The Monmouth inquirer., 1922-09-28

TO tell her of the death
.Of YOUR wife!' cried AmabeL
YES he said.
She began to regard hisSvisit from
an entirely different point OF view.
The affair looked extremely serious.
Then you have come to--to-'
TO ask Pauline to marry me, he
answered.
But you--you can't cried Amabel.
You mustn't
Why mustn't II he asked.
TITS quite impossible
But please tell me why;' said Wray.
You see, you are too late Amabel
retorted excitedly.
Too latei'
Shells already engaged to be mar
ried,' said Amabel
They stood staring at each other,
little ludicrously.
How long has Pauline been en-
gagadT he asked.
about a fortnight
I wish you would fix the date he
suggested
1t was the fifteenth OF May she
said
The day Mrs. Cathcart received
my letter.
If she received It
I happen to know that my solici-
to received his on May the fifteenth
said Wray, and posted the two to-
gether. Then you think Pauline did
not hear l had written2' .ssa
I am sure. answered Anaabel5,
Whom is she going to marryG' he
demanded.
Sir Gilbert Strachan.
L remember Strachan,' said Wray. !
Two years are long time, ycn
know. remarked Amabel, regarding
him with rather comical expression
Why, yes; found them long, he
said. OF course, he added. II Paul
inc has deliberately
My sister always acts deliberately
she exclaimed.
Anyhow, should still like to see
her he said.
We'll, then, you must come on
Thursday, she returned.
He left Amabel considerably per-
picked. She could not in the least un-
derstand him. He had obviously come
to England for the express purpose
of asking Pauline to be his wife: and
consequently it must be extremely
disappointing, to say the least, to hear
that she was going to marry Sir
Gilbert.
But Wray certainly bore II well.
He betrayed none OF the signs which
q fairly complete acquaintance with
modern Light literature led Amabel to
associate with broken heart. She
was still pondering the subject when
Mr. Cathcart returned from his Police
Court.
I had visitori' she exclaimed.
Mrs. Bishop
Guess again, father
. Not Mrs. Venables!'
Wrong again. It was man. you
know
Was it Bernard venahles?' he
asked rather gravely.
Amabel had forgotten Bernard for
the moment
Bernard did just look In to con-
graduate Pauline she said with
flush. But some one eise.'
All, a friend of Pauline's, / sus-
pect, said Mr. Cathcart.
'Yes-it was, certainly a friend of
Pauline's,' answered Amabel dryly.
'Not-not Waterhouse! he exclaim-
cd, with an alarmed expression.
How immensely clever of you!' she
rejoined- Whatever put Mr. Water
house into your mind?'
"A naturaK Tendency to anticipate
evil said Mr. Cathcart. What did
tie man wantY
TO see Pauline limited she was
otherwise engaged. declined to give
him her address,
Quite right, said, Mr.. Cathcart,
with warm approval.
Imagine Mr.. Waterhouse suddenly
descending amidst the peaceful sur
roundings Of Horsemerels she cried.
Mr.. Cathcart solemnly shook his
head.
He has lost his wife, you know
Amabel continued.
Hal! he CALCULATED in non-com-
initial tone.
And she said, eyeing her father
curiously. he insists that he wrote
to mother
AT all events, Il you told him about
Pauline's engagerhent'
oh. ! did.
He is not likely to trouble us
further, said Mr. Cathcart with an air
of relief
But unfortunately answered ANA
bel. he is coming to see her ON Thufss
day afternoon
Thank God, your mother will be at
home, Amabell'
Shall you be writing tonightY she
asked. :
4 certainly shall not mention
Warehouses; name, he answered.
a pity to spoil their visit. Thursday
will be quite soon enough
I intended to write Pauline, faith
err