Evening Republican, Volume 15, Number 250, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 23 October 1911 — Fate Played Cards [ARTICLE]

Fate Played Cards

By SUSANNE GLENN

“You are late, Colette," said the young man reproachfully, as the girl appeared at the spring a little breathless from baste and the last warm rays of the summer sun. , “We were delayed. Aunt Hannah had callers.” She dropped upon the rustic seat with unstudied grace. "Callers are a great event with us, you know,” she added with a smile, “and these —have decided to spend the night, I believe!” They gazed at each other solemnly for a moment, and then laughed. What a gem this girl was among these good, simple hill people, with her delicate beauty and refined ways! James Blakeson gazed at her until the soft color deepened in her cheeks, and her reproachful eyes dropped to her pink gingham lap. You have not always lived here, Colette?” he said, gently. ’ “Why do you ask?” “You seem different from these people, some way. Have you no home?” “Only the sort of home’ my aunts make for me.” answered Colette Grey quietly. Determination clutched the heart of Blakeson. “But how will your mother receive an inexperienced hill girl?” whispered Discretion In his dhr. "She will receive my wife unless I am greatly mistaken,” answered Determination with grim purpose. “But you must remember you are Keeper at ‘The Bowlders,’ ’* insisted Discretion, with unnecessary persistence. “Whatever I am, I love her with every beat of my heart!” cried the whole being of the man fiercely. “Colette,” he said, a great strength pulsing under the calmness of his .manner, going to her and lifting her gently to her feet, “Colette, look at me!” The girl lifted her eyes bravely, and the flush that flooded her face at his look faded suddenly, leaving her pale and shaken. “No, no!” she cried. “I love you! I love you!” he said. “No, no!” she cried. “You must not.” ' "Will you marry me?” he looked at her compelllngly. The experienced heart of the girl beat as riotously as true pink gingham hearts and supposed to do. Many men of many stations in life had begged for her hand when it was soft and white and jewel-decked, but never as this man did for the little brown hand of Colette Grey!

“Oh, I cannot —you do not understand,” she murmured miserably. “I —I have deceived you!” “Will you tell me you do not love me?” he insisted still more gently. Oh, if only he were not a keeper—what a man he was! But it could never be; she could never have the courage. Sobs shook her and she hid her face against his coat “What does anything matter, since we love each other, dear?” he asked, when she was quiet. Colette remained motionless, fighting for strength. She did not wish to fight or to be strong; but when one has family traditions, and two dear though exacting maiden aunts, one must never weaken! Upon the soft evening air, there came unexpectedly the sound of uncertain steps and a refined, impatient voice: “I am certain Hannah said Patricia went down this lane, but I assuredly see nothing of her!” “Oh.” whispered the girl, lifting her head in sudden alarm. “I cannot see them now! What can I do?” James Blakeson glanced through the wild cherry bushes at the two approaching figures, and back at the girl’s appealing face. Then lifting her bodily, he set her on her feet on the opposite side of the wall, vaulted it himself, and crashed hastily through the undergrowth. ’ "Scamper," he said, grasping her hand firmly, and breathlessly they sped over the rough ground to the shelter of the woods below. “Let’s begin over again,” said the young man. when they were comfortably seated on a convenient log and had regained their breath. “What Is the use? What I told you is final!” Colette tried to speak austerely. “But you answer too soon. You did not hear what I had to say." “I do not wish to hear; I cannot endure it, Jamie, for my answer must be the same!” “Dear, dear girl!” His hand went out to the pink gingham where it fluttered over the rough log. “Still, you ought to listen. It isn’t fair not to let me tell you—and it isn’t fair for you not to hear!” The girl sat in unhappy silence. “Colette.” he said at last, laying her hand against the rough bark and thoughtfully spreading her pretty fingers as if for love of touching them, “will you tell me honeetly why you cannot marry me?” , “If you knew how I have deceived you, you would not wish it,” she answered seriously. “I can take care of you, dear. I think I am justified in saying that my prospects—are good.” She failed to see the quizzical smile be cast at her. "Tell me," he commanded, covering

the little hand on the log with hi* big brown one. c I—l am not Colette said, faintly, “I am a very different sort of person.** “I have felt that all along, some way. You have a different air. But why are you here?** “My aunts —they were determined to marry me to a —you know how those things are sometimes arranged?" He nodded comprehendingly. “And so you ran away?” “And so I bought some gingham frocks and came up here to my old nurse." "You disliked the man?” ha questioned very gently. "I did not know the man,” she admitted with a smile. "I am told he is a very admirable person. I simply did not care to run the risk of disliking him!” ' _ “It is not your first experience, then?” “Oh, no! I have had men produced for my conquest as long as I can remember!” The man laughed outright at her tone. “It must be rather unsatisfactory," he admitted. “Now, I can imagine myself holding a lively grudge against a person I was to make love to by order!" “It is most unpleasant,” she agreed, looking at him with gentle thoughtfulness. “There is no freshness left to life like that.” “Colette!” James Blakeson leaned toward the girl with serious lips but with eyes brimming with laughter. “Colette, have you never detected anything promising about me —anything that might be considered above a keeper’s station?” Colette looked at him in wonder. “What can you possible mean?” “I mean that I am not keeper of ‘The Bowlders.’ Not by any means do I occupy so independent and enviable a position! “When I came up to look things over I saw they took it for granted I was the new keeper. So I let it stand, that I might get fetter acquainted with the neighbors who would accept the servant when they would scorn the master." “And you would have married Hannah Grey’s niece?” questioned the girl, wonderingly. "I would marry you, dear heart, whoever you were, if you would consent. “If I can produce sufficient credentials do you think I may be accepted not only by the aunts, but by yourself as well, Colette?” “My name is Patricia Colette Beldon,” she suggested, in a small voice. "The name is neither unfamiliar nor unpleasant. And tell me —Patricia,” placing, his hands upon her shoulders, “was the man Blake Wentworth?” « “How could you know?” cried Patricia sharply. “You do not mean that you—” “Patricia, do not blame me! I hated being thrown at your head as much as you disliked having me. But I could not see any way out of it if I allowed myself to be presented, without offending two families and upsetting the tradition. So I —absented myself! My only excuse, Patricia darling, is that I did not know you!” “Oh,” cried Patricia, “I’m glad you’re not the keeper because there would have been a dreadful fuss —and I could never have given you up! But I can hear their-horrid egotism!” “You will not have to bear it alone, dear heart,” he said, kissing her tenderly. “The dear aunties looked decidedly unhappy in the lane just now, let us go and scatter some of our happiness, my girl.” “They cannot cheat us of the fun we have had, anyway,” answered she of the pink gingham with satisfaction.