The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1910-02-03
CHAPTER XIV.


Algy Dessinger was incoming idly
along Piccadilly by himself. The
young man had lost ever, interest in
life: he had become moody and melan-
fholy, spoke hardly and cynically OF
women. and bitterly of life in general.
He had loved Irene so well, and be-
lieved in her so thoroughly, and now
he had lost his faith in her, and often
told himself that he had ceased TO love
her. He told everybody that he was
going away from town. yet somehow
he fingered on day after day. and he
frequented the places where he was
likely to meet her, secretly longing for
glimpse at her beautiful face. He
did see her now and then. sometimes
IN the box-seat of Joseph Taunton's
coach; once he met her coming out of
a milliner's shop in Bond street. and
she nodded TO him and half held out
ner hand but he only lifted his hat
gravely, and stalked away relentlessly
down the street.
'She is a heartiess. mercenary CO.
quettel" he would sa! TO hims Elf, and
I hate her!" but, OF course. he did
nothing of the sort.
club, with his heart full of rage and
bitterness Several OF his friends were
gathered together in the smoking
room. and. as he entered, and they
we're discussing the very person of
whom his thoughts were full.
They are to be married at st
Georges, Hanover Square. on the 29th,
hear" BERTHE Morris was saying.
Everybody. that is anybody. 1 mean.
las been asked. have got a card" he
added naively.
There was a general laugh at this,
and somebody called out TO Dessinger.
as he joined the group. Are you any
body Algy?"
What do you mean ?" growled the
young0man churlishly: for he was sore
and hurt. and ready to pick a quarrel
with anyone.
why, / thought you were a great
friend of the lovely bride. tiasn't she
even invited you to her wedding"
No. she hasn't: and if she had. I
shouldn't go." almost shouted Dessin-
ger hack. There's no friendship in my
mind. assure you. towards a mercen-
airy woman. who is selling herself to
b bloated little cad for the sake of
the gold she can get out of him"
Suddenly a hand was laid heavily
upon his shoulder. He turned round
sharply, and found himself face to face
with Rupert Carroll.
Now, although this was Carrolrs
club. he very seldom came into IL now.
and therefore he knew very few of the
younger members: but Algy he did
know; for they had once. for a few
weeks. been friends and companions on
a salmon river in Ireland Dessinper
started. and turned color a little at the
sight of him. He was very pale and
his lip trembled
May / say a word TO you, Carroll 2'
"A hundred, my dear fellow"
Algy led the way into a little ante
room, where they could be alone. away
from the prying ears of the club SER
wants.
Il ought not TO have SAID what I
did," began pessinger rather awk-
wardly. Yet surely that you should
reprove me on her ACCOMMODATION il is
you who have driven her into this hor-
rid marriage-seems rather comicaI
doesn't it? suppose that was what
made me lose my temper"
My dear Dessinger, what do Won
mean?" and Carroll turned pale How
can 1 have had anything to do with
Miss Garlands marriage? Why 1 do
not even know her-now," he added, in
q low voice.
We'll, she told me so''
She-told-you-that I-she spoke of
me to your" he inquired. blankly
No; she did not mention you actual
ly by name. Carroll: but she told me
that some fellow had once made love
to her when she was very young, and
that he had gone away and left her
without word; and she said il was
that that had made her turn hard and
reckless, and determine to sell herself
for money; and then she Just said a
word that made me put two and two
together, and guess that il was Won.
And / was just wild with jealousy and
misery when you came in just now for
perhaps II il hadn't been for Won.
might have won her; but when she
told me that she should never love any
man on earth. excepting that one who
had treated her so badly. then it didn't
seem any use to go on trying. did it?-
eHOuSu nave uleu iOi hST BldCly Just
to save her from marrying that dread
full man"
And then suddenly the poor boys
fortitude forsook him altogether. and
he laid his head down on folded arms
on the table in front OF him, and
sobbed aloud.
Rupert Carroll stood by him for
moment moticaless and cold as though
he had been turned into stone. He
could not have spoken to save his life.
1t seemed to him as if in that mo-
ment. years were added on to his life.
And presently when Algy Dessinger
lifted hts I'd, tear-gtained f""e, he