The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1890-10-09
1.-THE CUP THAT SLIPPED.
By ELLA WHEELER WILCOX. Illus
trated by PHILIP G.. OUsAOHs.
Copyright. All rights reserved. ]

Il tell you, papa, cannot endure his
presence in this house. 1t was offensive
enough to me at home, when he came
but once or twice day Il was still
more so during our journey here, when
I was forced to be in the same car with
him; but now that you tell me he is TO
live under the same roof, sit at the same
table and ride in the same carriage with
us it becomes unbcarable. Ny hatred
of the man increases hourly. Why
need you compel me to associate with
him SO closely, papa:''
The voice of the speaker was Of that
peculiar contraltO quality which in a re-
fined woman denotes passion and force
of character, and il an ordinary one
coarse order of strength.
1t is a voice which always makes men
turn to listen, and which echoes longer
adown the strings of memory than the
most bird-hke notes of more musical aud
higher keyed voices.
The face of the speaker betokened re-
fincment, and this. together with her ex
treme youth and pronounced beauty,
rendered the voice more remarkable.
The elderly man to whom the words
were addressed breathed deep sigh.
MY dear child, l beg you to be reason
able" he said gently. ''You know how
i'll l have been-you know how alarming
my condition seemed ever after
Don't, papa cried the young girl
sharply. "Do you not suppose remem-
| Der as well as You the events which
killed mamma, shattered your health
and ruined my young life? Why recall
them now?
'Have we not come away to forget
them, if possible, or at least to live down
the effects? But l do not see how it
will help Us to have that odious man
under the same roof with Us day and
night. Let DR.. Rem
| "N2ctovu, i.I1o,l upo,,1 1ito vi,i e,ontiu-
man quickly. ''Itell you, child, we must
not forget the new names we have re-
solved to use. Remember always that /
am Mr. Crawford, you are Miss Craw-
ford, your governess is Miss Brown and
my physician is DR.. Watson. It is i'm
perative that we use these names among
ourselves as well as in the presence of
strangers"
The young girl threw out her arms
with an expression at once impatient
and despairing.
Il hate subterfuge and deception in
every FORM" she cried, 'and l have
never seen why this change of names
which was a suggestion Of DIR. Watson,
as you call him--iS necessary. In city
like New York or London or Paris,
where we are to pass our time OF exile,
we could easily sink our identity with
out living under false names"
''The greatest city III the world is not
large enough to hide the identity of a
disgraced name, responded the old man
bitterly.
''Disgraced? Papai" exclaimed the
, young girl in a tone of expostulation, bis'
} the old man waved his hand wearily.
Enough" he said. Enough of this
my dear. The past is past. Why dis
cuss it? The present and the future re-
main.
II desire to regain my health and brain
power, that may set about clearing ou
name from the dark stain which ha
fallen upon it. do it more for you
sake than my own, as at longest my sta.
,, on earth will be brief; but before [ go
would lift this shadow from your youn.
heart.
'sDr. Watson, as you well know, is tn
Z, first of many physicians who gave m
any relief from my suffering. He wa
\ the last one to be called by me, because
D like yourself, 1 had conceived most III
reasonable prejudice against the man
Some foolish and idle gossip concernin
: his private life, which arose from pur
Y envy, am now convinced, had warpe
/. my Judgment. But from the hour b
: first took hold of my case I have been
: new man. have been like one rise
r from the grave.
/. 1T was he who discovered that ol
f associations were affecting my min
h dangerously. 1t was he who suggeste
# a journey abroad, and, as you say, unde
d assumed names. A disgraced name
s like deceased member of the body.
Il you have a wounded finger you are
n constant fear of hurting it, awake {
t asleep. If you bear stained name yo
V dread the effect of it on every strange
q you meet DIR. Watson realized VIII;
h this strain would be upon me during OF
e journey, and must confess the relief
. find under my alias is marvellous. Yo
: know how I have improved. The chi
;, with which I was attacked the mornir
,s of our arrival, and which decided us
!, remain here few months before pr
ceeding farther, is only step down c
the ladder of health since I began !