The Hartford herald. [volume] (Hartford, Ky.) 1875-1926, 1922-02-01

HER cONFIDANTE
BY JACK LAwToM


topyrfeht. 1871. western Newspaper Unsoa
Ihe young woman on the opposite
side Of the fireplace looked long and
speculatlveiy 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 personiiied 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
he serious with one, sharing ones
seriousness.
Irresistible" the men said Of her,
admirlngiy.
what is It that men all like In
herr women asked. wondering.
Gay, unaware of her charm and pop
ularity, bent closer to her friend.
'ieopie are NICE" she cOnfded. 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, "is the especially Rice
persOnr
Gay hesltated, then laughed. "He
came" she replied. ito spend two
months last summer at the country
hotel where I was stopping"
HE must" the woman remarked.
"have been unusually entertaining to
engage your attention, Gay, for the
space of two MONTHS"
"IIe was" Gay answered her, "the
most interesting man 1 ever met"
Honore leaned forward anxlOusly.
My dear" she said, that descrip-
ton Of yours sounds like adOring love.
Some way don't want you to love
any man In adoring, fashion"
Gays cheeks took on the glow of
the fire. lie wants me to marry him."
she answered softly.
The other woman sighed. Tell me
about him. dear" she invited.
Strangely enough Gay echoed tho
sigh There is little to tell" she re-
piled. Jack was never cOmmunica-
tive. lie came from Chicago, had
Travelled much as Il 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,
VIII! whom lac became well acquaint
ed, but he forgot her when long
business commission carried him away.
After his sister married, Jack drifted
hn ar
Rayner's. happened to he the one
woman of his life" Gay paused. at |
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
it is settled" she said, that you and
your Jack are to marry"
NO." Gay replied. mot settled. lit !
Is strange. H0nore, you will not be /,
able to understand, but some disqulet- ,
ing instinct holds me back. Yet | seem /
to love Jack, every waking hour Is
haunted by thoughts of him. | told !
you you would not understand"
But do understand" HonOre sud
quickly. "You would prove him. and
yourself, dear, by absence. That Is :
wise. IL had been as wise years ago
my life might not he now the shat
tered thing that it is. | have told you
that distrust men. | have reason to
do So"
Gays eyes were wide. why, l
never guessed thal you had known an
unfortunate romance, IIonore," she
said. when you came here | did
wonder little that you refrained from
mentioning your Husband. Was II he
VINO deceived you, dear? Or can 1t be
possible that you are not a widow,
after all?" Forgive me-" Gay added,
as her friends face palcd.
But iiOnore answered bravely,
milne Is the saddest kind of widow
hood am deserted wife"
Deserted :" Gay cried, "you sweet
est of lovable women"
81 believed In my husband" HonOre
went on, "aud adOred him, as you
brighten me by adOrlng this man who
has captured your pure heart. My
husband was ever amused and willing
to bask in the smiles of admiriDs
women, even to make light love 10
them, returning iaughinGly repentant
from each Irritation, while |, who had
given him absolutely my faith, was
wounded into suffering despair. Then.
at last, he left me. II was truly re-
lease, had he not taken with him all
my bright confidence and trust that
| would give much to regain. | have
wondered" EIonore ended wistfully,
''if he will be permitted TO go on ever
untouched and unhccding. while 9TH
ers, innocent. suffer"
Gay arose; tears were In her soft
eyes. A snapshot picture dropped
from her letter. Absently ionOre.
stopped to pick II up. A mans at
tractlve face met her gaze, his dark
eyes cold, commanding. She grew
chastity pate.
Gay" she pleaded, mot this-not
I"