Heppner gazette. [volume] (Heppner, Morrow County, Or.) 1892-1912, 1907-08-22
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painful and grievous thing to do
Before Maskelyne's departure Angela.
manner to O'Rourke had been that o.
open friendship, and now it was marked
by disdain so ill-concealed that, so fal
as Lucy was concerned, 1t might as wei
not have been concealed at all The girls
mingled sadness and anger had been sc
evident one afternoon, when Lucy ant
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 I shall be done
for to-day"
Austin returned his wife, seriously,
II want to speak to you"
rs there anything the matter? You
look quite grave"
Austin" she began, II don't like the
patriot, as you call him."
Don't like ORourkeT cried Austin,
in surprise.
II do not like him, Austin He is play
ing mean part here. l am sure of it.
And he makes me help him play it. He
has done so, until now, but I am so
ashamed and unhappy about it that he
| shall never do 1t any more"
Tell me everything" said Austin,
standing over her with a troubled face.
LET me understand"
you remember young Mr.. Maskelyne,
the American? Did you ever notice him
and Angela together? There was a seri-
GUS attachment between them. Then came
Mr.. O'Rourke, and made love to his
friends sweetheart, and I am certain he
knew that Mr.. Maskelyne cared for her"
"Well, well, my dear" said Austin
laughing. ''Let the best man win. l
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 l 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 l saw it 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 a 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. l own that Mr.. O'Rourke
has delightful manners. He is very clev-
er, and he can be very charming. Austin,
fortune hunter is a creature I despise."
Look here, my dear. I'll 60 and have
a talk about this with O'Rourke himself"
"Austin" cried his wife in genuine
feminine horror. II wouldn't have you
speak of it 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 l
was. 1 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 | 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 we'll and as
readily as if he had seen the bludgeon
falling, and had waited to parry it.
You've noticed it, have you? What is
it? She's annoyed with me. She gave
me a 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, she and 1
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 it is?' said Aus
tin. O'Rourke noticed a sound of relief
in the tone.
Not the remotest in the world.
meant to ask you about it," said
O'Rourke, genially, 'but l didn't like
to do so for fear of seeming to exagger-
ate the thing"
He felt the situation to be awkward,
but he faced 1t with his usual courage.
At the worst he could feign a 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 l can't
afford to quarrel after al these years,
anyhow"
He rocked Farley to and fro for
little as he spoke, and looked at him
with a smile SO frank and kindly that
the novelist rose and shook hands with |
him in a little heat of renewed friend |
ship.
mo. no." he said, with a laugh, you |
and l won't quarrel"
CHAPTER XIV