Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1917-08-01

ulti Nv Ittliuttu NV
"Oh-and now?"
I'm the idle rich" he Informed her
humorouSly AN uncle in India fell
off his horse. hunting--not very roman
tie, was it? And they cablcd me |
was the sole heir TO his vast estates"
II didn't know you had an uncle In
India" Ethel commented with some
surprise.
NO more did |. But--Cod bless
him." the captain said with mock rev
erence.
And why--why have you come
hac.T she inquired slowly.
For the same reason that went
away he said promptly.
What was thati'
"a woman
His soft reply. his serious eyes.
/ thrilled her But at the same time she
/ knew that she must no longer let him
remain in lovers moodshe who
would have given anything to hear
that one short month ago
You, Larry" She forced gay
laugh. "lTow exciting. Tell me, who
was she?'
"rhe woman I loved was his quiet
reply.
She could not mistake his meaning.
II never thought you were in love
with anybody" she rejoined.
But was and she was darlin'
the loveliest thing in the whole world,
watched over by some guardian angel
that brought her the best in life
"And yet she refused you?" Ethel
said with Il smile She wished that
Larry Redmond had not stayed to talk
with her. But the man fascinated her.
He always had. And though she knew
she had no right 10 listen to such
things rs he was telling her, some IT.
resistible force seemed to hold her
helpless until he should have told her
that he loved her.
"Ah. She hadn't the chance to re-
fuse me-" he was saying for | never
told hcr-bccausc how could |? | was
iust a captain in the army; how could
hope To take care Of her the way Il
man should take care of the woman he
loycSG"
Ethel's heart was heavy with the
thought Of what might have been.
How selfish you men arc Perhaps
She cared. too|' she suggested
Captain Redmond shook his head de-
spondently.
40, | think not" he replied. Il
don't think she even guessed how
! felt. don't think she guesscs now.
: You see, she was rich, she was beauti-
full. There were always a dozen men
} chaps. some of them. And one day
when they told me she was engaged
TO the bulliest Of them all, went
. away"
without saying Goodbye" Even he
caught the suspicion of reproach in her
. voice.
. II couldn't do that" he explained. 81
wanted her to be happy: but couldn't
quito bear TO see her happiness with
my own eyes And so I've tossed
away the last twelve months-no good
to anyone"
"yct now you've come back" she
said sadly to herself more than to
U him. She could not help remembering
what he had just said about the Irish
n being too late.
He turned to her eagerly.
J. "'Twas only the other day In PAM.
u ma picked mp copy of an old Times
!. and read there paragraph abou,
her. She was still Miss-Miss--an 50
: I'm here" he sale. pointedly, though he
|. had mentioned no name to identify the
girl of whom he spoke.
g Here" she asked as if perplexed.
r He went to her then.
"Ethel. Ethel. want you to marry
n mew he bcsought her. He lnccled up
y on the srttec beside her. please God
n say you wiz"
u "Oh. Larry. Larry She was bol
> happy aud sad-happy to know that h,
u really loved her, but desolatc whcl
y She realized that what he asked cout
!. never be.
"Oh, Ethel, love you'll love you"
And never even dreamed IT," Tn,
= irony of 1t all swept over her like som,
II cngulhng flood.
"lou care for me, too, don't you
'e Oh. say you do he begged.
y She rose, M If She would shake of
. the cruel srllaius that kent her AVA,