Richard Forrest, Bachelor — page 103: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

94 MAKING A PROMISE. what thoughts have been torturing me to-night. ITimagined —yes, I will say it, [imagined perhaps you had cut me out.’’ ‘¢ 72’ echoed Dick, with a bewildered air. ‘‘Yes, you. Is it so incomprehensible? You admired her so much that first day. How was Ito know but that you, as well as I, had become infatuated with her, and that per- haps she preferred you. ”’ Dick looked blank a moment and then he burst into a loud laugh. ‘‘Arthur,’’ he said, when he could straighten his face, ‘‘nause a little, and then tell me honestly if you think I am the sort of man a young girl like Miss Clayton would be apt to fall in love with?”’ Arthur obeyed, and then answered, nonchalantly: ‘‘T don’t know.”’ ‘*You must be clean out of your senses. She is young, gay, and brimming over with life, while I—well, you know me pretty well, I think. Besides,’’ reproachfully, ‘‘do you believe me capable of a trick like that?’’ Arthur held out his hand, which the other took without hesitation. ‘You see, it’s preposterous, my boy,’’ Dick said, quiet- ly. ‘‘But then, when we’re in love our brains play all kinds of mad pranks with us. In point of fact, I haven’t seen Miss Clayton since the day her father was taken ill.’ ‘‘Advise me what to do, Dick, won’t you?’’ Arthur asked, presently; ‘‘your brain is clear, and I’m so upset. You ad- vised me once before.’’ **And you didn’t follow my instructions. ’’ ‘‘T will this time. I feel as helpless as a childand utterly hopeless. ’’ Gomichbooks-com