The St. Mary banner. (Franklin, Parish of St. Mary, La.) 1889-1931, 1913-05-24


is
She was very winning and sweet.
| intended to tell her jokingly my rea-
son was that her mother really had
intended me as pace maker for her,
and that I'd have to be free to en-
courage the eligibles until she was
quite sure just who she wanted to
marry. but l was weak. and the tears
were very near the surface. Two
brimmed over and rolled down my
cheek. l couldn't joke!
You love him-dont try to deny
it. Why are you giving him up?"
Il can't let him spoil his life with
me- was what | said after all. Il
couldn't spoil your chances with His
Grace If you decide to want him.
His Grace would be terribly
shocked"
Il don't want him." she interrupted.
Il love Winthrop and I'm going to
marry him-if he ever asks me-"
But l am nobody" l insisted. 81
haven't penny. Marriage-marriage
She looked at me In amazement.
rs that your only reason?" she
asked
Surely"
"ls that all! Oh. my poor. deluded
little Louie! What difference does
a few paltry dollars make? I'm so
glad that's the -eeson. dear; SO very,
very glad" SL9 came close to me
and slipped her arm around my waist.
Dear. If you had told me something
terrible, some awful thing that was
keeping you from saying yes to Hap,
| would have loved you just the same.
Remember that"
1t was a shameless statement
wonder | did not see it's significance
at the time. but l only realized that
her affection was one of the most
wonderful things that had ever hap
pened to me.
You're queer person." l told her.
Now, won't you let me say to Hap
that he may come up after luncheon
She tried to keep me from shaking
my head I'm afraid he will come,
even if you don't say SO. I've had
terrible time keeping him out while
you slept. He went to town for the
roses"-she pointed to them-"and
was back In an hour. l don't know
how he escaped being arrested for
speeding. By the way, the detective
is here. He wants to ask you some
questions when you are we'll enough
to see him. We've had an exciting
morning being questioned. He's rather
nice-looking chap. think Natalie
found her interview with him much
more agreeable than she expected.
His eyes are blue" she finished irrele-
vanity.
HAS he talked to Mr. Abbott?"
YES. He and John-by the way.
his name is Adams-went over to
Winthrop's this morning Winthrop
came back with them: he came to
play golf. He was unusually cheerful.
too. He has finished his novel. l
don't think he cares how many en-
erald bracelets he is accused OF steal
ing, since that Is over And I'm for
getting to tell you that Mrs. Dykeman
has dug up German count. don't
know how he ranks. He's connois-
seur on art, or some kind Of high |
brow. She's giving German must
Gale next week. Ich diem! Oh! We |
had message from the Schuylers.
The general is entirely out of dan
ger"
I lay on the couch for a long time
thinking after Laura had gone, and |
Celie had arranged my hair and ten
derby gotten me into negligee. l
tried-tried desperately-to sec a
way out of all the robberies for Win
throp and l could not do 1t. Except
for the ruby, when Laura had proved
that he was at home. and the woman
in the corridor. every circumstance
pointed to him. What did he actually
know of it all? Was he shielding
some one? A woman? But that
thought was ugly. l had rather be-
lieve him a thief!
The door of my sitting-room, lead
ing into the corridor, was standing
open, for the day was intensely hot,
and | caught the sound of Hap's
voice. He was talking to his mother
| listened. not deliberately to what
he said, but just to hear his voice;
and because there was no one to see,
arose and buried my face in the
roses-his roses. 1t was wrong to
listen; l knew It, could not fail
o hear what he said.
At first the full meaning OF his
words did not strike me, nor even
he tone of the argument. was
linking of other things. Then he
spoke my name. He was angry: l
listened. amazed.
Il che L. &hi>Rs