The Delta independent., 1910-07-01
CHAPTER VII.

HIS cHdpJeT OpeHeu ldSC week.
How can she speak that way?"
unused Wilfrid Nonsense she calls
it! Well. perhaps it was Then
aloud:
1T was the sweetest time of my
life-T have found that out!" he said
fervently.
You did not think so them" Eunice
flashed back at him with a woman's
fondness for lively retort. Sns
could have bitten out her tongue the
next instant, for she was determined
that the conversation should not take
q sentimental or a reminiscent turn
If she could help it.
THAT was one of the fool things
started to confess awhile ago." said
Stennis ruefully, pulling at his fair
mustache
Confessions are expressly pro
hibited," said Eunice quickly. Now
l am going to begin my cross-examina-
ton. In the first place. are we to
congratulate you?"
For what?' asked Wilfrid .blankly.
Upon your engagement or your
marriage to Miss Passavant-I do not
know which, not having heard from
you'-this with much sweetness
but the papers have had you engaged
and married three or four times"
Papers be -" exclaimed Will
frid. Il tell you, Eunice, that's all on.
1t, anyway Why, haven't seen
Clara Passavant for six months!" In
his earnestness he leaned towards
her, half out of his chair.
"Oh, I'm SO sorry" murmured
Eunice, bending over her work.
Are you? And why, pray?'
Because it always seemed to me a
very wise arrangement for both of
you. She has beauty, refinement, and
social position; you have the money.
What more could the world ask?"
There! it was out, and Eunice felt
that she could breathe more freely.
Again and again during the past two
years she had schooled herself to
make some such Indifferent speech as
this.
Wilfrid gasped. This was the girl
who had promised always to wear his
ring; who had assured him that what
ever happened she would never cease
to care for him!
by Jove!" he thought, shes hard
as nails! Never gave her credit for
that sort of thing," But aloud he
said, with some show of dignity:
You seem to have left one item
out of your calculations, Eunice."
And what may that be?" inquired
the girl, holding her work up to the
light and inspecting 1t very earnestly.
Il didn't care for her in that way"
Poor thing!" Eunice retorted
mockingly. How dreadful! Did she
ever find 1t out?"
II don't know and don't care!"
exclaimed the baited Wilfrid. Let me
tell you one thing. Eunice: You
are"
Now, please don't!" exclaimed
Eunice, elevating an admonitory
finger. II can imagine just what you
are going to say, and I'd rather you
gin on those adventures of yours?
Think of Othello."
What has he got to do with it?"
Eunice sighed in simulated dis
tress. Its very easily seen that for
eign travel has not broadened your
mind to the extent you hoped 1t
would. That, sir, is classical al
lusion!"
Il can't see what you are driving
at" protested Wilfrid. You are not
a bit as you used to be. l don't know
what to make of you'll"
"'What went ye out for to seer"
quoted Eunice, looking at him quiz
zically. but Stennis chose to ignore
this remark.
why are you so hard and 30 bit
ter-thats what want to know?"
At this unjust accusation Eunice
rose and confronted him, her bosom
rising and falling tempestuously at
last.
Hard and bitter. am II" she re-
peated, In deep chest tones, and NOV
ing towards the door. II the inter-
view were prolonged another moment
she felt that aha would coIIanaa