The Batesburg advocate. [volume] (Batesburg, S.C.) 1901-1911, 1909-03-12

so, In q manner she had been,' Joan
insisted. Pauline is abnormally. SEN
sitiVely conscientious. She warned
you she could not trust herself But
asked Joan rather abruptly, how do
you propose to act?
Shall go home tomorrow, and try
10 grin and bear it.
DO you still wish to marry herr
asked Joan
There is no longer any question OF
our marriage he answered.
Because if you do, the worst thing
is TO leave London. l see it has a
comical side she said, but my candid
opinion is that at this very moment
Pauline is perpiexing herself to de.
eide
She has decided
Then you give in, you surrender
her to Wray!'
L have already surrendered her
said Gilbert.
You have simply set her free to
choose
one VIII not choose NC
But said Joan, 'suppose she re.
fuses him.
1 would give my life,' he answered
lhat would be wasteful in my sup
posititlous circumstances, she sug.
gested. Now, understand, Wray will
ask her to marry him. At present she
is very sympathetic towards him
Like all extremely conscientious per
sons, Pauline has great self-esteem.
She no doubt blames herself for
having grown cold towards Wray.'
She thought she had done that.
She made mistake, said Gilbert.
She fancies he is pining for love
Of her
is he not? demanded Gilbert. wis,
every sign OF astonshment.
You see. Amabel has been trying
her by no means prentice hand
You prefer she should marry Anna
bel, them
There Bernard comes in said .Jo-
an. suppose she has hirted a little
outrageously, but-well, / think Bern
ard stands to win
Then, suggested Gilbert thought
fully. you don't want Waterhouse to
marry at all
oh. ! did not say that cried Joan.
rather imprudently. But Joan has
tened to continue, the point which
concerns YOU is this Wray will ask
Pauline to marry him; she pities his
broken heart! But if you keep your
self we'll To the fore. how can she re.
frain from plying YOU also? Take my
advice Sir Gilbert: don't leave Lon
don. Stay and--as Bernard would say
face the music
I mus' think about it, he said.
oh. you mustn't turn tail Joan
urged. Seize every opportunity to
throw yourself in her way. For the
rest YOU must put your trust in Prov
idence. With all our puny efforts. she
added, there's always something we
must leave, you know.
CHAPTER XIX.
Gilbert left Joan without giving a
distinct promise to stay in London.
He could not adopt her more hope
ful view Of the situation, and indeed
she had been a little carried away by
her advocacy But she had suggested
the possibility OF Wray's being refus-
ed by Pauline, and this clung to him.
He could conceive nothing more de-
liberate choice and not choose Wray,
would forever put an end To every
jealous doubt. Such a consummation
would be worth his present torture
Gilbert did not return to Horsemere
on Thursday, but it was another mat
ter to put himself deliberately in
Pauline's way. 1t was true lie had an
invitation, received many weeks ago.
for Lady Dubison's dance on Friday.
He knew that in ordinary circum.
stances She would be present, but it
was only after dinner on Friday eve
ming that he decided to go
Pauline and Mrs. CathCart were no.
the only persons who felt surprised to
see him arrive. For his own part, he
was painfully embarrassed, and for
some time he carefully avoided her.
He never danced, but Pauline manoeu.
vred so that she finished waltz Dy
his side. With the necessary dit
ferences due to the time and place.
she greeted him almost in the same
sympathetic manner as she had met
Wray on Monday.
/ did not expect to see YOU here.
she murmured. ignoring her partner
You remembered that | had been
invited?' he stammered.
oh. yes; but | imagined your leav
ing London
Perhaps ! ought not TO be here he
said, gloomily.
Why not?
My presence is not an annoyance
to you?'
She laid her hand on his arm, and
many observers marvelled, while Mrs
Cathcart distinctly disapproved
Take me to where ii is cooler
said Pauline
He led her away, and they sat down
in the most secluded corner to be
found
1 thought you might be happier al
home she remarked, that was why
/ hoped YOU would go TO Horsemere.
Does happiness depend on ones
locality?' asked Gilbert
TO some extent One must be in
harmony with his surroundings
Il am afraid | should not he in har.