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Show HE SAVED HIS FRIEND In Fact, Two Friends . Were Saved From Impending but Different Disasters. By CECILLE LANQDCN. "It Is certainly very mysterious," said Mrs. Little. "Druno Is acting so strangely I cannot account for It at all." "It Is worse than mysterious It Is positively heartbreaking!" said Ina Dawes, but sho said It to herself. "Everything was going so lovely," continued the little widow. "I Invited you down here. Bruno, as my heart dearly wished, was moro than attentive atten-tive to you. His friend, Jack Lowry, came on. Then Deatrico Dale has that stately Miss Vavasour visit her. Right away, too, Bruno neglects you and becomes devoted to Miss Vavasour. Poor Jack, tho rejected, Is Inconsolable Inconsola-ble and you, my dear " "Don't think of mo, my friend," said Inn bravely. "I am afraid I attached too much weight to your brother's flirting." "But Bruno was not flirting," disclaimed dis-claimed Mrs. Little solomnly. "I know I he wasn't." "Then?" "That Miss Vavasour has simply hypnotized him with her queenly ways and really handsome face. He will come back to bis first allegiance. Trust me." It was certainly a complex1 and dismal dis-mal situation at Poplar drove, the pretty country home of the fashion-iblo fashion-iblo widow, Mrs. Little. Life had gono llko u beautiful dream for Ina, until this stately Miss Vavasour had appeared ap-peared on the scene. At first Jack, the enthralled, had been her ardent knight errant. Then Bruno had supplanted sup-planted him unmistakably In the affections af-fections of tho new brilliant star. Ina left her friend and old college companion, and walked pensively through tho garden towards the river. Sho sighed as sho saw a dolorous-faced dolorous-faced gentleman pacing a densely "Even She Does Not Look Happy," Reflected Ina. ' shaded by-path. It was Jnck Lowry, usually tho soul of cheerfulness. Ina reflected thnt this wilful, coquettish Miss VavaBour had a good deal to an- swor for In distracting tho happiness of others. Sweet Ina was deeply hurt Druno Moore had certainly taken a Btep beyond be-yond mere friendship In thoso first days of her stay at Poplar Grove. I Even now when they met there was a latent fondness in his eyes for her, ' and a loyal expression of regard In his treatment of his oldest chum. Jack. Yet all bis spare time was do-voted do-voted to Miss Vavasour, so what could thoy think except that his real Interest was centorcd In tho new beauty? , Ina strolled along rather dejectedly until she reached the rustic brlago spanning tho river. Sho Bat down , near somo bushes on tho bank. Then she Idly watched a now comor on the scone. ThU was Beatrice Dale The' latter stood leaning and half Beatod on ' tho frail railing that protected tho ' brldgo, I "Even sho does not look happy," ro-, floe ted Ina. "Thoy say she was at one tlmo very much In lovo with Bruno. Ah, mo!" and tho llttlo maid I sighed, and half wished she had never como away from the sereno homo whero sho had novcr so much aa heard of such a thing as heartwreck. Suddonly there was a crackling sound upor. the still air, a shriek and a spaBh. Miss Dale had Infringed too fully upon tho Integrity of tho flimsy brldgo rail. It had given way, and sho was precipitated Into the water ton feet below Tho startled Ina noticed no-ticed that sho landed sideways against one of the extending timber supports of the brldgo. Stunned and helpless, sho sank; sho came to tho surface again, but limp and HfelcBs, Ina was a superb sulmmor, for she had been brought up In n seaport town. Sho was soon In tho water Sho could not, however, sustain tho doad weight of tho Insensible girl nnd swim to shoro. Fortunately, after drifting twenty feet, she nenred a wire running run-ning to a timber under tho brldgo, clung to It, holding the rescued girl out of tho water, and screamed for help, j It was Jack Lowry who firally np- pearcd, He roon had both girls safe on the hank It was Tnrk wiio car- 1 rled Miss Dale to hor home The noxt .Cay lu received a note from Miss Dale asking her to call upon her at once Ina found Jack seated on tho porch of th Dale home. He flushed a trifle as he saw Ina, mumbled some excuso about an engagement, and tho two girls wero alone. "I havo something to say to you, Miss Dawes," began Beatrice In a tremulous tono. "You saved my life yesterday." "Brave Jack" began Ina. "No, you. I have something to confess to you, something I feel very sorry for, now that I see how unhappy I havo made you you, who hare done so much for me. I sent purposely purpose-ly for tny friend, Miss Vavasour, to win tho lore of Bruno Moore away from you, because I was Jealous and wicked." Beatrice was crying by the timo sho got through with her humiliating confession. con-fession. Ina smiled sadly and stroked strok-ed her hand reassuringly. "Novor mind, doar," she said courageously. cour-ageously. "If Miss Vavasour Is Bruno's fate, let us wish htm all duo happiness." happi-ness." "But she can never make him happy!" hap-py!" cried the wretched Beatrice. "She Is false-hearted, a coquotto. She has told me that It Is only money and position she Is after. Oh! why did I act out this wilful, wloked plot? Why have I destroyed the lovo and peace of others!" However, one good result came out of It all Jack seemed now attracted to the really pretty Beatrice, and the latter began to wear a happier face. One evening Bruno came Into the garden, gar-den, where his sister and Ina were seated engaged In some fancy work. "Well," he announced, "I have Just seen Miss Vavasour homeward bound on the train thank goodness!" His Bister stared at him and Ina folt a new throbbing at her heart. Bruno had brought a chair close to her sldo. "Why do you say that, Bruno?" Inquired In-quired Mrs. Little. "Because I nm truly thankful, Indeed. In-deed. Miss Vavasour's sister sent for her and now a happy return to the dear old times," cried Bruno Joyously. "Ina, will you take a stroll with me?" "Do you not think a fow explanations explana-tions are In order first, brother?" Inquired In-quired Mrs. Little, rather coldly. "That's deserved why, certainly!" replied Bruno, In his usual bluff, Jolly tone. "I havo hurried back hero fast as I could purposely to explain to both of you that my horrible conduct con-duct " His rUter groaned. "My 'undying devotion to Miss Vavasour Va-vasour " Ina sighed. "Was all a gamo." "A gamo?" repeated Mrs. Llttlo wonderlngly. "Yes. Tho first night Miss Vavasour Vava-sour arrived," said Bruno, "poor Jack fell head over heels In love with her. I saw his danger, for I had heard of her In the city as a heartless, calculating calculat-ing coquette. To save Jack I devoted my tlmo to Miss Vavasour. She has gone homo somewhat soured, and I' fancy has half guessed my plot to save a soft but noble hearted friend frcm the wiles of a siren. Ina. will you como for that stroll?" "Yes, Druno," responded Ina gladly, "1 will go now." Thoy met two other strolUrs In their pi ogress Jack and Beatrice-anil Beatrice-anil when tho happy-faced couples car-e In to tea a llttlo later, observant Mrs. Llttlo knew that there would soon bo somo Interesting announcements. announce-ments. (Copyright, 1912, by W. Q. Chipman.) |