The St. Charles herald. [volume] (Hahnville, La.) 1873-1993, 1917-10-13

promised to try.
He called on Mrs. Wood about two |
days after this for the express purpose
Of making good his promise. But
somehow or other he failed to switch |
the subject around to the proper angle !,
of attack, and came away without hay :
ing accomplished his mission. How
ever he determined to try again. Sew |
eral other attempts followed without |
having screwed his courage up to the |
sticking point He began to feel like a
traitor to Doris. But then he tempor'
lied with his conscience by reasoning
that before one could NEEDLE with such
a delicate subject ne must be tOlerably
well acquainted with the person to be
argued with. He concluded 1t was his
duty to make his ground safe by cult
waiting closer acquaintance. In pur-
suance Of this laudible object Lane
was one evening distinctly surprised
| by a sudden strange turn OF the con-
versation started by Mrs. Wood. She
began to speak Of Doris and John
| Winter.
| II had always thought them an ideal
| ly happy couple; but" Here she
paused as though unable to go on then
looked questioningly at Lane as though
he might supply the break. This was
certainly his golden opportunity to
make good his promise to Doris. But
instead he preferred to let the lady
20 on in the hope that he might learn
| e. a.,
between the lady and Mr.. John Winter.
But she continued to look at him with-
out speaking until he broke the EN-
barrassing silence by saying: "Well-
why don't you go on?"
II thought you would perhaps spare
me the unpleasantness of going on
she said.
Lane thoroughly mystified and mis-
cradle, must have expressed his state
of mind in his face. for after studying
him q moment she went on: do you
mean. Mr.. Lane, that you do not I'M
derstand me?"
II must say I don't quite compre-
bend your meaning" he said.
"Well, then, | suppose l must come
out plainly. Your attentions to Doris
Winter are the talk of everyone. John
Winter is intensely miserable over it
all. He hates to speak to Doris about
it. He is a man of such fine standards,
so high minded and delicately fibered
he cannot bear to have her think he
suspects her of disloyalty to him, but
. he is utterly miserable. | am very s0r-
~ for him, and he has in way taken
me into his confidence, and l have told
him l would do what l could to find
out the true state of affairs"
Lane was at first too stunned by this
revelation to see the fine humOr of the
situation When he did it was with
some difficulty he restrained himself
from unSeemly laughter.
"Why." he exclaimed. there has
never been anything between Doris
and me but an old friendship which be
gan long before she was married. II
; has always been as perfectly harmless
as a Sunday school lesson
! Here Lane gave vent to his pent-uT
mirth and laughed.
7 ut may seem harmless to you she
, said gruvely, but it is likely to have
serious consequences if you persist il
, this harmless friendship Besides,
7 can't see how you can laugh over some
: thing that may wreck the happiness OF
, two people"
! II am not laughing at that-not fol
enc moment" he said. eff / though
Of foIrinu {
hand at coming between HUSBAND
!. and wife should desist on the instant
But you see l was so taken by surprise
:. I was sort of-of nabbergasted."
"Well," said Mrs. Wood, Il must sa!
you have greatly relieved my mind.
think I must believe you will, as yol
say. 'desist' from stirring up furthe
trouble in the Winter family"
;. "Yes," he rejoined, Il think the win
l ter of my discomfort is DER" and h
laughed again.
r Mrs. Winter was distinctly dis
u pleased at his taking the affair s.
II lightly, and she showed it in her fac
and more plainly in her tone when sh
e spoke.
: 81 must say fail to see the laugh
q able side of this"
IS 81 guess" replied Lane, I'm rattle
s. driven to explain. l hope, then, you'll
e. see where the laugh comes in. FroI
le Doris point of view it was you VIII
+ we've breaking up the family"
$. 81" cried Mrs. Wood. Il breakin
It up the family? Whoever thought o
~ such a thing?"
ut "Doris did. She feared her husban
ID had begun to transfer all his affection
to you. She really loves him, you know
n and the prospect of losing him wa
IN breaking her heart"
"For heavens sake! What an idea
#, Why. John Winter is so wrapped up /
ID Doris he never dreamed of falling i
love with me. He just wanted to tai
n It over with me for help and syn
1u nathv. AS for me falling in love wit
him, why, might just as soon &c
W sentimental over my own brother. Poo
1T little Doris!'
eyes" put in Lane, Il couldn't hel
&c feeling sorry for her, You see, sf
ly asked me to try and tntercede wit