Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1898-10-13


While she was making Il mental note
of the address, Mrs. Fletcher spoke
again:
lit is quite as we'll that you are so
| anxious for Claudc'S welfare. Judith,
for, really, l don't see how Elsie Is to
live apart from him any longer, unless
he makes her an allowance. She has
| spent all her money and pawncd near
~ all of her Jewels, while, to crown all,
| if she lives until next March. there
for. Now I'm off to bed" And, with
expressions that fitted across Judith's
1t was only s o'clock when Judith
Knocked ut the door of No. so Museum
street. and. having asked for Mrs.
Cecil. was informed that the lady was
not Yet up, but that they We're just go
ing to take her Il cup OF tea.
lis she alonc:" asked judith. wish
ing to avoid Mrs. Barclay.
Yes, miss: the other lady left last
evening to go and meet her husband,
who is coming home from abroad"
We'll. | am Mrs. CecirS sister. She
\NVS ilul cAl'Stt illU SupNlNl I'M
to surprise her. Let me take the tea
up will you:"
Certainly. miss" answered the
maid. smiling: and. having fetched
the tea. she gave it to Judith. With the
information that Mrs. Cecils sleeping
room was the first floor back.
With fast-throbbing pulses Judith
went slowly up stairs. knocked at the
door and entered. Elsie was standing
before a looking glass. brushing the
powder out OF her long locks.
Put the tea down. Kate. please"
she said. without turning: but. as Jul
lith shut the door before ohcying her.
she looked round.
Judith" shit exclaimed. as the hair
brush clattered to the ground. You.
did not want to see you. Surely you
have not brought-Claude:
NO: l am alone. Elsie. But why am
l unwclcome:" she asked. gently. TAX
ing up Elsie's limp hands and pressing
once. Elsie. What have done to for
felt your love: Won't you alter what
you said. Elsie: Won't you kiss me,
and say YOU are glad to see me? Look
at me. DEAR
Slowly Elsie turned her fair face;
but as soon as her eyes met the soft.
loving gaze of her sister. she burst into
a flood Of tears. and flung her arms
tightly about Judy. crying:
"Oh. Judy! Judy. Dear. dear. Judy,
am glad to see you. for l am so I'M
happy"
Judith Smoothed the fair head let
ting Elsie cry for little while; but
presently she fetched the tea and made
Elsie drrk it. after which the girl,
feeling better, dried her tears and
smiled.
"Oh. Judy, sit down close to me.
feel stronger and better-tempered al
ready she said. impulSively. And
yet. last night. when YOU passed me so
closely that l could have touched you.
l felt that l never wanted to see or
speak to you again
why was that" asked Judith. de-
terlnined to have Il thorough cXplana-
ton.
Mrs Barclay told me that she was
sure YOU loved Claude. and that you
We're glad VIC were separated
What caused YOU to believe her?'
"Well. Judy. he did like you; and he
said once that if l had only your sense
l would be 4 perfect woman. And
then last night when YOU were togeth-
er. he seemed so content. l watched
you for several minutes
And if you could have listened. you
would have discovered that all our
talk was of you. Had you sensibly
made yourself known, he would have
welcomed you with such delight that
you could not have failed to feel as
sured Of his great love. Instead you
rebuffed him. and went so far as to tell
the coachman To-"
mo, Judy-no! ! wanted the man to
drive faster. He did not understand
me; and, thinking that Claude was an.
noylng me, he used his whip
Judith then told her of her husbands
illness; and at last Elsie consented to
return to him, to cndeavor to nurse
him to health, and then try to atone
for the wrong she had done him.
CTo be Oontlnued.>