The Forrest City times., 1914-04-24

in her dark hair, where II had been placed by the whimsical Hetty an hour earlier as they left the dinner table.
 He is coming out on the eleven thirty. Sara" said the girl neryously. 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-I should have said gasoline"
 ] Sara laughed. You will know him better, my dear" she said. Leslie is very light-hearted.
 He suggested bringing a friend" went on Hetty burriedly "A Mir Booth, the portrait painter"
 "I met him in Italy. He Is charm ing. You will like him. too, Hetty." The emphasis did not escape notice.
 Tt seems that he is spending a fort night in the village, this Mir. Booth. painting spring lambs for rest and recreation, Mir. Leslie says"
 Then he is at our very gates" said Sara, looking up suddenly. T wonder If he can be the man I saw yesterday at the bridge" unused ! Hetty. "Is he tall 2"
 T really cant say. He's rather vague. It was six or seven years ago" Tt was left that Mir Wrandall is to come out on the eleven-thirty," ex- plained Hetty. T thought you wouldn | like sending either of the motors in" And Mir Booth?"
 We are to send for him after Mr l Wrandall arrives. He is stopping at the inn, wherever that may be-" Poor fellow," sighed Sara, with a grimace. T am sure he will like us 1 immensely if he has been stopping at 1 the inn"
 Hetty stood staring down at the blazing logs for a full minute before giving expression to the thought that troubled her.
 Sara" she said meeting her friends eyes with a steady light in her own, why did Mir Wrandall ask for me instead of you? It is you he Is coming to visit, not me It is your house. Why should"
 My dear" said Sara glibly, "I am merely his sister-in-law. It 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, l sup I pose," said the other coolly.
 T wonder if you will ever under stand how I feel about-about certain things, Sara"
 What, for instance?"
 Well, his very evident interest in me- cried the girl hotly He sends me fowers-this is the second box this week-and he Is so kind, so very friendly, Sara, that l can't bear it-l 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 you?"
 But it seems so-so horrible SC beastly," groaned the girl.
 Sara faced her squarely. See here Hetty." she said levelly, we have made our bed, you and I. We must lie in Altogether. If Leslie Wrandal chooses to fall in love with 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. should say."->
 Good God Sara!" cried the girl ir horror. How can you even speak oi such a thing"
 After all why shouldn't-" began Sara, but stopped in the middle of heI suggestion, with the result that it had it's full effect without being uttered ir so many cold blooded words. The gir shuddered
 wish. Sara, you would let me un burden myself completely to you" she pleaded seizing her friends hands You have forbidden me"
 Sara jerked her hands away. Her eyes flashed. "I do not want to heal it," she cried fercely. Never, never, Do you understand? It is your secret I will not share it with you. l should hate you if knew everything. As il is, love you because you are a wom an who suffered at the hand of one who made me suffer There is noth ing more to say. Don't bring up the subject again. I want to be youl friend for ever. not your confdante There Is a distinction. You may be able to see how very marked it is 1T our case. Hetty. What one does no know, seldom hurts"
 But l want to justify myself
 Tt isn't necessary" cut in the other so peremptorily that the girls eyes spread into look of anger Where upon Sara Wrandall threw her arm about her and drew her down beside her in the chaise-lounge. T didn' mean to be harsh" she cried. w. must not speak of the past, that's all The future is not likely to hurt us dear. Let us avoid the past"
 The future," sighed the girl. star ing blaEkly before her