News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1908-04-29
We'll. Won SEQ,

| 10 IL.
Mrs. Warehouse is dead, said Anna
bel, rather abruptly. II that makes
Any difference
Dead!' gasped Pauline.
yes
Pauline sank backwards to the bed.
She looked like one who had listened
to a shocking story. She was pale
to the lips.
Then-then that was why he came
she whispered.s II wondered
oh, I imagine he felt little home
sick, you know cried -Amabel. He
had been absent a good many years.
1t was only natural he should come
home again.
Two years!' said Pauline. Imagine
the fervent longing of them! Imag-
Inc his feelings now! AS soon as he
was free he came to me. And what a
reception after travelling these thou,
sands of miles! What welcome to
meet with! His disappointment must
be almost nceivable-terrible!
She spoke under the stress of deep
emotion But whilst Amabel began
| to fear for the outcome, she could
not, for her life, avoid a feeling of
| amusement. Not that she ventured
to betray it.
1t was evident that Pauline took
| for granted the fact that Wray was
still>deeply enamoured Of her. Where
as, Amabel felt convinced that what
ever might have been the case two
years ago, Pauline was nothing to
him at the present moment.
of course Amabel said, The ey-,
peatei to find you-well, in different
circumstances, and I daresay he was
a LITTLE disappointed
DO you suppose you can lessen his
n sery by calling it something else?'
cried Pauline, a little scornfully.
1T is no use to exaggerate it, ANA
bel retorted.
TO exaggerate it, said Pauline,
would be impossible
We'll, you know, my dear, it was
| who saw the man. And l told him
about your engagement. If you mag
inc he was anything in the remotest
degree like a broken-hearted swain,
well, you never made a bigger mis-
take in your life
That is Wray to the life,' Pauline
exclaimed. He would smile away
al agony. I have seen him-not in
similar circumstances, there never
were any so cruel, but l have seen
hini in the depth of hopeless misery
and II know how he can bear it.
'Yf course, if you won't be con-
WINGED, | can't help it, said Amabel
rather petulantly. 4 can only tell
you the truth; and if you persist in
explaining it away, what can I do?
How long is it since Mrs. Water
house died?' asked Pauline.
I don't know exactly. About three
months, l imagine, perhaps not quite
so long
Pauline looked surprised.
And Wray only arrived a week
ago. she said.
You see, he did not know until he
heard from his solicitor Amabel e.
planned Then he could not get
away Immediately. But he says ne
wrote
TO mel exclaimed Pauline, start
ing to her feet.
ITO mother!' said Amabel
But che did not tell mel crisd
Pauline. looking almost bewildered.
I assured him you knew nothing
about it., Amabel answered.
Why wasn't | told!' said Pauline,
pressing her hands against her bosom.
'When-when did he write? she de-
He said that mother ought to have
received his letter on May the fiji
teenth.'
The day that l promised to marry
Gilbert said Pauline. and she set her !
teeth.
Still, it couldn't have made an
atom of difference Amabel urged. J
You would have accepted Gilbert just
the same
How can | tell?' exclaimed Pauline.
I would have given anything to have
known. ought to have been told. |
IL was hateful uUl " lSli DlC. nv"
can l tell what 1 should have done!'
She sat down again, covering her |
face with her hands.
1T can make no difference now, at
all events said Amabel, going to her
side, and resting a hand on Pauline's
shoulder. Amabel was beginning to
feel alarmed
1T does make a difference, Paul
Inc insisted. 1T makes all the diff
ference in the world-and poor
Wray!'
Never was pity more wasted said
Amabel. 4 assure you, he is any
thing rather than inconsolable.'
Pauline slowly shook her head.
why did he come here?' she de-
handed Two years ago. she cried
excitedly, he knew that I would have
made any justifable sacrifice for him.
He went away, he kept steadfast"
1T depends on what you call stead
fast said Amabel, with laugh.
Then why did he write to mother?
asked Pauline What could have in
1uced him to come to England? He
Kept steadfast, whilst II who prided
myself on my constancy, have been
the one to change. 1t makes me