The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1939-08-10

Then / beat 1t and got here as fast
as I could / had to talk it over
with you people or-burst. His eyes
met Evans and found there the
sympathy he sought. "It's a rotten
trick '~---~-- ~-..~--
"Yes," said Evans, rotten"
81 think" said Mrs. Toilette,
"that you must both see it is best. y
Yet her voice was troubled. Though
her complacency had penetrated the
thought of what James engagement
might mean to Evans. Yet, it might,
on the other hand, be blessing in
disguise. There were other wom-
en-, richer-who would help him in
his career. And in time he would
forget Jane.
Old Mary gave them their coffee.
"Shall we walk for a bit, Baldy?"
Evans said, when at last they rose.
The two men made their way to-
wards the pine grove The twilight
sky was a deep purple with a thin
sickle of a moon and a breathless
star.
And there in the little grove under
the purple sky Evans said to Baldy,
81 love her."
81 know. wish to God you had
her"
Badly" Evans said, "I don't
agree with you that it was-the mon
ey. That may have helped in her
decision. But | think she cares"
"For Towne-nonsense."
''It isn't nonsense. She knows
nothing of love- She may have TAX
en- the shadow for the substance.
And he can be very-charming" It
wrung his heart to say it. But al
most with clairvoyance he saw
the truth.
When they returned to the house
Badly found message from Edith.
He was to call her up.
"Uncle Frederick has just told
me-" she said, "that Jane is to be
( my aunt. Isn't it joyful?"
"Pm not sure"
"Why not?"
"Oh, Towne's all right. But no
for Jane"
81 see. But he's really in low,
with her, poor old duck. Talked
about it all through dinner. He!
going to try awfully hard to make
her happy"
''Then you approve?"
He heard her gay laugh over The
wire. ''It will be nice-to have yot
lin the family. I'll be your niece
in-law."
You'll be nothing of the kind"
"You can't help being - Uncle
Baldy. Isn't that-delicious? AnC
now, will you come in tonight anc
sit by my fire? Uncle Frederick i:
out"
"I've sat too often by your fire.
''Too often for your own peace o.
mind? I know that. And I'm glac
of it." Again he heard a ripple O
laughter.
1T isn't thing to laugh at"
She hesitated, then said in a diff
ferent tone, II am not laughing. Blu
! want you by my fire tonight"
1t was late when Evans went up
stairs. He had spent the evening
with his mother, discussing with hel
some matters where his legal knowl
edge helped. They did not speak o.
Jane. Their avoidance of the sub
ject showed their preoccupation with
it. But neither dared approach it
On the bedside table in Evans
room lay the valentine he hac
bought for Jane. There it was, with
its cupids and bleeding hearts-its
forget-me-nots-and golden darts.
Arthur Lane and Sandy talked il
over. 81 wonder what has hap
pened. He looks dreadful
The two boys were on their way te
Castle Manor. They wanted books
Evans library was house
for youthful readers. 1t had all the
old adventuring tales. And Evans
had read everything. He would sim.
ply walk up to shelf, lay his hand
on a book, and say, Here's one
you'll like" And he was never
wrong.
But of late, Evans Toilette hac
met them with an effort. Look fol
yourselves" he had said, when they
asked for books, and had sat star
ing into the fire. And he had moi
urged them to stay. His manner
had been kind but inattentive. They
were puzzled and little hurt. 81
feel sorta queer when he acts that
way" Sandy was saying, as if he
didn't take any interest. | don't
even know whether he wants US any
more"
Arthur refused to believe his hero
inhospitable. 1T just that he's goi
things on his mind"
They reached the house and rang
the bell. Old Mary let them in
He's in the library" she said
and they went towards it. The door
was open and they entered. Bui
the room was empty
That morning Baldy had had a let
ter from Jane and had handed it tc
Evans. 1t was the first long letter
since her engagement to Towne
Badly had written to his sister, fam