The Lamar register., 1917-03-07

KetS out hIter them anu phITeu Int
door
In the morning Vandervyn was re-
lieved to find that the nights rest
had lightened her mood. She cooked
delicious little breakfast, and was
pleased to be very gracious to him.
The anxiety with which he had met
her at the cabin door soon vanished.
He fell into the gallantry of an ac-
cepted suitor who is very much in
love and a bit uncertain of his con-
quest.
He waited until Dupont went to
fetch the horses before he ventured
to reopen the question of questions: /:
Sweetheart, you've had time to think
1t over and decide. Tell me, when is
to be the happy day?"
eyes" she murmured, 'T have
thought it over"
You will name an early date!" he
exclaimed. assured by the coy sweet
ness of her look.
Her smile faded, and she dropped
forward in an attitude of humility that
he had never before seen her pride
permit. She replied in a meek voice:
''Oh, no, mol l must do what is just
by you. Think what 1t would be like
for you to take back with you as your
wife quarterbreed girl straight on an
Indian reservation"
vandervyn WINGED, rallied, and re-
Joined with ardor Let them think
what they please, so long ms you are
my wifei'
"Thnt is most gallant and-brave Of
youI" she murmured. 'But-there is
also Pere."
vandervyn bit his lip. "Need he
come alOng?"
Marie looked up, her eyes full Of ten
der reprOach.
II did not think that Of you, Reggie.
How can l leave him here alone2 You
have never seemed to realize that
came back from Ottawa because l
wished to be with him. Even before
went to convent l saw the traits In
him that you see, but also l saw some
thing more-the man that he might
have been"
Don't imagine I'm asking you to
give him up" Yandervyn hastened to
disclaim. "All l suggest is that we
take our honeymoon trip alone"
"And leave Pere with no one to cook
for him-leave him herel Can't you
guess what would happen? Within a
week-n fortnight at the utmost-he
would marry the youngest and best
cook within reach. breed girl by pref
erence-most likely Charlie's sister"
Vandervyn WINGED as II cut across
the face with n whiplash.
''No-not herr he stammered.
"Thnt-lt would he impossible! She
would be | tell you, I viii not
stand for it-I cannotf"
''Of course that could not be per
mitted." sweetly agreed Marie. 81
would not care to come back and ind
l had acquired a stepmother as young
or younger than myself--no, not even
II she were as clean and as good a
girl ns is Olnna Redbear."
''Then - you - think -" hesitnted
vandervyn.
Listen. I have thought and thought,
and now I have 1t all planned out.
I must do what is just by you. yet,
8s YOU see I cannot leave Perc here.
You Lluy remember that | told y"u 70
little about the English people ! knew
in Ottawa. When ! saw that yuu
thought I was romancing, ! said no
more except in hints. I really was
more Intimate with Lady Nerlainc
than you viii find it easy 10 believe.
Her son and daughters We're already
married. She took fancy to me.
When was to come home, she invited
me to visit her in England. | had
told her all about myself and Pere.
We correspond regularly. She has re-
newed her invitation more than once.
The last time she insisted that
should come without further delay.
and bring Pere with me-"
"She dIdT" exclaimed Vandervyn.
"Then why not all three Of us go to-
getherT'
Marie dropped again in her attitude
of meek humility.
You are so generous, Reggie, to be
willing to travel with Pere But |
cannot allow you to make such a sac
rifice. No; there Is a better way. I
shall go alone with Pere to England,
and then perhaps for little visit TO
Paris with the sister of the mother
superior of my convent. Pere has
never forgotten his French-Canadinn
dialect, and l have been tinkering II
into fairly good French A month or