The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1914-10-29


earlier as they left the dinner table.
He is coming out on the eleven
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 light-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 u very gates" said
Sara, looking Up suddenly.
Il wonder II he can be the man l
saw yesterday at the bridge" unused
Hetty. "Is he tall?"
II really can't say. He's rather
vague. 1t was six or seven years ago."
1T was left that Mr.. Wrandall is to
come cut On the eleven-thirty." tx
planned Hetty. II thought you wouldn't
like sending either Of the motors In"
and Mr.. Booth?"
1--WE are to send for him after Mr..
Wrandall arrives. He is stopping at
the inn, wherever that may be-"
Poor fellow!" sighed Sara, with a
grimace. Il am sure he will like us
immensely IL he has been stopping at
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 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, ." 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.
Il wonder if you will ever under
stand how l feel about-about certain
things, Sara"
What, for instance?"
well, his very evident interest In
me-" cried the girl hotly. He sends
me flowers-this Is the 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 well send him about his
business" she said, unless he be-
comes more than friendly. Now. can
you?"
but it seems $3.50 horrible. %
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
in it-together. If Leslie WrandalI
| 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 mel"
"The other way round would be
more dramatic, / should say"
Good God Sara!" cried the girl in
horror. How can you even speak Of
such a thing?"
After all, why shouldn't" began
Sara, but stopped in the middle of her
suggestion, with the result that it had
its full effect without being uttered in
so many cold-blooGed words. The girl
~shuddered.
| wish, Sara, you would let me In
burden myself completely to you." she
pleaded. seizing her friends hands.
You have forbidden me-"
Sara jerked her hands away. Her
eyes flashed. 81 do not want to hear
it," she cried fiercely. Never, never!
Do you understand? 1t is your secret.
l will not share it with you. l should
hate you IL knew everything. AS it
is. ] love you because you are a wom-
an who suffered at 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 %confidante.
There is a 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 a look of anger. Where
upon Sara Wrandall threw her arm
about her and drew her down beside
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 1t is to be-"
said the other, you have but to think
of what It might have BEEN"
Il know" said Hetty, In a law
volse ~And YET , sssasstaas wo.Aar
! 49,