The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1914-11-12


ballroom by seeing his sister-in-law
and-Amy
He found himself bowling mechan.
ically, just as though he had only left
them the day before. He looked into
Amy's face. What had there ever
been in that woman, to whom he had
given all the passion of first love?
He. had dreamed of her three years
till Haidee came into his life, this red
checked English girl, with the faint
smile and the worldly face. How far
away his past life seemed all of a
sudden!
John" his sister-in-law was say
ing" won't you come out with us upon
the veranda? / have something to
tell you"
John followed the ladies outside. He
was leaning against the veranda rail
now, and his sister-in-law's words
were buzzing in his head.
You acted very noble part, john"
she said. "We-the family-shall
never cease to be grateful to you. Few
men would have done as much for
their brothers. But after poor Arthur's
death the lawyer went through his
papers. He was a dreadful man, Mr..
Smeaton, one of those mutton-whis-
kered Puritanical men who think that
everything irregular is a crime. lie
found in your brothers desk writ.
ten, signed confession and insisted
that it should be made public to the
world"
John remembered Mr.. Smeaton, a
kindly old man who had always taken
an interest in him. So Smeaton was
the man who had come forward SO I'M
expectedly to retrieve his honor.
I'VE begged and pleaded, John, but
nothing could move him." his sister
in-law continued. I'VE even offered
him three thousand pounds to hush
up the matter, but it wouldn't do. The
old wretch threatened to make the tale
public himself unless we did. SO it
had to be done. John" She sighed
We'll, you can guess what a row
there was in England, especially as
you are now the heir to the property,
In fact, things got SO hot that l found
it best to take a holiday in some place
where the rumors hadn't got busy yet,
Amy promised to come with me, and
she has kept her word. You know
you and Amy were always good
friends, John. So now | shall leave
you two together to talk over old
times"
The woman was gone, and John
stood unsteadily against the railing
looking into the hard, worldly face OF
Amy Marin. How could he ever have
loved her? How could he? How could
he? He could not answer his own
question.
John, i am so sorry" said Amy
putting out her hand John took it and
it felt cold and cat-like in his own.
"John," whispered Amy, do you re
member what you asked me that night
before you came away? l have never
forgotten, John. And | am so sorry
for our misunderstanding | have often
thought of you, john
He would have liked to have thrust
his fist into the woman's face. What
a deliverance his had been! But Amy
was singularly obtuse.
Il will admit" she said, that my
motives in accompanying your sister
in-law were not altogether altruistic
John. In fact, III wanted to seq
you again" She looked down and
shuff1ed her feet in simulated con
fusion. Amy had singularly pretty
feet-almost as pretty as Haidee's-
and she had always been aware OF
the fact.
And now I've said as much as
dare, john" she added, raising heI
eyes to his.
s"I am sorry" said John, bowling
Sorry, John?"
THAT you should have made this
long journey for nothing. / cannot
marry you"
How dare you!" she exclaimed,
with flaming cheeks. HAS Jamaica
made a brute of you, John?"
mo, man." he answered. When
go to England shall take my wife
with me. You see, we are to be mar
ried before the end OF the month.
Amy"
His last picture of her was seeing
the sudden cat-like cruelty flame into
her face and eyes as she stood, sphinx
like, against the rail. But the picture
faded within moment. For the air
was full of the sweetness of 81 Jamaica
night, and John was riding home to his
bride-to-be-Haidee.