News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1908-05-06

X 'Alone? urged Mrs. Cathcart.
b 4 must see him, mother.
v Pauline, you owe it to Gilbert
Il owe something to myself-ant
to Wray,' said Pauline.
y She crossed the landing followed
Z helplessly by poor Mrs. Cathcart
She descended the stairs very slowly
z and her hands trembled as she raised
! them to press back her hair. One
reaching the drawing-room door, Mrs
Cathcart attempted to enter first /;
but as she pushed it back, Pauline
] stepped before her.
CHAPTER XIII.
, Wray Warehouse stood between
the two windows. He had placed his
hat on the pianoforte, and was in the
act of drawing off his right-hand
glove on Pauline's entrance.
To an unprejudiced observer, Wray
mental anguish. 1t is true that his
manner appeared a little embarras-
sel. He was conscious that he lack
ed, to some degree, his customary
self-possession. But Pauline, regard
ing him by the equivocal light of d
preconceived opinion, saw a broken
hearted lover struggling, with admir-
able success, to hide the wound which
her hand had alas! inflicted.
Carried away on one of those
treacherous waves of emotion which
Mrs. Cathcart had Witnessed with
shame on another painful and more
public occasion, Pauline glided swiftly
towards Wray. Taking his right hand
in hers, she covered it with her left.
She gazed pitifully into his face. Her
deep blue eyes were fearful. 1t was
an emotional and very embarras-
sing moment. For a few seconds
Pauline could not speak.
oh, Wray, Wray!' she murmured
at last, what can | say to your
Mrs. Cathcart's voice broke in
little discordantly.
Good afternoon, Mr.. Waterhouse,'
she cried loudly, and held out her
right hand so persistently that Paul
inc was fain to draw back
II hope you are quite-quite
WELL Wray stammered, with an I'M
pleasant conviction that he was by
no means equal to the situation.
Quite well, thank you, cried Mrs.
Cathcart. We have only just return
ed from the country-Horsemere Sir
Gilbert Strachan's place, you know
time
Wray turned again towards Paul |
inc. 4 have to congratulate you,' he
said. Believe me, 1 do so very sin
cerely'
His careful lightness of tone stung |
her to the quick. But Mrs. Cathcart |
permitted Pauline no opportunity to |
speak.
My daughter is to be married very |
SOON she explained. Either the last |
week in July, or the first in Au.
gust
I did not know was not told you
had written!' Pauline interposed.
You must have met Sir Gilbert |
when you were last in England Mrs.
Cathcart continued. He is a friend |
OF Mrs. Venables. Have you called
Oh Mrs. Venables YETI she asked
oh yes, I have seen her several
times, said Wray.
1 was kept in ignorance of your
wife's death until Amabel told me
half an hour ago, exclaimed Pauline.
My dear child, we need not enter
into that said Mrs. Cathcart 1T is
not matter which Mr.. Waterhouse
will care to discuss
At this, the last remnant of Paul
ines self-control fell away Until
now, she had been intensely excit-
ed, it is true; but although Mrs. Cath
cart might have doubted the fact, she
had struggled hard to suppress her
emotion. But at this point she let
herself go. She ceased to be a reason
ing being. In short, Pauline lost her
temper.
4 ought to have been told she
exclaimed. Nothing less was due
me- She faced Mrs. Cathcart You
kept me in ignorance. 1t
was utterly unjustifiable!'
Wray could only stare deprecating-
|
Mrs. Cathcart was quite unable to RET
main silent under her daughters in
yective.
1 should act precisely in the sand
way again. she retorted. 1t was td
ne Mr.. Waterhouse wrote.
He sent me a message!'
If he had understood your cir-1
at the time, | feel surd
le would not have dreamed of doing
such thing said MRS. Cathcart
He was not aware you were en-!
saged-
4 was not engaged cried Paul
ne, more and more indignant
ON the day | received the letter
you were practically engaged
I was as free as the air, Pauline ,
exclaimed. She paced the room in
er distressful excitement. Nothing ]
ad been decided until nine o'clock
hat evening. AS for the engagement, '
gu set a trap to catch me-
My darling child
1T is trup WAS the answer You