Evening journal., 1899-08-28

The two men occupied a sheltered
nook on the cliffs at Hastings, close to
the Palace hotel, and Crawford, after
arranging vandeleur's rug, threw him
self into a grass chair and lit his pipe.
Vandeleur closed his eyes restfully.
He looked pale and thin, and his left
arm rested in q sling.
After few puffs Crawford burst out:
"By Jove! isn't this glorious? What
a difference there is between ii and
Omdurmanl"
"Rather All the same, l liked il. !
liked the rush and whirl; ay, even the
killing and the chance of being killed;
adding cynically, II suppose ! am un-
grateful, but sometimes l wish that
Arab sword had caught me a few inches
lower down"
"Ohl stop that. What ails you, man?
/ often wonder whether il was profes-
sional enterprise made you so reckless.
ora love affair. eh? BY Jovel that re-
minds me of something. lady at
breakfast this morning some way or
other got to know that was Crawford,
the News man. She had also evidently
heard that you and had been pretty
thick at the front, as she inquired If you
had dcompletely recovered; seemed quite
interested in you. old chap. Her name
is Sinclair"
"Sinclair?"
"Yes-heayensl what's the matter.
old man? You do look queer"
"Well, old fellow, you see knew her
once. Engaged, got chueked; some
how, you see, can't-you understand"
Crawford quietly stopped down and
grasped Vandeleur's hand. There was
lot of silent sympathy in that quiet
handclasp
Nandeleru was always somewhat of
mystery to Crawford. The latter could
never understand why a successful nov.
elist such as he was had given up n
promising future. His hairbreadth es-
capes had become the talk of the army.
1t was at Omdurman his run Of luck al
most came to a close.
They had dragged him from beneath
the heap of bodies, and at first everyons
thought that the dervish sword had
finished the mad correspondent" of the
Sentinel.
The shave was close one, but never
theless they had pulled him round.
And now he was on the fair road to re-
covery.
After a pause Crawford spoke.
Forgive me, old chap; l didn't know.
You see, we hadn't met until after
after that"
Don't apologize; am SO confound-
edly weak. Crawford, l can't stay here5
/ must get away. can't meet her
again-or, at least, not just yet"
"Oh, nonsensei You can't go 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. Hallol
there's White calling me. DO you mind
my leaving you for a few minutes?'
Not at all. IN fact-I am afraid its
not exactly complimentary to you, old
fellow, but / would rather be alone for a
bit. You understand"
Crawford comprehended, and merely
said: 81 understand, old man; III oe
back 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 heartles'
manner in which this woman threw
him over without any perceptible rea
son. He could never understand it.
Are all women the same? he won
dered. Does every woman play with q
man merely to fool him in the end?
But his cogitations abruptly eeaseC
.1,~,., ,r-. ~, oreI Totrr, ike M D
in the direction of the hotel.
He started slightly and flush showed
itself for q moment in his thin features
A strangely familiar figure was com
ing toward him, and his fingers nerv
ously twisted and untwisted as h'
recognized the one woman in all th'
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
jured up strange emotions. He fel
more keenly his own helplessness, ant
then, as he watched her, there arose il
his heart a passionate longing for sym
pathy and rest.
If only, if only-bahl what fool b
was-as big n fool as he was IS month
ago almostl
II.
SO immersed was Miss Sinclair wit
her reading that she failed to notice TIA
man. who was rather feebly essaying I
light a cigarette, until she was quit
close.
At the first glance, however, she re,
ognized him, and the sudden shock wa
almost painful. but. recovering herse
in a moment, walked straight up I
Vandeleur and held out her hand, say
ing gently;
~ am so glad Mr.. Vandeleur, to sc
that you are better-so very blad."
Although Yandeleur's heart bef
quickly. he was outwardly calm an
cool as he replied, nonchalantly:
THANK you. Except for the fact {
feeling rather weak now and then, al
comparatively well. trust you al
quite well, Miss Sinclair?"
''Yes, am very well, thank you. Bt