Gilpin observer., 1911-12-28

Francesca laid down the paper with
a quick flush of color. Then she
picked 1t up again and reread the ad-
vertisement breathlessly.
FOR RENT-One up-to-date cottage.
five rooms and bath. Can be leased
to right party Situated corner Ninth
avenue and Maple street Apply next
door
Their house! The girls eyes filled
suddenly with burning tears. After
three years he had at last consented
then to let the place to a stranger
anyone who might prove respectable
enough to be the right party" Had
he forgotten ceased to care? There
was only one answer or he would
never have been willing to take this
step. 1t couldn't be lack of money,
she knew that; the truth came to her
like knife-thrust, he was done with
the past forever.
How many times had she passed
and repassed the little green house
into which had been wrought all their
hopes, and thanked heaven from the
bottom Of her heart that it was still
vacant, still sacred to him. Every
shingle and rafter stood for heart
throb: every tree and flower had been
planted with loving hands. And now?
1t was all Francesca could do to keep
her self-control. Visions surged into
her brain-visions of the old. dear
days. James Langdon's face was the
center of them all. So distinct was 1t,
she almost felt that she could have
put out her hand and touched It, She
strangled a little sob and dashed
away the tears. What a fool she was
to be going to pieces like this on ac
count of a man who had found it SO
easy to forget! Gradually a change
came over her feelings. In place of
the old wearying ache, hot rebellion
famed into her heart. She rose. tossed
aside the paper she had been reading
and crossed the room to her mirror.
Her eyes, sparkling defiantly. looked
back at her with new purpose in
their gold-brown depths. She, too.
would-forget!
Robert Thayer's letter still lay un-
answered in her desk. She reopened
1t with fingers unsteady from excite
ment. The lines danced before her
eyes for an instant % then her gaze
steadied and she read:
Dear: May | come to you to-mor.
row night? There is something |
want to tell you. to ask you. won't
be patient any longer. Say that you
will be expecting me at eight
Sincerely.
BOB"
Francesca seated herself unhesitat
ingly at the desk and scratched a
hasty reply.
Dear Bob: Come by all means. I'm
always glad to see you: you know
that. | shall be looking for you at the
appointed hour
Cordially.
FRANCESCA"
She had just sealed the note when
her brother entered the room. little
flushed. an expression of anxiety on
his face. Yielding to a sudden i'm
pulse. she thrust the envelop quickly
into a drawer and locked it.
Bad news. Kid" he said. dropping
into a chair.
The girl turned with a startled
glance. an unspoken question on her
lips. Young Graham anticipated her
and said abruptly:
Got to move out In a week. Own
ers have sold the place-which signi
fies move on for us
Francesca sat and stared at him
blankly A terrible feeling OF home
sickness swept over her. We've been
here SO long." she said wistfully.
| ..Thot'c lpaw ynu'd fooI al
cut up about it. Just as do. Blu,
there's no help for 1t, grille. Wei
have to be looking around at once"
Where will we look?" she Ques
toned helplessly.
Get the papers-that's all. And In
the meantime | shall have to make q
run down 10 Washington for four oil
Ave days. That leaves the job to
you. I'm sorry. but it's unavoidable
But the girl scarcely heard his las,
words. sudden. wild thought had
darted into her brain: her blood was
racing riotously through her veins. II
centered all at once in two crimson
spots In her cheeks.
Don't bother. Jack" she said Qui
etly II shan't have any trouble. Leave
II all to me. IL think already know
a place We can get" She was devout
~ thankful that her brother had been
OF at college during her betrotha
days and the building OF the house. He
need never know the truth.
They talked things over for a little
after which young Graham got up and
went out again. Francesca swallowed
cup of tea and hurried upstairs &c
dress. In half an hour she was speed
ing toward Ninth avenue and Maple
street. every nerve a.tingle with vary
ing emotions.
She stepped out on the pavement