Evening journal., 1899-07-24
HER MISTAKE.
an 7dF llSSSIS N N SalS'9lS
"OUITE comfortable now2" asked

nook on the cliffs at Hastings. close to
the Palace hotel. and Crawford. after
arranging Nandeleur's rug, threw him
self into a grass chair and lit his pipe.
Vandeleur closed his eyes festfuly.
Helooked pale and thin, and his left
arm rested in a sling.
After few puffs Crawford burst out;
"By Jovel isn't this glorious? What
q difference there is between IL and
Omdurmanl"
Rather! All the same, / liked IL.
liked the rush and whirl; ny, even the
killing and the chance of being killed; 81
adding cynicnlly, Il suppose | am un-
grateful, but sometimes ! wish that
Arab sword had caught me few inches
lower down."
"Ohl stop that What ails you. man?
often wonder whether IL was profess
sional enterprise made you 50 reckless.
ora love affair. Ell? BY Jovel thatre-
minds me of something. A lady at
breakfast this morning some way or
other got to know that l was Crawford
the News man. She had also eyidoutly
heard that you and had been pretty
thick at the front, rs she inquired IL YOU
had adcompletely recovered; seemed quite
interested in you, old chap. Her name
is Sinclair"
"Sinclair?"
"Yes-heavensl what's the matter.
old man? You do look queer"
"Well. old fellow, you see knew her
once Engaged, got chucked; some
how, you see, l can't-you understand.
Crawford quietly stopped down and
grasped Nandeleur's hand. There was
a lot of silent sympathy in that quiet
handclnsp.
Nandeleru was always somewhat Of
mystery to Crawford. The latter could
never understand why a successful nov.
elst such as he was had given up
promising future. His lairhreadfh es-
eapes had become the talk OF. the army.
1t was at Omdurman his run Of luck al
most came to close.
They had dragged him from beneath
the heap of bodies, and at first everyone
thought that the dervish sword had
finished the "mad correspondent" Of TIE
Sentinel.
The shave was a close one, but never
theless they had pulled him round
And now he was on the fair road TO re
covery.
After pause Crawford spoke.
Forgive me, old chap; didn't know
You see, we hadn't met until after
after that"
Don't apologize; am so confound-
edly weak. Crawford, ! can't stay here;
1 must get away. / can't meet her
again-or, at least, not just yet"
"Oh, nonsense! You can't 60 just
when the air is pulling you round so
WELL Besides, there is little possibility
OF your meeting, as she is not even
aware Of your being here. Halle.
there's White calling nae. DO you IniHs
my leaving you for few yninutsE?"
"Not At all. In fdet-I am afraid its
not exaetly complimentary TO you, old
fellow, but would rather be alone fora
bit. You underestimate"
Crawford comprehended, and merely
said: Il understand, old man; III be
bacl, in half an hour" then quietly
walked off
Vandeleur sat thinking. His thoughts
were bitter as they went back two
years, and he recalled the hsartless
manner in which this woman threw
him over without any perceptible rea-
son. lie could never understand II.
Are all women the same? he won
dered. Does every woman play with
man merely to fool him in The end?
But his cogitations abruptly ceased
as his glance wandered down the path
in the direction of the hotel.
He started slightly and flush showed
itself for a moment in his thin features.
A strangely familiar figure was COM
ing toward him, and his fingers nerv-
ousiy twisted and untwistod as he
recognized the one woman in all the
world whom he least desired to meet.
His natural impulse was to get away,
but weakness rendered such proceed
ing impossible.
In his weak state the sight Of her con
iured up strange emotions. He felt
more keenly his own heiplessness, and
then, as he watched her, there arose in
his heart a passionate longing for sym
pathy and rest.
If only. if only-bahl what a fool he
was-as big fool as he was / 8 month
ago almostl
So immersed was Miss Sinclair with
her reading that she failed TO notice the
man. who was rather feebly essaying to
light a cigarette, until she was quite
close.
At the first glance, however, she rec
ognized him, and the sudden shock was
almost painful. but, recovering herself
in a moment, walked straight up to
Vandeleur and held out her hand, say
ing gently:
Il am so glad. Mr.. Vandeleur, 10 see
that you are better-so very blad."
Although Vandeleur's heart beat
quickly. he was outwardly calm and
cool as he replied, nonchalantly:
Thank you. Except for the fact Of
feeling rather weak now and then, am
comparatively we'll. 1 trust you are
quite well. Miss Sinelair?"
Yes. am very well, thank you. But