The Arvada enterprise., 1924-02-28
CHAPTER ViIl-Continued.

.onely and sorrowful. In the spring l
Owed him. | thought loved him. He
wanted me. ] was all alone in the
world. / didn't know that he loved
another woman. l thought she was
tcad-like Pierre. Prosper had clothes
Tor her there. ! suppose-lve thought
II out sincc-that she was to leave as
II for short journey. and then secret
ly so on that long one, and she
couldn't take many things with her
SO he had beautiful stufrs for her
and little suit to wear in the snow.
That's how | came TO call her the tall
child seeing that little suit, long and
narrow. This letter came one
morning. one nwfully bright morning.
lie read 1t and went out and the next
day he went away. Afterward found
the letter torn In two beside his desk
on the floor. ] took 1t and I've always
kept II. The tall child! He looked
so terrible VIXEN | called her that.
And she was your Betty all
the time!"
Yes" said Morcna slowly. "She
was my Betty nil the time" He gave
her twisted smile and put the two
papers carefully into an inside pocket.
Il am going to keep this letter, Jane.
| Truly the ways OF the Lord are past
Gnding out"
| joan looked at him in growing un-
enslness. Her mind, never quick to
take in all the bearings and the conse-
Quences OF her acts. was beginning to
work. "What are you going to do with
It, Mr.. Morenn? don't want you to
do Betty II hurt. She must have loved
Prosper Gael. Perhaps she still loves
him"
This odd appeal drew another diff
cult smile from Betty's husband.
quite obviously she still loves him.
Jane. She is divorcIng me so that she
Gun marry him."
| "But, Mr.. Morena. l don't believe he
will marry her now. He Is tired Of
her. He Is that kind OF lover. lie gets
tired. Now he would like to marry
me. He told me SO. rerhaps-if Betty
knew that-she might come buck to
you. without branding her.
Jasper wns startled out Of his venge-
ful stiffness.
prosper Gael wants to marry you
He has told you so7'
| Yes" She was sad and humbled
snow he wants to marry me and once
he told me things nbout marrying. He
said'-Joan quoted slowly, her eyes
hnlf-closed In Prosper's manner. her
voice a musical echo Of his thin. vi
brant tone-"'lt's mans most studied
Insult to woman"
Yes. that's Prosper" murmured
Jasper.
II wouldn't marry him. Mr. Morena.
even II l could-not II l were to be
burnt for refusing him."
Jasper looked probingly at her. a
new speculation In his eyes. She had
begun to fit definitely into his plans.
1t seemed there might he way to
Illustrate Betty and TO keep hold
upon his valuable protcgce. Are you
SO sure of that. jancT
| "Ah 90 she answered "you doubt II
because ! once thought loved him
But you don't know all about me. -
lie stood silent. busy with his wcav-
Ing, At last lie looked nt her rather
blankly. impersonully. Joar was con.
sclous of n frightened, lonely chill. She
put out her hand unccr,aInly, n
wrinkle appearing sharp and deep be.
| tween her eyes.
| MIR. Mor"na. plcase-l haven't any.
one but you. don't understand very
well what this divorcIng rightly
means. Nor whut they will do To HE.
| VIII YOU he thinking OF me n little?
wouldn't ask H. for know you nre un.
hnpry and bothered enough. but. you
| see"
lie did not notice the hand. ~,
| VIII come out right. Jane. Don,
| worry he said with absent gentle.
ness, Keep your mind on your work
III look out FOR your best interests
| he sure of that" lie came near to
| her, his hat In his hand. ready To go
TRY to forget NIL about II. will youi"
"oh, | cant do TINT. feel sort of
burnt Betty thinking-that But II
do my work just the same. OF course.
She sighed heavily nnd sat. the un
noticed hand clRspcd In It's fellow.
When he had gone she called ncry
ously for her maid. She Ind hI,hcr
TO unknown dread Of being nlonc, Bu
| when Mathilde. chosen by Betty. cam,
| with her furiiYe step and trrnchcrou
eyes, Joan invented some duty for her
II occurred to her tim, Mn,hidc NIGH
be on. of Bctty's witnesses. For SOM
time the girls wntchfulncss and IN
irusIons had become irritatinrly no
'lccnblc. And Morcna wns Juan's onl.
frcqucn, und Informal visitor.
'Ma'hllde thinks ! am-,hn,," Ion,
said TO herself. and nficrward, with
burst of weeping. sand. Of course. thu
Is whnt ! am" Her pas, sin prcss.,
upon her and she trcmblcd, remember