Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1898-09-22

coming. \ fricld of mil:r called to see
how was getting un-my husband is
aWay-and We had tea together: but
III Just ring the bell"
no. thank YOU" replied Judith. II
felt So tired when | reached town that
had Il cup of tea ut the terminus"
Did YOU go into that rcfrcShmtnt
buffet alone: oh. dear I.lc. what cour-
age. l dare not do that sort Of thing:
the men stare 50 that | lose all my
nerve. inStanter. | always envy YOU
Quict-looking perSoES- YOU are So much
better able to look after Your own COM
fort Than We poor. Notwithstanding
girls. There's Elsie. now. I'm sure that
if She waS to go alone into such :, place
the men would mob her-they would.
indeed. l suppose she has not al
trreu:'
Judith laid her gloved hand ON one of
the limp white ones near her.
Mrs. Barclay Edith" she said.
gravely. you may us Well confess that
You are trying to prevent my asking
YOU about Elsie. but you cannot. Elsie
is here With You. feel convinced, or
You know where She is
An unn uSical peal of laughter greet
ed her
Poor old girl" exclaimed Mrs. Bar
clay. Il thought YOU looked rather
strange: l do believe YOU are suffering
from SunStroke Have some soda wa
ter-do. You are quite lghl-healed.
Don't jest. please" Judith said. ear
ne$tly. looking straight into the pretty
face. with its affected expression of So
lcitude. you cannot guess what trou
BILE we are all in about her. l need not
tell you that We are anxious, and her
husband is quite i'll with suspense. We
should have sent to you before. but we
never thought of it until this l4orning.
Don't play with me now. Edith-it is
too cruel.
Have some soda water Judith; you
are talking rubbish
Perhaps Elsie has asked you to keep
her whereabouts secret" continued
Judith: but I am positive that she will
forgive you for bctraying it when she
knows how Claude is suffering. l am
sure that. if l could only have half a
dozen words with her. she would con-
sent to return. Please tell me where
she is. and. if l can at any time do any
thing for YOU
Pooh said Mrs. Barclay. swapping
her fingers Don't make Il rash prom
Use that you may afterwards regret.
Miss Hatfield. especially aS-El>ie is
not here. l don't mind :onfesSing that
l have seen hcr-indeed. l Will admit
that she came to me on Sunday morn
ing. but when she went away she re-
fused to say where she was going. But
l can also tell YOU one thing-tlat.
even if she saw you. you would not in
duce her to return to her huSband-and
l don't blame her 4 man who could
browbeat and insult Il young wife as
ne insulted her is not a tit man to be
married"
You are hardly in a position to
judge of Mr.. Townshend's merits or de-
merits" Judith returned. warmly NO
doubt Elsie, in the heat of the moment,
somewhat Overstated her grievance to
you, bue in a calmer moment. she could
not but attest to her husbands good
ness"
Well" replied Mrs. Barclay. with an
ironical laugh, ''she told me that she
had made a mistake in marrying Mr..
Townshend. Oh, no: Elsie made no
confession Of love for the middle-aged
mari. assure you; indeed, she said
that one of her sisters had laviShel up
Oh him rather more of that sentiment
than was desirable. You see. | know
the whole story.
Judith rose. her face aflame. as much
on ElsieS account a.; her own. and.
looking straight at her tOrmentor said:
II hope Elsie will never regret max
ing vol her cuntidant. Mrs. Barclay. |
am sorry YOU cannot find it IN your
heart to do a generous action. if only
in return for Elsie'S staunch friend
ship. which did not fail you when ev-
,1a.1
you do so: Let me implo e yOu" she
added. pleadingly.
You forget. | do not know where she
is. You must really excuse my wish
ing you good evening. Miss Hateld::'
and she bowed in cercmonious fash
| ion that left Judith no other altcrna-
| tive than to take her departure
The instant that Judith had passed
| gu. Of the little wooden gate Mrs Bar
| clay ran out Of the room and called to
| her servant:
Mary Jane. Mary Jane, 90 down to
| the gate ana watch that lady out Of
sight, but don't let her see YOU" and
| then flew, with amazing alacrity for Il
| person suffering with spinal complaint.
| upstairs. and in Il very few minute;
was stylishly dressed for walking.
When she came down stairs again her
maid was leaning over the gate. Hay
ing sharply called the girl III. her mis-
| tress said: 4
What in the name Of all thu, is OK
traordinary have you been staring at
all this timer
''To see if the lady came back" was
F.! the sulky response; 'Once she half
t''rnod &c If shn was a-cnminp back
| but, on sudden, she went on quicker,
and took the turning to the right"
| That's for the Metropolitan station
shouldn't lou think! Why. Mary Jane
/ you're getting quite smart" mockingly
Il Shall make something of you, after
all-that is. if you don't forget what
have taught you while l am away
Now | am off. Try to keep the hUus,
nice during my absence. / have put
five shillinss on the nantclpicce fol
you; so, as there is plenty OF food in
the house, you will get on famously
until you hear from me again. Yot
shall have your wages when | como
back, and most likely Il nice present
cant give you my address until ! have
decided where ! am going to stay IL
ltHIuSrIlu Tell hn ir.iurSInau and any