Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1918-08-09
CHAPTER xV.-continued.

by his departure after the eventful
birthday she had entirely recovered
or thought she had. Stephens ridicule
and Mrs. Corcoran Dunn's congratula-
ttons on radiance from the 'encum-
brance" shamed her and stilled the re-
breaches of her conscience. Mrs.
Dunn, as always, played the diplomat
and mingled just the proper quantity
of comprehending sympathy with the
congratulations.
81 understand exactly how you feel,
my dear" she said. you have ten
der heart, and it pains you to hurt any
ones feeling, no matter how much
they deserve to be hurt. You feel that
YOU may have been too harsh with that
guardian of yours. You remember
what you said to him and forget how
Theoretically he behaved toward you.
I can't forgive him that. l may forget
how he misrepresented Malcolm and
me to you-that l may even pardon In
time-but to deceive his own broth
ers children and introduce into their
society a creature who had slandered
and maligned their father-that l never
shall forget or forgive. And-youn
excuse my frankness, dear-you should
never forget or forgive it either. You
were a brave girl, and If you are not
proud of yourself l am proud Of you"
So when her uncle was announced
Caroline was ready. She entered the
library and acknowledged his greeting
hnu 10 oH
kindly, but his manner was grave.
well, Caroline" he began, II got
your letter"
Eyes, presumed you did"
"Um-hm. l got it. 1t didn't sur
prise me what you wrote, because I'd
seen the news in the papers, but was
hopin' you'd tell me yourself, and I'm
real glad you did. I'm much obliged to
you"
IL gave you my reasons for writ
ing" she said. although / do not
consider that l am in any sense duty
bound to refer matters other than fnan.
cial to you; and, although my feelings
toward you have not changed-still,
you are my guardian, and-and"-
II understand. So you're really en-.
gagged to Mr.. DUMB"
"Yes"
"And you're cal-latin' to marry him"
"One might almost take that for
granted" impatiently.
almost, yes. Not always, but gen.
orally, I will give in. You're goin' to
marry Malcolm Dunn. Why"
"Why, because choose, suppose"
"Um-hm! Are you sure of that?"
"Am l sure?" Indignantly. What
do you mean?"
II mean are you sure that it's be-
cause you choose, or because he does,
or maybe because his mother does?"
She turned angrily away. IF you
came here to insult me- she began.
He interrupted her.
''No, no." he protested gently. "In-
sultin' you is the last thing l want to
do. But, as your father did put you
In my charge, want you to bear with
me while we talk this over together.
Remember, Caroline, / amt bothered
you a great deal lately. l shouldn't
now If l hadn't thought twas neces-
sary. So please don't get mad, but an
sSwer me this: Do you care for this
man you've promised to marry?
Enough to live with him all your life
and see him every day and be to him
what a true wife ought to be? See
him, not with his company manners
on or in his automobile, but at the
breakfast table and when he comes
nome tired and cross maybe? When
you've got to be forbearin' and for
givin' and
HE is one Of my oldest and best
friends she interrupted. Her uncle
went on without waiting for her to end
the sentence
II know" he said zone of the
Oldest, that's sure. But friendship,
'cordin' to my notion, is somethin' so
small In comparison that 1t hardly
counts in the manifest. Married folks
ought to be friends, sartin sure, but
they ought to be whole lot more'n
that. I'm an old bach, you say, and
amt had no experience. That's true,
but I've been young, and there was q
time when I made plans. However
she died, and 1t never come to nothin'
But l know what 1t means to be en-.
gagged, the right kind of engagement
1t means that you don't count yourself
at all, not bit. You're ready each
OF you, to give up all you've got
your wishes, comfort, money and what
It'll buy and your life, If it should come
to that, for that other one. Do you
care for Malcolm Dunn like that, Caro-
line?"
She answered defiantly.
Yes, l do" she said.
You do. Well, do you think he feels
the same way about your"
Yes" With not quite the same
promptness, but still defantly.
You feel sartin of it, do your"
She stamped her foot. "Yes, yes,
yes" she cried. "Oh do say what you
came to say and end it."
Her uncle rose to his feet.
why, guess likely I've said It." he
observed. when two people care for