The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1907-09-21

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painful and grievous thing to do.
Before Maskelyne's departure Angela's
manner to O'Rourks had been that of
open friendship. and now 1t was marked
by a disdain SO ill-concealed that. so far
as Lucy was concerned, it might as well
not have been concealed at all. The girls
mingled sadness and anger had been so
evident one afternoon, when Lucy and
O'Rourke had visited the chateau to-
gether, that her new friends heart grew
hot with sympathy for her and with in
dignation at the patriot, and on reaching
home she marched straight to her hus-
bands room.
"Ah, little woman" he said, brightly,
looking up at her, you are back again.
Wait half a minute, and shall be done
for to-day"
Austin" returned his wife, seriously,
Il want to speak to you"
rs there anything the matterf You
look quite grave"
"Austin," she began, ST don't like the
patriot, as you call him"
Don't like O'RourkeT cried Austin,
in surprise.
II do not like him, Austin. He Is play
ing mean part here. am sure Of It.
And he makes me help him play 1t. He
has done SO, until now, but I am 30
ashamed and unhappy about 1t that he
shall never do 1t any more"
Tell me everything" said Austin,
standing over her with troubled face.
LET me understand"
"You remember young Mr.. Maskelyne,
the American? Did you ever notice him
and Angela together7 There was a seri-
GUS attachment between them. Then came
Mr.. O'Rourke, and made love to his
friends sweetheart, and am certain he
knew that Mr.. Maskelyne cared for her."
well, well, my DEAR" said Austin,
laughing. Let the best man win. I
should have thought you would have
been pleased to see O'Rourke settled.
Why, I've heard you advise him to mar
ry."
"Yes," she answered, somewhat hotly !;
'but 1 never advised him to be treacher-
GUS to his friend. And that isn't all,
Austin. Listen. 1t is no laughing mat
ter. He made love to Angela watch
ed him, and saw 1t all. Young Mr.
Maskelyne is no sooner driven off the
field and the girl made miserable than
Mr.. O'Rourke comes here with this veal
thy American widow, and, under the very
nose of he poor girl whose sweetheart
he chased away, he Is making love to
Mrs. Spry. He Is fortune hunter, Aus
tin. He Is using me to get near this
poor little widow. She's a dreadful SIM
pleton, but she's a dear little creature,
all the same. I own that Mr.. O'Rourke
has delightful manners. He Is very clev-
er, and he can be very charming. Austin,
a fortune hunter is creature despise."
Look here, my dear, I'll 60 and have
talk about this with O'Rourke himself"
"Austin ~ cried his wife in genuine
feminine horror. II wouldn't have you
speak of 1t for the world"
you'd have me suspect an old friend
and not tell him Of It? An odd pro-
posal, isn't it?"
"Austin you make me angrier than I
was. / will never speak to that base
man again"
"Now, come" said Austin. "This is
growing serious"
1t had grown so serious that Mrs.
Farley absented herself from the supper
table that evening and declined Austin's
entreaties to join O'Rourke and himself
in the little garden afterward.
"You can tell him that l have a head
ache" said Lucy. Austin nodded and
walked straight into his study, where
he solemnly set down this memorandum :
ITO be observed. Candor and verac-
ity. Feminine"
Then he descended to the garden and
sat with O'Rourke over cup Of coffee.
"O'Rourke," he blurted out, "what's
the matter between you and my wife?'
"Ah" said O'Rourke, as well and as
readily as IL he had seen the bludgeon
falling, and had waited to parry 1t.
you've noticed It, have your What is
it2 She's annoyed with me. She gave
me real snub this afternoon on the way
back from Houfoy. And you know, old
man." he went on, with an air of half
comic, half earnest regret, 'shs and I
have always been such friends. Do me a
good turn, Farley. Find out for me what's
the matter and let me make my peace"
you've no idea what II isT said Aus
tin. O'Rourke noticed q sound Of relief
In the tone.
"Not the remotest in the world. I
meant to ask you about It." said
O'Rourke, genially. 'but didn't like
to do so for fear of seeming to sxagger-
ate the thing"
He felt the situation to be awkward
but he faced It with his usual courage
At the worst he could feign recall. He
must take time to think, and must think
clearly. "If Mrs. Farley hasn't forgiven
me by tomorrow morning." he said, ris.
ing and setting both hands on his friends
shoulders, "I'll ask her where I'm wrong
and beg her pardon. You and I CAM
afford to quarrel after all these years
anyhow"
He rocked Farley to and fro for Q
little as he spoke, and looked at hin
with a smile 30 frank and kindly that
the novelist rose and shook hands witt
him In a little heat Of renewed friend
| ship.
"No, no." he said, with q laugh, "yor
and I won't quarrel"
CHAPTER XIV.
Mr.. Zeno rose somewhat later thar
the lark, but gay and blithe as he. ant