Hot Springs weekly star. (Hot Springs, S.D.) 1892-1917, 1897-08-27
CHAPTER NNvT1.

exploring Soutll America. From time to
time | still received letters. The lawyer.
the nurse. and the goycrness, Mrs. Gray,
We're my correspondents. 1t was in the
autumn of that second year that the ac-
COUNTS of loan began to improve. She
had grown much s:ronser-she began to
notice places and pcrsons-to ask qucs-
tions-to interest herself once more in
things that were passing AROUND her.
One day i received a letter from Darby
herself. The large, strangely formed
words had an odd look. She said:
"Dear Sir Itaiph-This is the first let
ter l have ever written. and l write it to
give You good news. Joan is so much
better. Soon. l think. she will be quite
well. l have Il fancy. dear Sir Ralph.
that one thing would make her that. and
very soci. III is you. l talk to her about
you often and often, and she says: 4
know him. lie was very good. l think
he was tin" best man in the world So,
you see. she must remember you. We are
at Nice agnin. and-iS it not funny
papa got the very same house for us that
we had heinre. when you and 10 We're
married. | think she remembers it. Ev-
cry day she asks more questions, and
seems thanking out things for herself.
Oh. l wish YOU would come! You have
been away such Il long. long time. and l
miss you very much. Papa is not n bit
like yen. lie is always writing. DO please
come. -FOUR loving little
"DARBY."
AS I read those simple words the hard
crust about my heart seemed to he broken
up. l looked hack on those two years
with a Srus,. of wonder. How Lonely they
hnI J,ar,1 Ul.,, J,.,;l - nVrtI:.., ILL.,
love. or comfort. or sympathy: Yet even
now. if I oimyti this summons, and went
back to my wifr's side, what would that
I might hide the fox. its teeth would ynaw
at my heart beneath the cloak of indilfer-
ence.
1 told no que ] was coming. resolved
to take them ny surprise. 1t WAS close
on sunset when | arrived at Nice. and
leaving my baggage at the station. l drove
at once In tl,r villa in its sheltered nook
of the bay of Niilafranca.
kett,in. behind the slcltering laurcls
and arbutns. | made my way slowly to
the house. The door stood open. l met
not a s,ngl" soul: l passed i'll. On the
right OF the hail u door stood hiar. From
the ro"m Within came the sound of voices.
1 ,~istcusI. Only too well l knew them.
The rll'd's sweet plaintive tones. and
those ol my wife. l crept up to the door
and looked in. The room was half dusk.
There WIS II couch drawn up by the fire.
and lying on it a little shadowy figure
the chili's figure. Joan sat beside her on
Il low chair.
II mn sure he will come.' Darby vas
saying. "Nou will be glad, dear. will yul
not!"
VERY glad" came the answer i'm quiet,
even tones tile tones l remembered of
gore.
"Becausr he will take care of you, and
be good 4" you." the child went ON. "Only,
Joan. YOU must PROMISE to tell him cv-
erything. lie will not he angry. He is too
kind aud good for TINT"
"he was always good" said Joan soft
". Aud you! What should | have done
without y"u sll these years? You held
me back from sin and from despair. You
gave me Strength when | WAS weakest,
and hop. when | was hopeless. and pa
tieiirr when ] was weil-nigh desperate.
and love when all other love failed. OH.
my child NJ blessing! 1t is heavens
mercy that gave you to me! seq that
every dizzy I live"
The next mouicnt | entered tho room.
CHAPTER NNIX.
For u moment We looked ut each other
in silence. | had thought Of her, prayed
for Her. pleaded for her IL hundred times
in hours Of solitude and pain. heard
her low coy. aud SAW the warm blood flush
her checks. ] lost sight of all the sor.
rowfuI aud iarturing past. and for !, mo.
ment remembered only that she WAS nv
wife.
a sort "t conStraiut came over me. The
fond wurtts that had longed for uttcrancc
wer" frozen on my lips. Darby came ia
the rescue with IL torrent of questions
and remarks. and II few moments after
wards Mir. %Tcmpleton entered.
We all .ti down Then. and tho CONVEX
sati0n became general. They would moi
hear Of my going To the hotel: 80 my lug
gage WAS sent for. and | did my hest IL
return tn" cordiality Of my welcome, and
to seem al home and content once more
Joan WAS very quiet. Each time l look
Ell at tiss slight figure in it's soft era,
dress. or The pretty head with ills cluster
in. curls. y strange feeling came over me
A woman, no doubt. would have fount
relief in tears. I-man-like-was onl,
conscious of a pain that tmgscd at M,
hear.-strimgs aud sometimes c!oked tn,
words in my throat. She looked so fair
aud sweet. and fragile. There WAS slcl
n delicate. tender wOmanlincss about lel
that | seemed to lose sight of that nwfu
time of doubt. and the tortur;ng year.
that had followed.
When she went AWAY with Darby an
Roger Tcmplrton had left. l fell into deeI
Thought. My eyes rested on the burning
logs. but ! don't think they saw much ol
them. for my heart was heavy. A soft
r~ustling noise roused me at last. Joal
had come in. and was standing close be
side ne.
II nope" she said gently. "tllat you art
not sorry you came back?"
"Why should you think 500" 1 asked
abruptly.
For Il moment she was silent. Then q
sort of desperate appeal cam into he,
face Dpd voice.