Bonners Ferry herald. [volume] (Bonners Ferry, Idaho) 1904-current, 1908-08-22
CHAPTER XII.-(Continued.)

found DIR. Audrey waiting to see me.
II saw Lynn's horse outside, and !
dropped In to know II he were here. |
shouId like to see him before he goes, II |
you don't mind my waiting here"
go in and see him at once" said l.
Il have done with him."
He thanked me and went into the office
whiIe / slipped into my dining room,
which, as / have said, 10 divided from
the Office by a half-glaxed door, that In
tercspts sound 70 slightly that what takes
place In one room L. audible in the other.
II anyone thinks 1t is wrong to play at
housekeeping, let them remember that l
am only lawyer. have no compunc-
tion to listening in case OF this kind.
They had got through their first greet
ing when l reached the door, but as
aw through the old green taffety cur
tains, they still held each other by the
land.
"A mere sprain that's all. Painful
enough at first; just enough to keep me
from running about, you know" Lynn
wss saying In his bluff. open tone.
'sWhy on earth didn't you write word
or two to us7" asked Audrey.
"Oh, / didn't want to make fuss
shout a trifle-espeoially at such a time
and you know what women are when
there's anything the matter with fell
low" Lynn replied, throwing himself into
q chair.
'Your silence made us think that the
accident was not a trife," Awdrey said,
half seating himself on the table and fac
ing his friend.
III see now that | was to blame. I'm
sorry for II. That's all l can say, my
dear fellow"
II am sorry also. 1t must have trou-
bled Miss Dalrymple; 1t would have Of
Tended her had she been an ordinary girl.
Old Ksens here doesn't like you; l war
rant he has put bad construction on
your silence and done his utmost to set
her against you. Indeed 1t taxed my
ingenuity to find excuses for your neg
lsct-"
Lynn toyed with his riding whip in 81
hence for a few minutes during which
bis quick brain had conceived a plausi-
bic means OF escaped, and then he said !:
"Awdrey, old fellow. | must tell you
all. can't keep secret-at any rate,
from you. l purposely stayed AWAY
was purposeiy silent"
.Whyf Let us have tho whole matter
out from beginning to end"
Some months ago this old rascal here,
Keene-for what purpose | cannot I'M
sgfne-iet me to believe that | was heir
to Flexmore's fortune. In the belief that
I should before long be in a decent posi-
ton to maintain a wife, | sought TO win
Gertrude--Miss Dalrymple. Well. on the
day of Flexmores death discovered the
truth-that had nothing to expect from
him."
The barefaced errontery OF this lie
nearly took my breath away.
81 had been living rather extravagant-
~" continued Lynn-"beyond my means,
In faot-relying on being able to recoup
myself sooner or later, and then suddenly
i realised that / was thrown upon my
own resources, In debt, and incapable OF
providing the woman | loved with the
home had absolutely offered her a few
days before. OK course, l am to blame
/ know that. l ought TO have been pru-
dent, / ought not to have counted upon
Flexmore's generosity, ought not to have
offered my hand before l was assured
beyond the possibility of doubt that
had enough to marry upon. But you
know what l ana headstrong, impuls
I've, thoughtless. reckless, thriftless, un
happy wretch g. His voice faltered. he
covered his face with his hands, rose alb
ruptly, stamping with impatience at hi
own weakness, and turned In silence &
the window. 1t was not a bad piece o
acting: It took Audrey In completely. HI
rose. went TO the window, and, slipping
his hand through the others arm. said
There's nothing objectionable in that
Iynn-nothing that she will not readil,
forgive"
81 know II, Awdrey, and that's tn
worst part about It. must break OF tn
engagement. but l know not how wild
such a generous girl as that. / know
what she will say when tell her l am
beggar she will say, No matter, I cal
wait till you are RICH Wait-good era
eious am In debt now; pennies
beggar I must remain. l haven't tn
ability to gain fifty pounds year, an
never shall have. No; It must be brokel
or said that from the first. Do 20
know, forced myself to affront her, tina
she might throw me over-I pretended
brutally cruel feeling towards dear nttl
Laurie, poor child that Gertrude Nigh
think me unfeeiing. l went or to Lor
don without word Of farewell. l n
Trained from writing one kind word-a
with the same purpose. Don't you %
nowT
"Yes; but ell that must be made clea
10 her," said Awdrey, slowly.
MADE clear to herr Is that the wa
TO break OF this unfortunate engag
mentf"
mo; but there Is no necessity TO brea
OF the engagement"
what do you meanf Surely 70
wouldn't have me ask her to wait till
grow rich-rich l, who never did
decent days work In my life."
mo; you will not ask her that. 81
did not inquire whether you were rio
or poor when she consented to be yo'
wife; she will not refuse you now for al
reason Of that kind. You must expla.
your silence. and ask her to marry y
at once. Listen to me, Lynn am n
aduioio0 van wffhout reas son FIexuo