The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1914-06-18

thirty, Sara said the girl nervously, |
unless you will send the motor in for
him. The body Of his car is being !
changed and it's in the shop. He must |
have been testing when he said he
would pay for the petrol should
have said gasoline"
Sara laughed. You will know him
better, my DEAR" she said. Leslie is
very Hght-hearted."
He suggested bringing a friend"
went on Hetty hurriedly. "A Mr..
Booth, the portrait painter"
Il met him in Italy. He is charm
ing. You will like him, too, Hetty"
The emphasis did not escape notice.
1T seems that he is spending a fort
night in the village, this Mr.. Booth,
painting spring lambs for rest and
recreation, Mr.. Leslie says"
Then he is at our very gates" said
Sara, looking up suddenly.
Il wolder if he can be the man l
saw yesterday at the bridge" unused
Hetty. is he tall?"
Il really can't say. He's rather
vague 1t was six or seven years ago."
1T was left that Mr. Wrandal is to
NOI1C Jul Ou tuc eltf6u-IulItS, CA
planned Hetty. Il thought you wouldn't
like sending either Of the motors in"
And Mr.. Booth?"
eve are TO send for him after Mr..
WrandalI arrives. He is stopping at
the inn, wherever that may be-
Poor fellow!" sighed Sara. with
grimace. Il am sure he will like US
Immensely if he has been stopping at
the inn
Hetty stood staring down at the
blazing logs for a fell minute before
giving expression to the thought that
troubled her.
Sara" she said, meeting her
| friends eyes with steady light in her
| own, why did Mr. Wrandall ask for
me instead Of you? 1t is you he is
coming to visit, not me. 1t is your
house. Why should"
| My dear said Sara glibly, 81 am
merely his sister-in-law 1t wouldn't
be necessary to ask me if he should
come. He knows he is welcome"
Then why should he feel called up
on to-
Some men like to telephone, sup
pose,' said the other coolly.
| 81 wonder if you will ever under
stand how l feel about-about certain
things, Sara
What, for instance?
We'll, his very evident interest in
me- cried the girl holly. "He sends
me f1owers-this is tie second box
| this week-and he is So kind, SO very
| friendly, Sara, that l can't bear it
really can't.
Mrs. Wrandall stared at her You
can't very we'll send him about his
business" she said, unless he be-
comes more than friendly. Now, can
your
But it seems $3.50 horrible. SO
beastly," groaned the girl.
Sara faced her squarely. Sec here,
Hetty," she said levelly, I'VE have
made our bed, you and 1. We must lie
in it-together. If Leslie Wrandal]
chooses to fall in love witk you, that
is his affair, not ours. We must face
every condition. In plain words. we
must play the game"
What could be more appalling than
; to have him fall in love with me?"
The other way round would be
more dramatic, l should say"
Good God Sara!" cried the girl il
. | horror. How can you even speak OF
such thing?''
; After all, why shouldn't" began
: Sara, but stopped in the middle of he1
suggestion, with the result that 1t hae
it's full effect without being uttered il
? SO many cold blooded words. The cir
; shuddered.
Lot
: burden myself completely to YOU" shs
l pleaded, SEEING her friends hands
2 You have forbidden me-
. Sara jerked her hands away He
= eyes flashed q do not want to hea
f it," she cried fiercely. Never, never
2 Do you understand? 1t is your secret
|. l will not share it with you. 1 shout,
p hate you if | knew everything AS
q is, l love you because you are won
an who suffered at the hand Of ou
who made me suffer There is moth
8 ing more to say. Don't bring up tn
s subject again. l want to be you
friend for ever, not your confidante
;" There is a distinction. You may b
able to see how very marked it is il
our case Hetty. What one does no
4" know, seldom hurts"
But | want to justify myself"
J. ut isn't necessary" cut in the othe
so peremptorily that the girls eye
If spread into a look Of anger. Where
+ upon Sara Wrandall threw her arr
about her and drew her down besid
n her in the chaise-lounge. Il didn
d mean to be harsh" she cried. wv
must not speak of the past. that's al
d The future is not likely to hurt u!
D. dear Let US avoid the past
p "The future!" sighed the girl sta
ing blankly before her.
;" ITO appreciate what it is to be-
said the other, you have but to thin
10 of what it might have BEEN"
Is Il know" said Hetty, in To-
voice And yet l sometimes wonde
if"
v. Sara interrupted. you are payin
me, dear, instead of the law" she sal
gently Il am not a harsh credito
III am II"
my life belongs to you. l give
~ cheerfully, even gladly"
az 80 you have said before. Well,
" it belongs to me, you might at lea
st permit me to develop 1t as would ar