Evening star., 1896-07-04

his knees by the bed; and, looking across
at the doctor, who made sign or ges-
ture, he said again:
Splendid, Mrs. Baines simply splendid,
1t will make him famous and you must
make haste and get we'll and see the
fun
"Ah"' murmured Adde in a long, luxu-
ricus sigh of utter relief as she sank back
ard loosed her hold on Cations hand
Thanks. Mr.. Caxton; oh. thanks. Add
ington. dear AGdington!'
Caxton drew back. The impassive doc
tor was motionless. Baines rose to his
feet and bent over his wife. taking her
arms and putting them round his neck
He kissed her, and the men heard her
whisper: My clever darling, oh, my clever
darling! Her husband kissed her again
and disenghged her arms from about him.
Now. l think you two had better leave
u.s. said the doctor. Caxton was refoiced
to obey. The doctor came with him to the
door; he did not look at Caxton nor Cax-
ton at him. and no remark was made until
the door of the bed room was closed and
Baines and Caxton were outside together.
Then Caxton said:
She'll do all right now, I hope, old fell
low"
Baines walked into the little boudoir
without replying, and sat down again by
the table where STRESS and Striving" lay
Caxton stood on the hearthrug gazing
drearily about the room and through the
window at the opposite house. But he
could not endure the silence; an impulse to
justify himself came upon him, vet It was
to himself rather than to Booby Baines
that his excuses were addressed
'1t would have killed her to tell her
now" he said.
Baines made no answer: he was looking
at the manuscript.
when she's strong again If won't mat
ter. will it? She'll make nothing of it then.
will she?"
Still Banes was silent, and Caxton turn
ed to him, asking, half angrily:
7 o. To,,
Yes, you were right" said Baines "I
couldn't have done it,
Then, suddenly. in a fit of weak peevish
passion. ne caught up the fairly written
roll. Caxton, starting, took one hasty
step toward him. but then he arrested his
motion, and stood looking. Their eyes met
for an instant; then Banes, putting all his
strength into his hands, tore-the roll full
across the middle, and flung. 1t from him
into the crate, where a bright fire burnt.
is that right? he asked, saVagely, rude
~. ~ as s thoTgh Caxton were to rla1ne for all
Caxton nodded, and, taking lis hat pre-
pared to go. The fire, which had leaped
and Striving" was growing, duh as the
the top of the Goals
She'll die. too" cried Baines, In sud-
den whisper. She'll die, toor'
No; .Ss' no. ne shHll he! ,hs+ be all right now you'll
fellow; ard good luck. A wifSs more than
book, you know" NJ
Baines sat looking into tKs five which
was well-nigh choked by l&er en layer
of black flaky stuff on whiA t% written
characters could still be -traded suddenly
he sprang up and seized p6kerE Stirring
the fire, he raised a blaze that charred
what of white had remained. while the
black f1uttered up the chimney or out into
the fender. The room smelt strong of
burnt paper Caxton edged uncomforta ably
toward the door. Baines returned to his
seat and sat down, resting his head on his
arm. Presently he put up the other arm
also. and Caxton saw that he was crying
softly. He passed through the doorway,
snd shut the door gently behind him.
-
Humanity speaking. as the old phrase runs,
there could be little doubt that the lie told
by Tom Caxton and allowed by Addington
Baines had something to do with saving
Mrs Baines lie. The doctor admitted to
having considered her condition so critical
that the least thing might be decisive one
way or the other, and was inclined to be of
cpinion-the doctor was a cautious man ana