The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1911-02-12

She meant to weave me a snare
OF some coquettish deceit?"
-Tennyson.
Two days had gone by. On the
second of these, Vernon's huge trunks
arrived from Southampton, and she
was very busy unpacking and ar
ranging her things.
There was absolutely no doubt of
her aunt's delight in her arrival,
and pleasure in her company. But
Jem Bardsley preserved his attitude
of sullen reserve in way which
would have been decidedly unplels
ant had she seen him often enough
for it to be noticeable. But she
found that she saw very little Of
him indeed He breakfasted early,
and was off and away on his duties
long before she and Aunt Emma sat
down together TO their cosy meal
in sunny morning-room at nine
o'clock. He came in to lunch. but
disappeared Immediately afterwards,
as he said, to write letters: but also,
as Vernon quickly OWNED, because
drawing-room.
He certainly went out on the
second evening of her stay; and it
was not possible for her to resist
the conclusion that he had gone 10
Barrow End. The very thought of
the place sent little shudder
through her. Before the eye of her
fancy that picture constantly pre-.
sented itself. The lighted hall, Jem's
hasty, ill-assured laugh, the sight
of Laura, in her yellow satin, stand
ing rat the half-open door with the
red amplight behind her-ugh, How
hateful it was, But she could see
clearly enough that it was also
difficult for Jem. SO far, she was
holding her tongue. But he had no
guarantee for her perpetual silence.
Her aunt knew nothing She spoke
of the Trents as of people on the
fringe of sibiltes-people with
whom she and her nephew were
hardly acquainted. All, well.
The girl from Vancouver hoped
she would soon forget it. She had
fled from one complication, over
there, to find herself enmeshed here
in new one. But, thank the fates,
this one was not her affair. Lionel
Gladwyn emphatically was.
She liked her manager-had liked
him for nearly ten years. He was
ten or twelve years older than she,
had taught her to ride, and many
other things. He came to the Ranch
first, broken-down disappointed
man He had been well off, wild.
fond of gay company. But he had
not been vicious. He had married
young, and without gr7dging had
allowed his young wife to participate
in his betting, racing, motoring, loaf.
ing existence. They wanted no chill
dren, no responsibilities, Just to en-
joy life. And he presently found
that II they continued to enjoy it
at their present pace. they would
soon have arrived at the bankruptcy
court He was sent for by the sole.
itor who had always managed his
fathers affairs, and pretty thorough
ly frightened. He told his wife that
they must pull up.
She received the news in the
manner for which her life had fit
ted her. She said it was rotten
luck Lionel, a good fellow at heart.
told her that he thought their bes:
plan would be to quit the whole
thlng-tO leave England. sell their
motors, and buy an estate some
where "Ou, West" where YOU could
really live well and have Il good
time, at about a tenth of the cost
OF their present hotel existence
She heard him out and in the
end consented. What else could she
do? She had apparently drawn
matrimonial blank-a man who could
give her only very short run for
her money. Her nature was of diff
ierent fibre from his. He had an
of sound tissue be,ow a
love OF pleasure and surface .ndo- .
lence She was a woman such as Mr. .
Pinero's Iris fundamentally ami .
nal. and dependent upon creature
comforts She did not say to her
self in so many words, Il must
have luXuries, and ii Lionel cannot
provide them, must find some mln
who will Blu, that was what it all
amounted 20. in reality. He was fond
of her She had been a very amus-