The Hope pioneer. [volume] (Hope, N.D.) 1882-1964, 1909-12-09
CHAPTER lv.-cpntlnued.

II WON'T" l declared. TITS all right.
Why, Barbara, bless you, you knew
that. didn't you?"
She nodded slowly. "Of course
there was-oh, why do O
make me say such things?-there
neve was anything-anything be-
tween us, Mr.. Twining. You don't
care for me. really, I am sure. YOU
never told me SO, and"
mo. I never told you So" I re-
peated. II was waiting"
Don't" she begged. "But, you e e
I didn't know. And, oh, it couldn't
have"
I stopped and touched her hair with
my lips.
Never mind" said I; tell me about
who has been to see you. I want to
know everything, you know"
She lifted me a grateful glance.
"Mrs. Tyson Potter was here" she
said, and a new, singing smile
touched her, lips. "She came to say
pleasantly unpleasant things. She told
me quite frankly that it was a wise
thing for a poor girl like me to marry
rich. You wouldn't" /.
II am not a Mrs. Tyson Potter. THE
old heathen!"
Barbara, flashed me q smile.
But it's rather the natural thing
for people to say of such an engage
ment," she protested a moment later.
you know it is"
Nonsense! 1t isn't. And what do
you care what they say? Was there
ever a betrothal that was not the sig
nal-gun for a perfect volley Of silly
chatter"
She smoothed a crumpled frill of
lace.
Miss Winstanley has not been
here" she said significantly.
She's not in town. She left the
day before your engagement was an
nounced. Didn't you know"
mo. Oh, I'm so glad. 1 thought
she disapproved. And I'm so very
fond of her I couldn't bear"
Nothing Of the sort. She'll write
you the minute she hears, of course.
She has gone off somewhere with a
sick friend and probably hasn't heard
the news yet"
How comforting you are! It's such
a relief to hear it. ! couldn't bear to
feel estranged from her. The bishop
was very kind. He sent me those
beautiful roses there"
"Where?" questioned l eagerly.
There on the table. Wasn't it odd
he should have chosen soleil dor
beauties? Why, where sre they?" she
asked, as she turned 20 look at them,
and SO to avoid looking at me.
They are in the south drawing
room." I replied grayely; "Tll go and
get them"
caught the glimmer in her eyes as
I passed her.
When I came bacl; she was stoop-
Ing SO I could not see her face, but
she spoke softly, II have asked Mr..
Ankony always to send me the paler
roses"
1t was the point beyond which I
could not keep my head, nor my lips.
Barbara" I cried out foolishly.
"You know how I dislike remind
ers," she said quietly. "And ours has
been a pleasant-friendship."
I had got hold of myself again.
What did the bishop write you?" /
asked.
"Oh, a charM1ng little note. He said
the most beautiful things in it."
1T is a part of his mission--to say
beautiful things" /.
"And how we'll he fills 1t! He Is
such a. dear"
$50 Mrs. Ankony says I remarked.
Mrs Ankony?"
Mrs. Jack-when he rides in the
park with Miss Streeter."
'"Oh," and she smiled politely. How
many women smile politely when
their husbands relatives are men
toned! ~
"nh, perhaps you don't like ner. Is
that it,"
Il Suppose you will go to the Cana
dian Rockies for your bridal trip?" I
suggasted presently.
NO moi" she cried sharply.
"You always said you would like
that. yr', know"
' II h~~e changed my nina"