXacted as scrupu-
lous an honor as he had given. FIe did
not know that women are different
that honor is not their strong point.
Anlllcent did not answer. She looked
to Meredith to answer for her, but
Meredith was looking at Oscard, and
In his lazy eyes there glowed the singu-
lar affection and admiration which he
had bestowed long time before on this
simple gentleman-his mental inferior.
Are you going to be married tomor-
row." repeated DISCARD, standing quite
still, with calmnesS that frightened
her.
Yes" she answered, rather feebly.
all. She could have explained it to
either of them separately, but to both
together, somehow it was difficult.
Her mind was filed with clamoring
arguments and explanations and plau.
sible excuses, but she did not know
which to select first None of them
seemed quite equal to this occasion
These men required something deeper
and stronger and simpler than she had
to offer them.
Moreover, she was paralyzed by a
feeling that was quite new to her-a
horrid feeling that something had gone
from her. She had lost her strongest,
her single arm-her beauty. This
seemed to have fallen from her. II
seemed to count for nothing at this
time. There is time that comes as
surely as death will come in the life
OF every beautiful woman-a time
wherein she suddenly realizes how
trivial a thing her beauty is; how
limited, how useless, how ineffectual!
Millicent Chyne made little appeal
relentlessly stepped back. 1t was The
magic of the love that filed his hear
for DISCARD. Had she wronged any
man in the world but Guy Oscard
that little movement, full of love ant
tenderness and sweet contrition, nigh
have saved her. But it was Oscard's
heart that she had broken; for broker
they both knew 1t to be, and Jacl
Meredith stepped back from her toucl
az from pollution. His superficial, i'm
agined love for her had been killed a
single blow. Her beauty was M
more to him at that moment than the
beauty of picture.
ooh, JACKIE she gasped; and had
there been another woman in the room
that woman would have known that
Alillicent loved him with the love that
comes once only. But men are moi
very acute in such matters; they
either read wrong or not ut all.
st is all a mistake" she said breath
lessly, looking from one to the other.
"a most awkward mistake" sug
that made her VINCE
'Mr. Oscard must have mistaken mt
altogether the girl went on. volubly
addressing herself to Meredith; she
wanted nothing from Oscard. II ma!
have been silly, perhaps, or merely
ignorant and blind. How was l Il
know that he meant what he said:'
How, indeed:' agreed Meredith
with grave bow.
Besides, he has no business to come
here bringing false accusations agains
me. He has no right-it is cruel alit
ungentlemanly. He cannot prove any
thing; he cannot say that ever dis
tinctly gave him to understand-er-
anything-that / ever promised to bt
engaged or anything like that"
She turned upon Discard, whose de
meanor was stolid, almost dense. III
looked very large and somewhat diff
cult TO move.
HE has not attempted to do SO yet
suggested Jack suavely. looking at hi:
friend.
II do not see that ii is quite n ques
ton Of proofs said Discard quietly il
voice that did not sound like his Il
all. I'VE are not in court of jus
tice, where ladies like to settle thes,
questions now. If we were ] coult
challenge you TO produce my letters
There is no doubt of my meaning II
them"
There are also my poor contrbu
tons to your collection" chimed il
Jack Meredith. "a comparison mus
have been interesting to you, by III
same mail presumably. under the SANE
postmark."
Il made no comparison" the cir
cried detian,iy: there was no question
of comparison"
She said 1t shamclessly, and it hur
Meredith more than it hurt Guy o.;
card, for whom the sting was intended
Comparison or 10 comparison sal,
Jack Meredith quickly, with the keen
ness of Il good fencer wig has beel
touched, there can he no doubt OF tl
fact that you We're engaged to us boil
at the same time. Ion told us boil
to go out and make n fortune where!
with 10 buy your affections. One cal
I,n{ n trl,n l,iI,lar