The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1899-06-03

MY ODJeCblOu, II nave On6s nus
nothing to do with the fact. I asked
you question and you promised to give
me q straightforward answer"
"Then, do most decidedly wish you
to understand that" said Mrs. Hope,
promptly.
In less time than it takes to write it
a complete realization of the awful
truth formed itself in We're Nugent's
brain.
CHAPTER H. ~.
:, lock Airlie did not much care about
Mrs. Hope, although she was by way OF
being an intimate Of his wife's. And
somehow in his solid presence, Mrs.
Hope always felt more or less hopeless,
and as If her stock in trade Of looks
and coquetry were all decidedly impo-
tent.
"Why, even Miss Nugent has not been
allowed to look into the room yet" he
said bluntly. You know the poor old
chap has had the very ncarestshavei in the
whole world in fact, we can scarcely say
he's out of the woods yet Ruth is sim
ply worn out and dead asleep at this
moment, and I'm not much better"
but surely could be of some use,
she pleaded.
''Well, candidly, don't think you
could" he said bluntly, and Of course
every extra one in the house makes it
harder to keep going. But it's awfully
kind Of Won 10 have como: I'll let him
know as soon as he's fit TO hear of out
side interests. by the by are you driv-
ing or shall call you o cab?'
sob, no; I'm driving, thanks" she
replied.
She was boiling over with passion as
she crossed the hall ana went down
the steps to her carriage.
And poor We're, who had gone slowly
and drcarily up to her room face to
face with q new and terrible trouble
even before the weight of the FIRST aw-
full one had lifted from her heart.
Could it really be true chat he had gone
straightway and engaged himself to
Mrs, Hope, Of all women in the world?
If SO he must have gone to her and
asked her at once on arriving in Lon
don, at least during the course of that
day
From BlaelIwood they had learned
that Mr., Lumley had returned about
three O'clock, having sent his luggage
up to the studio in cab three hours
earlier, that he had dressed and gone
out, telling BlaclSwood that he might
possibly not return till late at night
81 haye TO see lady in Queens Gate
about q sitting" he said, "and If I'm
coming home TO dinner I'll send you n
wire about half-past six,
He had, however, been brought home
about six o'clock in cab by a police
man and strange gentleman, who told
BlaelSwood of the accident, and that
the only conscious words he had spolz-
en- were-"Tule me home-not n hos
pitai-home, and accordingly they had
done so.
She remembered now so well Mrs.
Jocks comment on hearing Hack
woods story. ''Ah, l wonder il lie had
been to see Mrs, Hope. She lives in
Queens Gate, you know"
Wen, it was evident that he had been
there, and from what Mrs. Hope had
said it was equally evident that he had
gone there in anger and despair and
had asked her to take possession Of the
heart which he believed that she, We're,
had rejected But oh-no, no, not the
heart; of the life, the name, the fate, if
You win, but the heart was hers-au
hers even yet, Had he not asked for her
IN his first conscious moment, had he
not wished for her presence? All, YES
happened in the time to com,
she was stre that his heart was and
would be hers forever
And OH how unutterably wretcbed
she wasl She had no tears left! Her
her sleeplessness, her grief
at the mistakes of the past had taken
all her tears-in this, the most crushing
blow of all, her eyes were quite dry,
but her heart seemed like n lump of
lead. Her future looked black and
blank, her flower of hope was withered
and dead.
She was still there when light
knock sounded on the door.
Come in, she said, when 1t sounded
D second time.
The door Yves opened a couole Of
inches. We're, can you comeqp twas
Jocks voice.
She ran to the door, her heart In her
mouth, and flung it wide open. Jock
airle was standing on the landing.
Gould you come7n he said. Hes ask
ng for you and is quiet and sensible.
Ruth's asleep still"
oh, yes, she said, nervously, 81 win
And you viii remember how miser-
lbly Ill and weak he is still2 You'll be
quite steady and calm?" he said, anx-
ously.
- will be perfectly calm, s. she said,
inhesitatingly. But tell me, how did
40 know was here?"
Il don't know. He asked for YOU,
and asked him what made him think
7on were here. He says he's known
mi