The Raymer enterprise., 1919-01-09
CHAPTER xv-ceatinusd.

His niece was expecting him. She
had anticipated his visit and was pro-
pared for It From the emotion caused
By bis departure after the eventful
birthday she had entirely recovered
or thought she had. Stephens ridlcule
aud Mrs. Corcoran Dunn's congratula-
tions on riddance from the .encum-
brance" shamed her and stilled the re-
proaches Of her conscience. Mrs
Dunn, as always. played the diplomat
and mingled just the proper quantity
Of comprehending sympathy with the
congratulAtions.
II understand exactly how you feel,
my dear" she said. You have q ten
der heart, and 1t 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
hypocrihcally be behaved toward you.
I can't forgive him that l may forget
how be misrepresented Malcolm and
me to you-that | may even pardon in
,time-but to deceive his own broth
ser's children and introduce into their
society a creature who had slandered
and maligned their father-that never
shall forget or forgive. And-you'll
excuse my frankness, dear-you should
hever forget or forgive It either. You
were . brave GIRL and II you are not
proud Of yourself am proud Of you"
So when her uncle was announced
Caroline was ready. She entered the
library and acknowledged his greeting
with q distant bow. He regarded her
Kindly, but his manner was grave.
well, Caroline" he began, II got
your letter"
Eyes, presumed you did"
"Um-hm. ! 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"
I'll gave you my reasons for writ.
ing" she said. although do mot
consider that I am in any sense duty
bound to refer matters other than finan-
-cial to you: and, although my feelings
toward you have not changed-still,
Jon are my guardian. and-and"-
II understand. So you're really en-.
gagged to Mr.. Dunnr
"Yes."
"And you're cal-latin' to marry himr
"One might almost take that for
granted" impatiently.
"Almost, yes. Not always, but gen.
orally, I win give in. You're goin' to
marry Malcolm Dunn. why?"
'sWhy, because l choose, suppose"
"Um-hml Are you sure Of thatr
"Am surer Indignantly. "What
do you meanY
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. III you
came here to insult me- she began.
he interrupted her.
"No, moi" be protested gently. "In.
sultin' you is the last thing l want to
do. But, as your father did put you
in my charge, l want you to bear with
me while we talk this over together.
4 Remember, Caroline, I amt bothered
you a great deal lately. I shouldn't
now II l hadn't thought twas neces.
sary. 80 please don't get mad, but an
swer me this: Do you care for this
man you've promised to maryi
! Enough to live with him all your life
and zee him every day and be to him
what q true wife ought to BET See
him, not with his company manners
on or In bis automobile. but at the
breakfast table and when he comes
home tired and cross maybef When
you've got to be forbearin' and for
givin' and"--
HE b one Of my Oldest and best
friendS'- she interrupted. Her uncle
went on without waiting for her to end
the sentence.
II know" be said. Zone Of the
Oldest, that's sure. But friendship,
'cordjn' to my notion. Is somethin' 90
small In comparison that 1t hardly
counts In the manifest. Married folks
ought to be friends, sartin sure, but
they ought to be a whole lot more'n
thft1 I'm an old bach, you say, and
a&had no experience. That's true,
but I've been young. and there was a
time when made plans. However,
she died, and 1t never come to nothin'.
But know what 1t means to be en-.
gagged, the right kind Of engagement.
1t means that you don't count yourself
at all, not a 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, II 1t should come
to that, for that other one. Do you
care for Malcolm Dunn like that, Caro-
tneY
She answered dedantly.
z Yes, l do" she sAid.
"You do. Well. Do you think he feels
the same way about your
Yea" With not quite the same
promptness, but still de6antly.
@You feel sartin Of II, do your
She stamped. her foot. "Yes, yes,
tyssr she cried, %Oh, do say what You
came to say and end I'll"