The Van Buren press., 1895-01-19

The masters completely would te dlf'
ficult to prove. Yet. moro and worse.
Van Eyck was attractive, devoteds
Mabel was probably already his wife
pure; proud Mabel, whose misery,
should she discover that her husband
had been guilty OF so base treachery,
would not be lessened by the knowl.
edge that he was tempted by love OF
her.
"What has Van Eyck been doing
these two years2" Tom asked, pres
emily.
"Loafng, as usual, and making love
to Miss Nesbit."
"Has that occupation been success
ful7"
"Slow but sure, those say who pro-
fess to know. There are bets--bad
form, those bets-that Miss Nesbit
will be Mrs. Van Eyck before Christ
mas. Keep cool. my boy" Wynne
added, with an odd change OF tone,
and a glance across Toms shoulder
toward man who was approaching
them.
Tom rose. The newcomer stood
stonestill. For moment they stared
at each other, with a gaze Of such en-
tire mutual comprehension that words
were needed merely for its disguise.
"Alive, after the weeping and wall.
ing for you is ended? Very indiscrect,
Mr.. Stuart. Van Eyck exclaimed.
You evidently did not share the
general belief In my DEATH"
II rarely share a general belief, even
In matters which concern me more
deeply than the rumored death OF m
acquaintance"
"This rumor took the form OF q cable
gram sent by servant whom you
recommended to u.s."
~ stood sponsor for the fellows
cooking, not for his veracity or his
sanity"
The short sentences, sternly swift as
the first passes in duel la mort,
ceased sharply During another long
moment neither man moved-a moment
in which Tom fought nobler battle
for Mabers fu ture happiness than ever
knight Of old waged for his lady's
name; and the adversary he conquered
was his own fierce desire to strike his
clinched hand against Van Eyck's
sneering smile.
Goodnight, Wynne," he said,
rather breathlessly. Being ghost,
am inspired by the well-known ghost
ly liking for solitary prowling."
Without further word to Van Eyck,
he walked down the room, followed by
Wynne.
"Right you are," that gentleman
murmured, rejoicingly conscious OF hav-
ing escaped completely in row. Il
doubt whether you could prove any
thing; and accusation, unless proved,
seems mere blackguardism. Clever
rascal he is-eh? Neat, that hint
about the cooks sanity. Breakfast
with me tomorrow at ten, my boy.
I'll hunt up two or three old chums,
and we'll drink to your new lease OF
life."
Van Eyck was turning over an even
ing paper when Wynne passed him
again.
HAS Stuart been interviewing his
disappointed heirs?" he asked languid-
ly; ..or did he lose his manners In
Africa?"
"He has had curious experience"
II should like to hear how he en-
ragged my very peaceable cook"
He says the cook had no cause for
grudge against him"
Van Eyck shrugged his shoulders.
"That is statement which few will
believe, even though man return
from the dead to tell it," he quoted,
cynically. Then he rose. "Ta-ta,
Wynne," he said. without offering his
hand = perhaps because Wynne's re-.
mained somewhat rigidly pendent. Il
sail in the Majestic tomorrow; due In
Scotland next week for the August
shooting"
"Scotlandp Capital idea. You
couldn't do BETTER" Wynne declared,
and went to dinner chuckling softly.
tom wins, by Jove, after throwing
down his cards. And there must be
one woman yet as constant as Pencil
ope."
Tom Stuart. however, had not
thrown down all his cards. Though
he had resolved to leave unaccused the
man who had by such ingenious treach-
cry won Mabel from him, he owed 1t
to her to write her of his return, and
of his unchanged love, not mentioning
Van Eyck's name, perhaps. As Tom
walked swiftly along a way that
used to be the way to Paradise, there
drifted across the tumult of his
thoughts some lines which thrilled him
wondrously:
I" There s time In the lives Of most women and
| When tangled threads would grow smooth
and even
If only the dead could know just when
To come back and be forgiven"
Was this ghostly coming back the
"just when?" Surely he would not
lose the chance oft! Mabel, Of course
must be out Of town; but he. could gel
her address FROM the caretaker left II
charge of her house, and she should
have his letter before seeing Van Eycl
again.
Very bleak and black the tall houst
looked as he rang-darkly differen
from the brilliant welcome its light
ed windows had been wont to offel
him.
"Her address, is II? She's here her
self-come into the city for couple o
days." the caretaker replied to his de
mand, then vanished in haste to finisl
one of the perennial meals Of he
) class.
The drawing-room, despoiled Of cur
tains and portieres, yawned befor
him, a dim cave, with an atmospher,
. redolent of linen furniture covers in