Evening journal., 1899-08-28


and an unnatural elevation pervaded
him as he hailed with almost hysterical
delight the prospect of showing this
woman how utterly Indifferent he was
70 her.
She hesitated a moment, then quietly
sat down.
But surely, Mr.. yandeleur," she said.
"your wound cannot be of so trivial a
nature as you would have one believe?
You were reported killed at first; all
the papers said so, and 1-everyone was
so dreadfully sorry"
Were they?" said Vandeleur, ironic-
ally. Sorry to say their feelings must
pass unappreciated. Enough Of myself,
however. l presume you are staying
down here for some timer" he added,
as he threw his cigarette away.
please don'tl" cried Miss Sinclair.
"You know l have no objection; my
tastes have not changed even in is
months"
Excuse me-" said Vandeleur, coidiy,
IL thought they had. However, it is OF
no consequence, as l smoke very little
now; tobacco doesn't commend itself TO
invalids, you know"
During the conversation Miss SIN
clair had been surreptitiously observing
vandeleur.
With a dull pain at her heart she
noted the unmistalSable evidence of suf-
fering in his look.
A strong desire to tend and nurse this
man, whom she loved as a woman only
loves once, overmastered her, and she
experienced a mad impulse to cast all
eonventionality aside, and throw her
self at his feet and cry: "Oh, my love,
my love, wronged you innocentlyl It
is all hideous mistalSei Won't you for
give-only forgiven"
The impulse died away, however, as
she glanced at Vandeleur, and saw the
hard line of his mouth.
He will never forgive, she thought
never.
Neither spoke for some minutes, and
the pause was becoming awkward,
when a puff of wind disarranged Van
deleur's rug. He feebly essayed to
reach for it; but Miss Sinclair fore
stalled him, and with a "Please allow
me" arranged it.
While doing so her hand slightly
touched that Of Vandeleur, causing the
blood to jump madly through his veins
while the color flooded her own face.
Presently Miss Sinclair said, hesitat-
ingly; 81 have been trying for th'
last few minutes toto say something
VIII you listen? | want to ask youl
pardon. Some time ago vel quar-
relied with you, apparently without any
ostensible cause whatever. Three
months ago l discovered the fact thai
had done you a grievous wrong"
Took you some time, DIDN'T it?" sar
oOstically interjected Vandeleur. 81
was acquainted with the fact exactly
IS months ago"
The venom Of his remark almos
scorched the words en- her lips. but sh
I suietly proceeded;
please reserve your sarcasm unit
I you have heard me. Not even the fea
Of your misunderstanding shall dete
me from performing what I conside
to be right and my duty to do. il j
right you should know that had som
slight excuse for my apparent wantoi
capriciousness."
She paused a moment, resting he
chin on her hand. and Vandeleur stol
a glance At her.
She had changed somewhat, b.
thought-grown gentler and more sui
,1,-.1. ,-l tI, ,,eef-r,.fa I1.-rn r,r.r,
on him TO open his arms and say:
II forgive all, forgive ALI Onl
love mel"
"Please go on" he said.
THANK YOU" she replied, quietly, 81
viii. The Story of a Man and a Won
an is an old title, and has been use
many times, yet I purpose using it one
again as heading for my narrative"
"The man in this particular case ar
peared to love the woman very dearl,
and she-well, she requited his affe'
ton"
Vandeleur started and shifted his pc
Etion slightly.
"He was n writer of books" she cor
tinued, "and on her twenty-third birtl
Say ne pieSGuleu HcA Win iAc uA'
proof Of the book that had made hi
name. II was n unique present, an
. she appreciated it accordingly, unit
on turning over the leaves she foun
between the pages letter.
1T vas a love letter, written in III
mans handwriting on a large sheet {
paper, and signed with his Christia
name. but not meant for her; the nan
Of the woman for whom it was d.
signed was Gladys"
> "Heavensl" cried Vandeleur, hoars
5 ", 1.-The Hand on the Wheel'-it W;
the page Of manuscript that | cou
never fndl"
b "Yes," she said, quietly, lit was
e page of manuscript that you had los
o She, however, did not discover this ui
Q til later; but in her misery at wilt
she imagined to be the mans falsenes
: never answered his demands for an e
S planation-never spoke to him again.
She paused for moment, overcou
o with emotion.
= "Some time later" she proceede
with difficulty, "a book was publish'
e by a man, entitled: The Hand on Il