Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1917-09-21

6hC BhlA Abo
right, Steve; it's the thing for you to
do. He and l were agreed as to that.
And you wouldn't stay and make 1t
harder for me, would you, dear?'
He growled a reluctant assent. 81
suppose l shall have to CO. he said
sullenly. my allowance Is o beastly
small to have him cutting 1t, and The
old shark would do that very thing.
He'd take delight In doing 1t, confound
him. Well, he knows what we think
of him. That's some comfort"
She did not answer. He looked at
her curiously.
"Why, hang 1t all, Caro-" he exclaim-
ed In disgust, what ais you? Bless
ed If 1 shan't begin to believe you're
sorry he's gone. You act as If you
were"
mo, I'm not. OF course I'm not.
I'm-I'm glad. He couldn't stay, of
course. But I'm afraid can't help
feeling that you and l were too harsh
last night. We said things-dreadful
things
"Be hanged! We didn't say half
enough. Oh, don't be a fool, Caro-! l
wa. Just beginning to be proud Of your
grit. And now you want to take 1t all
back. Answer me, now, Are you sorry
he's gomez"
mo. No, I'm not, really. But II
feel somehow as if-as If everything
was on my shoulders. You're going
away and he's gone and-what is II,
Edwards?"
The butler entered with a small par
eel In his hand.
IT beg your pardon, Miss Caroline"
he said. 81 should have given you this
last evening. 1t was by your place at
the table. l think Captain Warren put
it there, miss"
He bowed and retired. The girl sat
turning the little white box in her
hands.
HE left it for me-" she said. "What
can it be?"
Her brother snatched it impatiently.
"Why don't you open it and find out?'
he demanded. perhaps it's his latch
key. HereI I'll do it myself"
He cut the cord and removed the COW
er of the little box. Inside was the
jewelers. leather case. He took it out
and pressed the spring. The cover
few up.
"Whew !" he whistled. Its a pres
ent. And rather a decent one, too, by
CAD! Look Carol"
He handed her the open case. She
looked at the chain spread carefully on
the white satin lining. Inside the Gov
er was fitted a card. She turned 1t
over and read: ITO my niece, Caro-
line. With wishes for many happy re-
turns and much love, from her Uncle
Elisha Warren"
She sat gazing at the card. Stephen
bent down, read the inscription and
then looked up into her face.
"What?" he cried. Il believe-you're
not crying! Well, I'll be hangedl Sis,
you are a fool"
The weather that morning was fine
and clear. James Pearson, standing by
the window of his rooms at the board
ing house, looking out at the snow COW
cred roofs sparkling in the sun, was
miserable. When he retired the night
before it was with a solemn oath to
forget Caroline Warren altogether; to
put her and her father and the young
cad, her brother, utterly from his mind,
to be thought of again.
Why-why had he beer so weak as
to yield to Captain Elisha's advice?
Why had he not acted like a sensible,
self respecting man, done what he
knew was right and persisted in his
refusal to visit the Warrens? Why?
Because he was an idiot, Of course-a
hopeless idiot, who had got exactly
what he deserved! Which bit of phi
losophy did not help make his refec-
lions less bitter.
After breakfast he went to his room,
seated himself at his desk an6 took the
manuscript of his novel from the
drawer.
He was still sitting there, twirling
an idle pencil between his fingers,
when he heard steps outside his door.
Some n knocked.
"Well what Is it?" he asked.
His landlady answered.
"Mr. Pearson" she said, may I see
your"
He threw down the pencil and, ris-
ing, walked to the door and opened 1t.
Mrs. Hepton was waiting in the hall.
She seemed excited.
"Mr. Pearson she said, will you
step downstairs with me for a mo-
ment? 1 have a surprise for you.'
"a surprise? What sort of a sur
prise?"
"Oh, a pleasant one-at least I think
1t is going to be a pleasant n for all
of us. But I'm not going to tell you
what it is. You must come down and
see for yourself"
On the second floor Mrs. Hepton