The state herald., 1917-03-16

IL again. IL Threw MIN into Diach PIT
Of agony and CONSERVATION.
Now, he could, but would not, be-
lieve It. He wondered who the heart
breaker" might be. He remembered
that Lois had been fond of Freneau
years before. He dismissed this sus-
picion with contempt. He loathed the
letter. Only towards and mischief
makers write such letters. He threw
this one from him as II 1t were some
thing unclean. Yet the anonymous
poison gnawed away in his brain. He
clenched and uncIenched his hands
and paced the floor. beads OF perspira.
ticn dripping down his face.
At last he fought 1t out with himself
and decided that he would trust Lois
till she was proved unworthy. How
ever. the letter seemed to whisper
to him. "A little test will do no
harm"
OF course, Lois was guiltless. but
perhaps she had been careless Of ap-
pearances. 1t would be better to
wait and rebuke tho indiscretion when
It occurred. He had been talking OF a
trip South to meeting Of board of
railroad directors on which his father
had placed him. It was not necessary
for him to 60, But he might pretend
that It was. and tell Lois good.by. and
pretend to leave. and then. He
dared not put the scheme into words.
But he dared not let the chance 60
past to make sure.
That evening. when he went home,
Lois greeted him with her usual
warmth. Before he had quite decided
what to do. he had told her that he
was called South for ten days. and
he had not urged her to go with him.
She did not ask to 20. In fact. he
thought that she took the bad news
with Just little too much philosophy.
He was tormented with shame and
suspicion.
The next day. when no went to his
ONCE. he bade her good-by as II he
were tho criminal and she the saint.
He could not have imagined that Lois
only waited his departure to fling on
her hat and her veil and speed to
Frcneau before he should leave for
his own ONCE.
She found him. and he gave her
cold welcome. When she told him
that David was to be In the far South
for . week. he did not seem to be in.
terested. When she rejoined that now
they could be together without the an
noyance Of David's presence. Frencau
solemnly reminded her Of the danger
from gossips and servants. He must
walk warily. now that he was
betrothed to . bank account like Stat.
ford's.
To this Lois made the astonishing
answer that II Now York was too full
Of spies. she would 20 elsewhere. She
reminded him Of . beautiful village In
tho Catskill mountains. and declared
her intention Of paying II = visit: also
she advised Frencau TO happen there
q tho same timc-his fnncce. Gloria,
was too III to SEQ him. anyway, and
he could give business trip a. an OK.
cuse.
Frcneau was indignant. but Lois was
dangerous. She threatened him again
with tho awful weapon Of suicide,
against which thcrc IL no defense. Hc
realised that he was tho prey Of 4
kind Of blackmailcr. He had once
thought Of Lois a. . conquest TO be
proud Of: now no saw that no himself
was tho victim and she tho tyrnnt.
With ono rash act shc could not only
destroy herself but all Frcncau's plans.
Again no surrendered. Surrender
was becoming habit. Hc made one
condition. that they should tnkc along
the letters they had exchanged and do.
stroy thcm. He wanted no written
evidence Of his past to impcril HIS f,,. |
turc. Lois consented. and hurried
away, rejoicing.
she left Frcncau In \ mood Of black
rago and rcmorsc. Tho quality OF his
rcmorso was shown In his mcditn.
tions. Ho thought OF tho many women |
he had dealt with lightly. and ho won. |
dcred II any moro OF them would riuc
10 threaten his security AZ a son.in.
tau NJ piernaut ata fYord