News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1908-06-10
SCRUPLES
xxx
A Novel
BY THOMAS COBB
Author of MIR. Passinghan'
The Judgment Of Helen. etc.
MMA
fcAG0eeSaeGcsaSHGs
CHAPTER XXI.

pdbtSitiy' anu hoW iCl ldiJh u" 40 iS
warded. She felt at least satisfie
with Amabels engagement to Bern
ard, and she looked forward to SCI
Pauline happily settled before man.
hours had passed.
Where is Pauline?' she asked a
-four O'Clock on Saturday afternoon.
In the drawing-room, said Amabel
Then tell Mary | will see Mr.
Waterhouse here, answered Mrs
"Cathcart. with the consequence that
"on Wray's arrival, he was brought tc
-Mr Cathcart's room.
Nothing could be more effusive
than her greeting on this occasion
She apologized fer receiving him in
that room; she took his hat and stick
from his hands.
Pray sit down. she insisted. 4
think you will find that the most
comfortable chair, and she indicated
the one in which her husband spent
so many hours.
L thought it better to see you first,
he said
oh, certainly, answered Mrs, Cath
cart.
want your permission to ask
Pauline to be my wife said Wray.
without amy excessive enthusiasm
You are at liberty to see my daugh-
ter she rejoined. But in a matter of
this sort no mother ought to attempt
DO influence her child
But STILL he suggested, you think
[ may-may expect a favorable re-
ply?'
My dear Mr. Waterhouse, said Mrs.
Cathcart, I shall be perfectly candid
with you We cannot pretend to for
get all that happened two years
ago
y NO he cried, deprecatingly.
I confess l have acted injudicious-
dy,' she continued. I did it for the
best but | quite moderated the
strength of Paulines affection. In
fact, l was convinced she had put Sir
Gilbert in your place
But now
You need have no fear on Sir Gil
cNIC . ACCOUNT ShO Sdid CoSCiiy nv
the least. In the face of all that has
occurred, l must say l consider there
is only one conceivable denouement.'
Yes said Wray gloomily.
Now she cried fussily, you are
Impatient to see dear Pauline. She is
in the drawing-room.
Does she know that l.
MOT that you were coming today,
but Mrs. Cathcart archly added, no
doubt she will not be very, very deep
ly surprised to see you at any time
Wray took his nat and rose.
II will take you upstairs said Mrs.
Catncart, and Wray opened the door.
She led the way to the drawing-rCom,
entering it first. Pauline raised her
eyes, and with an expression almost
of timidity pushed back her hair.
4 have brought you visitor, dar-
ling cried Mrs. Cathcart. Mr.. Water
house desires to speak to you. Now,
my dear Mr.. Waterhouse, she added,
raising her right hand, / shall allow
you precisely ten minutes in which
Ito discuss your affairs.
With a significant smile, Mrs. Cath
cart then quilted the room. Wray and
Pauline remained standing, and it
were hard to say who felt the more
thoroughly embarrassed. But Wray
plunged into the midst of things
L need not explain why | am here
The said. You know what brought me
back to England
4 felt immensely sorry for you,
Wray.' answered Pauline, and felt
a little guilty, too
oh, there was no need for that,
ask you to marry me-
4 You know she answered gently, it
lis not long since | promised to marry
Gilbert
/ But if my letter had not been kept
from you
That made me angry, she said. Be
fore could accept Gilbert, | hesitat-
ed and hesitated. Sometimes 1 dis
trust myself. | told him, l told my
another, wished you were here. |
wished | might have the opportunity
to choose between you. The desired
circumstances actually arose, and |
was not told. That was what had en-
ragged me- But she added, I had
accepted Gilbert
Yes, cried Wray with intense Gag
erness.
IF | had not loved him, should not
have done that
But you-you broke of yo"r en-
gagement, Wray suggested.
MOI she said.
But surely
He broke it off, she insisted
I always understood
Il cannot tell you how | might have
acted she said. L was not in mood
to act very reasonably. | felt extreme
ly angry-not with Gilbert, - with
with myself. l am
afraid | told him | regretted my de-
cision. and he was chivalrous-he set
me free
Wray stared at her almost incred-
ulously.