The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1908-06-18
CHAPTER XII.


tually anxious that Amber should go and
spend a week with her uncle.
Esther had heard of Hilary Adare, of
his meeting with Amber, both at the mill
one day. and at Madam's later on, and
had drawn certain conclusions. If-her
heart beat fast as she dwelt on tiff
Captain Adare should fall in love with
the girl. and she with him, there would
lie a solution of the trouble that is wor-
rying her. Amber once married, Brian
will be hers again to influence-to hold
to live for And she has so little to
live for, so little to make life sweet.
That Brian can greatly care, She
has gone into this and has come out of
il with the settled belief that he is in
capable of caring much for anything
except himself. In this, she wrongs him.
So Amber. who had met Mays very
charming advances with shy pleasure
and Mr.. McGrath's all too genial adj
vances with touch of reserve, promises
to 90 over to Carrig on Tuesday next
to-day is Friday-and spend a week
with her cousins.
I'VE are all of us your cousins, you
know. All of u.s." says May, pressing her
hand at parting.
Yes, all of us" repeats Mr.. MoGrath
with emphasis.
And come early. come in time for
tea" says May, glancing up at Amber
from the pony carriage in which she is
now again seated. "Or perhaps-lunch-
con-"
"Or breakfast" suggests Mr.. Nc
Grath most Hospitality. May gives him a
whitening glance.
II shall come as soon as 1 can." says
Amber softly.
'We shall be looking out for you.''
mods May. brightly. 'Good-by. Good by.
Miss Deane." to Esther, who is also
$50 good of you to spare Amber for a
few days"
The ponies dash away down the grass
grown old avenue, as if wild with q de-
sire to be gone; and as they disappear,
Esther Deane touches Amber's arm.
Not word of this toto anyone .
says she. IF you say a worI to eny-
one. you won't be able to CO.
II am my own MISTRESS" says the gil
lesson to heart, and 1t is not until she
is well on her way to Carris Castle on
the following Tuesday that Brian barns
of the invitation, the visit of May, and
the gong of Amber
On that afternoon. after al unsuc-
cessful search for Amber round the
grounds and in the old mill, he enters his
sisters private room.
Where is AMBER asks he quickly.
There is no suspicion in his tone
Miss Deane rises. The worst is be-
fore her now and she faces It steadily.
'.She has gone to spend a week with
her uncle, Sir Lucien Adare"
"Whatf'
The mans face grows ashy as he looks
back at her. Nay, it grows dangerous.
Il thought says she cofdly, quietly,
though her heart is beginning to die with
in her, that 1t would be well for her 10
know something of her mothers people. "
"You thought that for her. What did
you think for me? You," he comes closer
to her, you heard what l said the other
day. You knew what l meant. l did
not even hide from you that / loved her.
When did she get this invitation?"
Last Friday " She answers him
clearly. and still ner eyes are fixed on his
And still she stands straight and firm
before him without 4 shadow of outward
fear.
And this is Tuesday" His face grows
terrible now For four days you kept
this secret. For four days you knew she
was going to stay in the house with Hill
airy Adare, the man who you think loves
her-and yet" He makes a sudden
| swift backward movement Of his arm
Take that. you traitor" says he, dash.
ing her In his blind fury to the ground.
| The room is alwost dark when she
comes to herself again. Dragging herself
to her feet by the aid of chair near
her, she stands. totterins a little, trying
| to bring back her senses whilst wiping
| vaguely, the blood from her mouth. Then
| all too suddenly it comes back to her
the scene with him, the cowardly blow.
He didn't mean it," breathes she
through her poor, swollen lips. He was
always hot tempered, poor boy! He is
sorry now. l know. Heidi not mean
it,"
Even in this woman-hard, cruel, un-
F, principled-the touch of the Divine
| dwells, Love, And the desire to par
don.
Forgive Them that despitefulIy use
you"
No. He had not meant it