Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1912-02-29

when Emily had given her promise OF
aid, stirred under Mr.. Ffrench's self
ABSORPTION. He looked across the Ia
BILE at her colorless, eager face with
perhaps his first thought of what that
promise might have cost her.
NO" he replied kindly. 1T is part
of my satisfaction that you are set
free to follow your own choice, with
out thought of "tility or fortune. OF
course. | need not say provided the
man is Of your own class and asso
Citations. We will fear no more low
marriages."
She had known it before, but it was
hard TO hear the sentence embodied in
words. Emily folded her hands over
the paper in her lap and the pleas
ant breakfast room darkened before
her. Mr.. Ffrench continued speaking
of Dick, unheard.
When the long meal was ended and
her uncle withdrew to meet Bailey in
the library, Emily escaped outdoors.
There was a quaint summer house
part way down the park, an ancient
white pavilion standing beside the
brook that gurgled by on its way TO
the Hudson, where the young girl
often passed her hours She went
there now, carrying her little work
basket and the newspaper containing
the picture of Lestrange.
Il will save it. was her thought.
Perhaps | may find better ones-this
does not show his face-but | will
have this now. 1t may be long time
before | see him."
But she sat with the embroidery
scissors in her hand, nevertheless,
without cutting the reprint. Lestrange
would return to the factory, she never
doubted, and all would continue us be-
fore, except that she must not see
him. He would understand that it was
not possible for anything else 10 hap
pen, at least for many years. Perhaps,
after Dick was married.
The green and gold beauty of the
morning hurt her with the memory
of that other sunny morning, when he
had so easily taken from her the task
she hated and strove TO bear. And he
had succeeded, how he had succeeded!
Who else in the world could have so
transformed Dick? Leaning on the
table, her round chin in her palm as
she gazed down at the paper in her
lap, her fancy slipped back to that
night on the Long Island road, when
she had first seen his serene genius
for setting all things right. How like
him that elimination of Dick. instead
of a romantic and impracticable at
tempt to escort her himself
A bush cracked stiffly at some ones
passage; a shadow fell across her.
Caught" laughed Lestrange's glad
exultant voice. Since you look at the
portrait, how shall the original fear
to present himself? See, can
match He held out card burned at
the corners and streaked with dull
red THE first time / saw your writ
ing, and found my own name there.
Amazed, Emily sat up, and met in
his glowing face all incarnate JOY of
life and youth
OH" she gasped piteously.
You are surprised that | am here?
My dear my dear, after last night did
you think | could be anywhere else"
The race"
Il know that track too well 10 need
much practice, and | had the machine
out at dawn. My partner is busy prac-
ticing this morning, and III be back in
? couple of hours. | was afraid" the
gray eyes were so gentle in their bril-.
liancy. II was afraid you might worry,
Emily"
Serenely he assumed possession OF
her, and the assumption was very
sweet. He had not touched her. yet
Emily had the sensation of brutally
thrusting him away when she spoke:
How could | do anything else"
she asked with desolation, "since we
must never meet each other any
more? Only. you will not go far away
you will stay where can sometimes
see you as we pass? II think
could not bear it to have you go
away"
Emily"
he SCISSORS cnnked Sharply 10 the
floor as she held out her white hands
in depreciation Of his cry; the tears
rushed to her eyes.
You know, you know! I am not
free; am Emily Ffrnch. cannot
fail my uncle and grieve him as his
son did oh, will never marry any