The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1911-03-13

Past all dlShOnOur
Death has left on her
Only the beautiful"
Thomas Hood.
The gates of silence between Jem
and Vernon were now not only closed,
but locked.
Upon reflection, he could not but
think, since the slander against him
was current, and since she had had
so much to do with the personages
concerned. that she must have heard
it. He, poor fool, had thought that,
in dispelling her false ideas respecting
his feeling for Mrs. Trent, he had
knocked down the barrier between
them. But here was one far deadlier
and more sinister-one which he could
not push, nor shake, nor so much as
touch upon, with her.
For a moment, so sore was his need
that he had thoughts of going to his
aunt and appealing to her He was
sure that she would not have heard
anything of the kind herself, or that
having heard, she would give no credit
to such tale. For she, as he firmly
believed, knew his secret-knew the
feeling for Vernon which was consum
ing him. When he had avowed his
intention of going away, she had not
seemed surprised. She had wept, had
shown a depth of sympathy which
had greatly surprised him. She had
said that she knew. she guessed, his
reason for departure, and could not
but own that it was natural.
That being so, he went on to sup
pose that she might have told Vernon
of his feelings-that the girl also
knew why he could not remain longer
in the same house with her. There
was nothing to be said-nothing tc
be done. It was one of the dumt
tragedies of life. His only course, as
long as their enforced companionshiI
should last, was to see as little o.
her, say as little to her as he could
He thought it hard that Gladwyr
should have turned up before he
could escape. His curiosity to know
what had passed between Vernon and
her sutor was consuming in its in
tensity.
When they reached home, after the
Flower Show, they were told that Mr.
Gladwyn had come in about three
o'clock, that he had looked and seem
ed i'll, that he had packed his things
and gone back to London, leaving 9
note for Miss Wilmont.
Vernon, who was in a silent, brood
ing mood, opened the note in the hall
both her aunt and Jem standing by.
What a queer way to behave" was
her comment, as she broke the seal. l
was very brief Him." she remarked
He says he has bad news of such ;
shattering nature as to make it i'm
possible for him to tell me what it il
at present. He will write further il
two or three days from London. OIL
well, he has gone and that's relief!
She let a long sigh eXhale. Il can
forget about Mrs. Trent" she said
and it makes me feel wretched, an,
rather self-reproachful l don't fee
az all equal to the effort of entertain
ing visitor. am glad there are onl,
| just-ourselves." She lifted her heat
and smiled, the tenderest, shyest o
smiles, right into Jem's eyes. He wa
looking so intensely at her that h,
caught it full, and had a sensation o
sudden glory. Mrs. Bardsley, whit
had found two notes awaiting her
took these in her hand and went int
the drawing-room. Vernon, seeing tina
they were unheard, hastily crossed
the space between them, and stoot
looking wstfully into his face, where
in, as it seemed to her, door haC
rolled back, making intercourse pos
sible between them.
81 want to say" she murmured hur
riedly, that l believe | do know jus
how you feel about-about that poo
Mrs. Trent. II was SO sorry TO
laundering so the other night, afte
/ the picnic But I understand bette