The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1914-07-31

on II for months. You were supposed
to be mine at first sight, / believe
Please don't look 30 uneasy. I'm moi
going to propose to you." She laughed
her little ironic laugh.
80 that Is the way things stood
eh?" he said, still q little amazed by
her candor.
Yes. And what is moro to the
point, am quite sure ! should have
! said yes II you had asked me. Sounds
odd, doesn't It? Rather amusing, too
being able to discuss 1t so unreserved
| ly, isn't it?"
Good heavens, vivi" he cried un.
| comfortably. IL had no idea you
| cared"
Cared" she cried, as he paused.
II don't care two pins for you In that
way. But ! would have married you,
just the same, because you are worth
marrying. I'd very much rather have
you for husband than any man !
| know, but as for loving you! Pooh!
I'd love you In just the way mother
loves father. and / wouldn't have been
bit more trouble to you than she Is
| to him"
Cad. you don't mind what you
say!"
Failing to nab you. Brandy, dare
say I'll have to come down to a duke
or, who knows? maybe q mere prince.
1t isn't very enterprising, Is It? And
certainly 1t isn't gay prospect. Real
ly, had hoped you would have me.
fatter myself, suppose. but, hon.
estly now, We would have made a
rather nice looking couple, wouldn't
we?"
You fatter me-" he said.
But" she resumed, calmly exhal-
Ing you very foolishly fell In love
with some one else, and II wasn't
necessary for me to pretend that /
was in love with you--which | should
have done, believe me. II you had
given me the chance. You fell In love,
first with Hetty Castleton."
First" he cried, frowning.
And now you are heels over head
in love with my beautiful sister-in-law.
Which all goes to prove that ! would
have made just the kind Of wife you
need. considering your tendency to
fuctuate. But how dreadful 1t would
have been for a sentimental, loving
girl like Hetty!"
He sat bolt upright and stared hard
at her.
See here, Wv. what the dickens are
you driving at? I'm not In love with
Sara-not In the least-and-" He,
checked himself sharply. What an
ass l am! You're guying me-"
"In any event, am right about Het-
ty," she said, leaning forward, her man.
ner quite serious.
"If 1t will ease you mind" he said
stiffiy, II plead guilty with all my
heart"
She favored him with a slight frown
of annoyance.
"And you deny the nuctuating
charger"
Most positively. lean afford to be
honest with you, Viv. You are
corker. love Hetty Castleton with
all my soul"
She leaned back in her chair. Then
why don't you dignity your soul by be.
Ing honest with her?"
What do you mean?"
For a half-minute she was silent.
Are you and | OF the same stripe,
after all? Would you marry Sara
without loving her, as l would have
done by you? 1t doesn't seem like
you, Brandon"
Good heaven, I'm not going to
marry Sara!" he blurted out. Its
never entered my head"
Perhaps 1t has entered hers"
Nonsense! She isn't going to
marry anybody. And she knows how /
feel toward Hetty. II II came to the
point where l decided to marry with
out love, pom my soul. Wv, believe
I'd pick you out as the victim"
Wonderful combination!" she said
with frank laugh. THE quintes-
sence OF mo love lost But to resume!
Do you know that people are saying
you are to be married before the win.
ter Is over?"
Let em say It," he said gruffiy.
Oh, NCii, ohS ulepdlCuluk
all with a gesture, IF that's the way
you feel about 1t, there's no more to
be said"
He was ashamed. II beg your par
don, shouldn't have said that"
You see," she went on, reverting to
the original topic, people who know
Sara are likely to credit her with mo-
tives you appear to be totally ignorant
of. She set her heart on my brother
Challie, when she was a great deal
younger than she is now, and she got
him. IL age and experience count for
anything, how capable she must be
by this time"
He was too wise to venture an opin.
ion. Il assure you she has no designs
on me-"
Perhaps not. But fancy that even
you could not escape as st. Anthony
did. She is most alluring."
You don't like her"
obviously. And yet don't dislike
her. She has the virtue OF consist
ency, If one may use the expression.
| she loved my brother IasIia eove