The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1921-12-30
HER CONFIDANTE


side Of the fireplace looked long and
speculatively at Gay. The young
woman was Ike many others, good
looking. acceptable In the conventional
mode. Gay was different. One could
not tell just why, perhaps because she
so happily personified her name. Gays
eyes seemed ever alight with sympa-
thetic good humor; the corners Of her
lips ever ready to break into an under
standing smile. And yet, Gay could
be serious with one, sharing ones
seriousness.
Irresistible" the men ssid Of her.
admiringly.
"What is 1t that men all like In
herr" women asked. wondering.
Gay, unaware Of her charm and pop
ularity, bent closer to her friend.
'People are NICE" she cOnfided. "Some
of them so nice. that 1t Is difficult to
keep from loving"
The young woman on the opposite
side Of the fire smiled. "Who now"
she questioned, sis the especially nice
person."
Gay hesitated, then laughed. "He
came" she replied, ito spend two
months last summer at the country
hotel where / was stopping"
HE must" the woman remarked,
shave been unusually entertaining to
engage your attention, Gay, for the
space Of two months"
HE was" Gay answered her. "the
most interesting man ever met"
Honore leaned forward anxiously.
MY DEAR" she said, that .descrip-
ton of yours sounds like adoring love.
Some way l don't want you to love
any man In adoring fashion,"
Gays cheeks took on the glow Of
the fire. "He wants me to marry him"
she answered softly.
The other woman sighed. "Tell me
about him. dear" she invited.
Strangely enough Gay echoed the
sigh. There is little to tell" she re-
piled. Jack was never communica-
tive. He came from Chicago, had
travelled much as civil engineer. and
had always been too busy with study
and achievement to associate with
young women. There was only one
girl, he said, friend Of his sisters,
with whom he became well acquaint-
ed, but he forgot her when long
business commission carried him away.
After his sister married, Jack drifted
on lonesomely, until he met me at
Rayner's. i happened to. be the one
woman Of his life." Gay paused. 1T
was wonderful, Honore," she added.
"that Jack should also promise to be
the one man Of my life."
Silence in the freight, then Hon
ores hand touched Gays head. Then
1t is settled" she said, shat you and
your Jack are to marryT
Z "No," Gay replied, mot settled. lit
is strange, Honore, you will not be
able to understand, but some disQuiet-
Ing instinct holds me- back. Yet seem
to love Jack, every waking hour Is
haunted by thoughts Of him. l told
you you would not understand"
"But I do understand" Honore said
quickly. "You would prove him, and
yourself, dear, by absence. That 10
wise. II had been as wise years ago
my life might not be now the shat
tered thing that 1t is. ! have told you
that distrust men. have reason to
do so."
Gays eyes were wide. "Why, I
never guessed that you had known an
unfortunate romance, Honore," she
said. "When you came here ! did
wonder little that you refrained from
mentioning your husband. Was 1t he
who deceived you, dearf Or can 1t be
possible that you are not a widow,
after allf" Forgive me-" Gay added,
as her friends face paled.
But Honore answered bravely,
Mine Is the saddest kind Of widow
hood am deserted wife,"
Deserted ]" Gay cried, "you sweet
est Of lovable women"
II believed In my husband" Honore
went on. "and adored him, as you
Brighten me by adoring this man who
has captured your pure heart. My
husband was ever amused and willing
to bask In the smiles Of admiring
women, even to make light love to
them. returning laughinsly repentant
from each firtation; while I, who had
given him absolutely my faith, was
wounded into suffering despair. Then,
at last. he left me. 1t was truly re-
lease, had ne not taken with him all
my bright confidence and a trust that
i would give much to regain. / have
wondered" Honore ended wistfully,
III he will be permitted to 60 on ever
untouched and unheeding, while 9TH
ers. Innocent, suffer-"
Gay arose; tears were In her soft
eyes. A snapshot picture dropped
from her letter. Absently Honore.'
stopped to pick 1t up. A mans at
tractlve face met her gaze. his dark
eyes cold, commanding. She grew
CHASTITY. pale.
Gay" she pleaded, mot this--not
your--Jack v
slowly Gay answered.: 'sThis pic
ture II Of Jack Holden, the man Of
whom 1 have been speaking."
1T IL also the picture" Honore said
harshly. "of tho man whom / married"