The Chipley banner. (Chipley, Washington County, Fla.) 1893-1943, 1897-07-24
CHAPTER XIII.

c6eS0r OF my oiu iliehu, ho Dol" o.'
dsy. you can work out an honorable
career, and you should. You owe 4
not only 10 his memory but also to tha
dear. sweet wife OF yours. Lot her b.
your inspiration. promised your father
when he was dying that would act The
part OF friend to her. don't believe
I can do that more effectually than by
helping you.
",rhe old refrain, Doctor. In all that
is done for me, ] see Margaret as the
prompting motive. This prevents any
feeling of concclt on my part, and ! am
willing that she shall have the we'll
deserved credit, but, nevertheless, my
MINDLESS sails flap rather doiefuliy'
"Dr Philips says have dear, sweet
wife. What do you think OF that, Mar
garrett"
THAT he is a man given to over
praise, replied Margaret, glancing up
from the scarf she was embroiderinR.
"A very nice man, though" she added,
turning to her work once more. SO
good to me and 80 good TO you"
He was standing behind her chair,
and bent his head 10 look into her eyes.
Nervous under such close contact she
started up, and made u pretense Of ar
ranging some books upon a small table.
The sigh with which his eye followed
her awakened In her heart some twings
of remorse for what, she felt obliged TO
confess, was an unreasonable betrayal
OF ill.huumor.
Come back to your chair, Margaret.
You can be very cruel sometimes
Have you any right to blame me,
Brianf"
A glance at his face made her regret
this question the second 1t passed her
lips, but before she could recall 1t he
had left the room, with the words des.
tined to echo In her heart through many
long, bitter days.
'No, Margaret. No right at all.
see your love is OF for me"
A few minutes later she heard the
sound OF his horses hoofs on the drive
outside. 1t was too late now. She
must wait until his return. Then she
would tel him how sorry she was.
She wondered why the moments
dragged 30 heavily, scarcely an hour
had passed since Brian had left her; II
seemed more like three. The sound OF
some disturbance down stairs came to
her ears. With nervous start she
listened anxiously. There was no mis-
taking the hurried footsteps and sub
dued voices. Something unusual had
happened.
With a mind filled with terrible dread
and heart beating TO almost suffoca.
ton, she few down the steps, along the
hall, and into the library, and there
No need to ask the matter now. During
q second, in which she seemed to die u
hundred deaths, she took in the white
race and still form upon the sofa. and
then, without even a cry, but with an
expression that fixed itself indelibly
upon the minds OF those who cav 1t,
she knelt beside this remnant of the
life and strength OF an hour before, and,
taking the cold hands between her own,
soothed and pressed them in her effort
to bring back their lost warmth. Poor
hands! a little while ago she had shruub
from their contact, ana now they were all
powerless, too helpless to respond even
to her toucl; yet she would still hold
them, and, perhaps, after time he might
feel She would lay her heart on his,
he would hear its beating and might
understand. She would
Margaret.
She heard her name repeated softly
she felt gentle touch upon her shoul.
der, and a strong hand lifting her from
her crouching position, and she raised
her face, haggard and drawn with suf.
fering, to meet DR.. Philips sympathetic
glance.
Don't give way" he said kindly, see.
Ing the question In her eyes. I'VE must
get him to his room, and meanwhile we
may hope that things are not 30 bad as
they SEEM"
Poor child" he murmured after he
Ia l.lA l. J.. IL
thought, when I saw him 80 well and
strong yesterday, that to-day he would
be so near death. A sad ending to his
young career"
While Margaret sat by Brlan's bed,
trying In the pain and remorse which
filled her heart to overlooking to make
the most OF the few attentions she could
lavish upon. him, thought came to her
like ray OF hope.
Il will ask him to come she said
under her breath. Il will ask him ia
come. Did you call me, Brian2" She
bent over the bed and gazed mutely
upon the notionless face. No. Brian
had not called, and with a heartbroker
eigh she turned away to write the tele
gram which was to tell Wilson o.
Brian's danger.
And three hours later Wilson came
Well might MARGARET cay, as her hanS
rested In his sympathetic clasp;
Il felt so sure that you would come
Your presence gives me strength an,
hope. ! feel that he will be safe II
your hands"
'As cafe as these hands can max
him, Mrs. Leigh. Please God, you
confidence will not be misplaced"
Margaret herself carcely realized tn,
extent OF this confidence until she ha
taken Wilson to Brlan's room, an
wsited with a suspense that amounte
to agony the opinion which she 70
would mean 80 much.
She watched his face anxiously, b,
II revealed little. and, only by subj
Intuition did she understand that
considered BriAn's state most critical,
With the last CLEAN Of hope dyi
from her heart. she followed tim tx
the room.
The truth che pleaded. pressl