The Advocate and news., 1899-01-25

eyes B6f6u0 AnQ uutfOuD4ouS usu mOS
her but half veiled references to old
days with polite but positive indiffer-
ehCe She had nothing to ask OF him,
she told herself She meant no disloy-
atty to Harry, no wrong Of any kind.
Not bic Of It. She had treated Bar
clay very badly. She had done him
wrong that was much greater in her
own estimation than it was in that Of
any one Of her neighbors, among whom
the women at least considered the loss
Of his inamorata q blessing in disguise,
but Laura fully believed that Barclays
heart must have been crushed in the
depth Of his woe, and that it was now
her duty to make friends again-per-
haps in some way to console him, not,
Of course, in any way to which Harry
could object; not, Of course, in any way
TO which the post ought to object, but
well, even to herself, as has been said,
she could not entirely and satisfactorily
explain her motive. 1t was impossible
therefore that she could hope to do so
TO anybody else, and yet she had dared
to write to him. It was only Little
note, and yet with all its inconsistent
oies it said 80 much;
DEAR CAPTAIN BARoLAY-I cannot tell you
my distress at hearing Of your again being &c.
Verely wounded, especially at a time when
had hoped 10 have you meet and better know
my husband, but now In his distressing alb
sence |, who more than any woman at this
post am anxious to show my sympathy and
sorrow, am practically helpless. Do tell me II
there is anything can do, though am sure
can't see what is left for me, with no cook or
kitchen, and Mrs Frazier and the Misses Fra
gier sending such loads Of things. l really
envy them and Mrs. Blythe the privilege Of
their years in going to see you personally, foI
am not at least your oldest friendP L. W.
This ingenious note was sent by
Hannibal at an hour when the captain
was alone, and when, had he been dis
posed, he might have hobbled to the
door and answered in person; but hob
BILE he did not, nor did he answer until
after long thought He received the lit
tie missive with surprise, read it with
out a tremor of hand or lip but with
something Of shame and pity that over
spread his face like q cloud. Was he
only just beginning to know her, after
all?
Pray do not give my scratch thought-he
answered in writing late that afternoon--Rnd
believe, my dear Mrs. Winn, that have every
comfort that one can possibly DESIRE Every
one is most kind. expect to be out with my
men in week and shall be delighted to take
the field and send Mr.. Winn back to you forth
with. Most sincerely.
And chat was how, with polite but
positive Indifference, he had treated her
reference to old times and old friends
Shallow as she was, Laura Winn was
deep enough to see that ne meant to
hold himself far aloof from her. He
Could hardly have told her more plainly
he would have none Of her. He had
even dared to say it would be a pleasure
to go that he might send her husband
back to her arma And this was the
man she once thought she loved, the
man who, she believed, adored her and
would never outlive the passion of his
sorrow at losing her.
Even now the foolish heart OF the
woman might have accepted its lesson,
but it was time for friends again TO
come, and, as Laura expressed it, "pry
and prod and preach, and that brought
on climax.
Mrs. Faulkner had dropped in and
dropped out again, and Laura, who
seemed forever going to the porch these
days, followed and called her back.
Zone thing you said / don't under
stand, she began, and Mrs Faulkner's
pretty face showed plainly there had
been something Of a storm.
II said this, Laura" her friend re-
sponded, permitting her to go no fur.
ther, but turning at the step and look
ing up into her indignant eyes "You
do yourself injury by showing such
concern about Captain Barclay. Every
body says go, and it's all wasted as far
as he's concerned. He never notices