The Portland daily press., 1899-07-14
HER MISTAKE.
Novelists Should Keep Their
Manuscripto From Their
Lady Loves.
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Quite comfortable now? p asked Craw-
ford of The News as he threw rug
across vandeleur's feet.
Perfectly, thanks"
The two men occupied sheltered nook
close to the Palace hotel, and Crawford,
after arranging vandeleur's rug, threw
himself into grass chair and lit his pipe.
Vandcleur closed his eyes rcstfully.
He looked pale and thin, and his left arm
rested in n sling
After few puffs Crawford burst out:
BY Jovei isn't this glorious? What q
difference there is between it and Om-
durman!"
Rather. All the same, 1 liked it,"
"a lady at breakfast this morning
some way or other got to know that I
was Crawford, The News man. She had
also evidently heard that you and / had
been pretty thick at the front, as she in
quired il you had completely recovered I;
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. Somehow,
you see. | can't-you understand"
Crawford quietly stopped down and
grasped Nandeleur's hand. There was
lot OF silent sympathy in that quiet hand
clasp.
yandeleur was always somewhat of a
mystery to Crawford. The latter could
never understand why successful novel;
ist such as he was had given up a prom
Using future. His hairbreadth escapes
had become the talk of the army. 1t was
at Omdurman his run Of luck almost
came to close.
They had dragged him from beneath
the heap of bodies, and at first every one
thought that the dervish sword had fin
ished the mad correspondent" of The
Sentinel.
The shave was close one, but never
theless they had pulled him round. And
now be was on the fair road to recovery.
After pause Crawford spoke.
Forgive me. old chap; l didn't know.
You see. we hadn't met until after-after
that"
Don't apologize. l am so confounded-
ly weak. Crawford, can't stay here. l
must get away. l can't meet her again
or, at least, not yet"
"Oh, nonsensei You can't go Just when
the air is pulling you around so we'll Be-
side2 there is little possibility of your
meeting, as she is not even aware of your
being here. Hello. there's White calling
me! Do you mind my leaving you for a
few minutes?"
Not at all. In fact-I am afraid it's
not exactly complimentary to you, old
fellow, but ! would rather be alone for a
bit You understand?'
Crawford comprehended and merely
sad: Il understand, old man. I'll be
back in half an hour" Then he quietly
walked off.
Vandeleur sat thinking. His thoughts
were bitter as they went back two years,
and he recalled the heartless manner in
which this woman threw him over with
out any perceptible reason. 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 ceased as
his glance wandered down the path in
the direction of the hotel.
He started slightly, and flush showed
Itself for moment in his thin features
A strangely familiar figure was coming
toward him, aud his fingers nervously
twisted and untwisted as he recognized
the one woman in all the world whom he
least desired to meet.
His natural impulse was to get away.
but his weakness rendered such pro-
ceeding impossible.
In his weak state the sight Of her con-
Jured up strange emotions. He felt more
keenly his own helplessness, and then as
he watched her there arose in his heart
q passionate longing, for sympathy and
rest.
If only-if only-bahl What fool he
was-as big fool as he was Is months
ago almost!
Then as she sauntered carelessly along
dun feeling of resentment displaced his
previous nervousness.
True, she might not deign to notice him,
but IL she did there would be no trace of
the old madness to crafty her.
Meanwhile. the object of his wrath, ut
terly oblivious of exciting the attention
of any one, never deviated from the path
that must inevitably take her past the
spot where Vandeleur was sitting, but
strolled along with an open book in her
hand.
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 recog-
nized him. and the sudden shock was al
most painful, but, recovering herself in
moment walked straight up to Vande-
leur and held out her hand, saying gent
ly:
II am so glad. Mr.. Vandeleur, to see
that you are better-so very glad"
Although Vandeleur's heart beat quick
iy. he was outwardly calm and cool as he
replied nonchalantly:
"Thank you Except for the fact Of