Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1912-05-24
CHAPTER vi.

When called her up three days
later she seemed to have forgotten
that any such incident had ever hap
pened. She passed the usual pleas
antries of the day over the wire,
laughed as softly and unsteady as
ever. and ended by telling me that /
might call that evening. When did
SO she received me with neither more
nor less than her customary friendli-
ness. was mystified. As to what
was going on in the wonderland that
lay behind her eyes / had no concep-
ton further than the evident fact that
she had not been seriously offended.
And that was solace enough for the
present. OF course would renew the
assault-at-arms when the opportunity
seemed propitious, but for the time
being l would resort to steady siege.
renewed my devotions.
As'had been the case before, again
haunted her. Necessarily this soJr
became bruited around the circle Of
our acquaintances, and occasionally
echoes Of the gossip reached my ears.
Bruce spoke of 1t once or twice quiz
ideally, but as ignored his remarks
ne soon quit bothering me with them.
| Glare, as usual, had her little say.
IT hear that you and Mrs. Dace are
exceedingly good friends these days,
and that you are with her nearly
everywhere" she began sweetly. Il
wish you would tell me about It,"
Now as matter of fact was secret
ly proud to be recognized as the &C
cepted sutton of so beautiful a WON
an, and Clare was an entirely differ
emit proposition from Bruce to confide
In. So l admitted nonchalantly that
we were on excellent terms. She
frowned little.
well, suppose, Of course, that II
Is al right, and anyway # Is none
of my business. But she is such q
mysterious woman. She lives like q
duchess and everybody says her hus
band left her scarcely anything. Wher
that little is gone what win she dc
unless she marries a rich man? And
how on earth could you get money
enough to support woman of hel
tastes as she would demand to be sup
ported? You Just answer me that
Tom Halliday"
Now l had rather expected some
J thing like this from Clare. but never
: theless the question annoyed M
somewhat. 1t was the identical ont
that had been making my sane mo
ments a bugaboo for many nights ant
days past; still hated to be remind
: ed of II by another person. Even nov
/ was beginning to feel the drain o
, her upon my resources, although
: had done nothing extravagant. ] hai
! taken her to the theater, paid for cal
: riages, and bought her luncheons an
: flowers, but beyond that had don
practically nothing. And In certai
) way there was much satisfaction i
l the thought that had offered her s
. little In the way of allurement beside
: my own society. While there wer
y men by the score who would hav
3 been overjoyed to squander none
4 upon her, she had laughingly excuse
a herself to them for the sake OF inel
{ pensive little evenings with me. A
n proof that she really preferred me
, seemed conclusive, and was the thin
y that gave me the most hope. How
[ ever did not speak and Clare WEI
r on:
6 Some of her gowns cost more tina
> you earn in a month, while as fl
l. supporting an establishment at II
d Arcadia--wel, of course the very ide
n is preposterous. Now why don't yC
y be sensible?" smiled, seeming VIII;
It was coming.
/ "And what IL your idea of sens
d Clare?" I inquired.
IF We'll. take up with a nice lit
n girl like Mollie Osborn, for instance
,r II was just as had suspected, Il
e. Clare and Mollie are chums and
"a voted in advancing each others
sr terests. But the idea that any ma
Is once knowing Mrs. Dace as ] kne
re her. could be content with a girl vi