Morgan County republican. (Versailles, Mo.) 1906-1914, 1910-06-23

posed to be engaged lovers. This
was an adverse conjunction which the
astutest mind could not have imag-
ined or foreseen-indeed. 1t was Of .
piece with all the other strange fac
tors in the case.
However. Roger Hews was content
to play a waiting game. He was very
careful to keep out OF Wilfrid's way.
but he lost no time In making the ac-
quaintance Of Eunlce and her step
father. and at the time Of Wilfrid's
departure for Europe Roger had been
for some months On terms OF easy
acquaintance with both OF them. He
attended the same church as Eunice,
he Joined the ward club and the lodge
to which Trevecca belonged, and
among the decent denizens OF Mac
dougal street passed as a writer. a
character which was not belied by
appearances. owing to his quiet,
steady demeanor and his careful
acting and dressing Of the part.
Nor did II take Hews long to dis
cover that there was a little rift In
the Lutte between Eunice and Wilfrid.
This exactly suited his book. Per
haps a less observant person could
have foretold such an outcome OF
their odd romance. Anyway, this
was Rogers opportunity. AS Wilfrid's
visits became fewer. and the coast
more clear, the other took to dropping
In OF an evening, Ostensibly to see
John Trevecca; or he would cOntrive
to meet Eunice at church and prayer
meeting and walk home with her. He
even escorted her to the park. to the
theater, and to some popular concerts.
Never by word or look or action did
he hint of any knowledge of her ac-
quaintance with Wilfrld Stennis. She,
on her part. from motives Of pride and
delicacy forebore to allow Stennis'
name to pass her lips; old John
Trevecca vas naturally close-mOuthed
about his own or his daughters af.
fairs. So 1t was n three-cornered
game.
At no time ia the average woman
supposed to be more ~approachable to
a determined wooer than when she
has been deserted or deems herself
forsaken by another nan In proper
ton as the wound 10 deep. so IL the
healing process possibly FASTENED II
there be a sure and certain consola-
ton at hand. But Eunic, Trevecca
was not an average woman: her heart
did not always rule her head.
When nearly a year had passed
without so much as a line from Will
frid. Eunice deemed herself indeed
forgotten. What she had feared and
foreseen. she told herself. was come
to pass: and that woman" as she
termed Clara P~assavant in her
thoughts. had probably won him away
from his early affection by her wiles
and her brilliant social attachments.
II suppose we are not in his class
any longer" she said to herself bit
terly. But she will never make him
happy; ali she cares about is the
money"
She did not. nor would not. blame
Wilfrid: II was all that woman's" evil
doings. Yet she tried her best to
thsnk OF him az dead to her, and to
face the fact that henceforth she
must piece out her life alone. But
It was a sorry attempt.
Eunice had not been a oma had
she failed to see the drift Of Master
Rogers coming and goings. Hers
was too sweet a nature not to feel
honored by what she supposed vas
the unselish admiration of n passably
good man. He had apparently sue
ceeded In ingratiating himself with
her s%tepfather. and his companion
ship proved a rather welcome diver
sion In those dark days. But she
knew his lOve,quest was hopeless. and
discouraged his more marked atten
lions. for she told herself her heart
was dead.
So when Roger Hews pressed hi
suit-he v made owe to her al
WIZ had done-she was ready will
her answer.
1T cannot be. Mr.. Hews." she said
as they stood In the dim old parlor
II esteem and admire you Is a friend
butt shall never marry"
perhaps | have been too hasty.
said Roger suavely. "In time. pos
sibly. You will like me better. Lee
me still be your friend and comrade
l will not recur to this without you
permission. but some day ! shall asl
you again"
She shook her head In token tina
his was a forlorn hope. but she wa
too k%ind-hearted to inlict a hur
where she could avoid It.
"On those conditions, then" shl