The Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1???-1928, 1914-04-02

can't very well send lin about his
business" she said, unless he be-
comes more than friendly. Now, can
your"
But IT seems 500 horrible, so
beastly," groaned the girl
Sara faced her squarely. "See here.
Hetty," she said levelly, I'VE have
made our bed, you and !. We must lie
Il it-together. II Leslie Wrandall
chooses to fall in love with YOU. that
- his affair. not OURS. We mig, face
every condition. In plain words, we
must play the game"
What could be more appalling than
10 have him fan in love with me?"
THE other way round would be
mere dramatic. should say"
Good God Sara!" cried the girl in
horror. How can you even speak OF
such thing?"
After all, why shouldn't" began
Sara, but stopped in the middle of her
suggestion, with the result that 1t had
Its full effect without being uttered in
SO many cold-blooded words. The girl
shuddered.
| wish. Sara, you would let me un-
burden myself completely to you." she
pleaded, Selling her friends hands.
You have forbidden me-"
Sara jerked her hands away. Her
eyes flashed. Il do not want to hear
it." she cried fiercely. Never, never
10 you understand? 1t is your secret.
| will not share it with you. | should
hate you if / knew everything. AS it
is, love you because you are a won.
an who suffered ut the hand OF one
who made me suffer. There is moth.
ing more to say. Don't bring up the
subject again. / want to be your
friend for ever, not your confdante.
There is distinction. You may be
able to see how very marked it is in
our case. Hetty. What one does not
know, seldom hurts"
But l want to justify myself"
1T 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 bes ide
her in the chaise-lounge. Il didn't
mean to be harsh," she cried. I'VE
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 blankly before her.
ITO appreciate what it is to be-"
said the other, you have but to think
of what it might have been"
Il know" said Hetty, in a low
voice. And yet sometimes wonder
if"
Sara interrupted. "You are paying
me, dear, instead of the law" she said
gently. Il am not harsh creditor,
am II"
My life belongs to you. | give it
cheerfully, even gladly"
$50 you have said before. Well, IL
1t belongs to me, you might at least
permit me to develop it as would any
other possession | take it as an in
vestment. 1t will probably fiuctuate."
Now you are iesting"
Perhaps" said Sara laconically.
The next morning Hetty set forth
for her accustomed tramp over the
roads that wound through the estate.
Sara, the American, dawdled at home,
resenting the chill spring drizzle that
did not in the least discourage the
Englishwoman.
She came to the bridge by the mill.
long since deserted and now thing of
ruin and decay. A man in knicker-
bockers stood leaning against the rail,
idly gazing down at the trickling
stream below. The brier pipe that
formed the circuit between hand and
lips sent up soft blue coils to float
away on the drizzle.
She passed behind him. with sin.
gle furtive, curious glance at his hand
some, undisturbed profile, and in that
glance recognized him as the man she
had seen the day before.
When she was a dozen rods away,
the tall man turned his face from the
stream aud sent, after her the long.
restrained look. There was something
akin to cautiousness in that look Of
his, as if he were afraid that she
might turn her head suddenly and
catch him at it. Something began
stirring in his heart. the nameless
something that awakens when least
expected. He felt the subtle, sweet
feminnity of her as she passed. 1t
fingered with him as he looked,
She turned the bend in the road a
hundred yards away. For many min
utes he studied the. stream below
without really seeing it. Then he
Strengthened up, knocked the ashes
from his pipe, and set off slowly in
her wake. although he had been walk
ing In quite the, opposite direction
when he came to the bridge-and on
q mission of some consequence, too.
There was the chance that he would
meet her coming back.