The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1899-07-08

4apie1se dontr"' cried Miss Sinclair.
~You know ! have no objection. Ny
tastes have, not changed even IN ID
montha,"
Excuse me-" said Vandeleur coldly.
II thought they had. However, 1t is Of
no consequence, as smoke very little
now. Tobacco doesn't commend itself to
invalids. 20, Snow."
During the conversation Miss Sinclair
had been surreptitiously observing Van
deleur.
With a dull pain ut her heart she noted
the unmistakable evidence Of suffering in
his look.
A strong desire to tend and nurse this
man, whom she loved as a woman only
loves once, overmastercd her, and she eX-
perienced mad impulse to cast all con-
ventionality aside and throw herself at
his feet and cry: "Oh, my love, my love,
wronged you innocently! 1t is all
hideous mistake! Won't you forgive
only forgive"
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 Vandeleur's
rug. He feebIy essayed to reach for 1t.
but Miss Sinclair forestalled him, and
with "Please allow me-" arranged 1t.
While doing 50 her hand slightly touch.
ed that of Vandeleur, causing the blood
to jump madly through his veins, while
the color flooded her own face.
Presently Miss Sinclair said hesitating-
ly: II have been trying for the last few
minutes toto say something. Will you
listen2 / want to ask your pardon. Some
time ago VEL quarreled with you, ap-
parently without any osteasible cause
whatever. Three months ago discovered
the fact that had done you q grievous
wrong" ,...-...
"Took you some time. didn't it2" sar-
castically interjected Vandeleur. Il was
acquainted with the fact exactly Is
months ago."
The venom of his remark almost
scorched the words on her lips, but she
quietly proceeded:
"Please reserve your sarcasm until you
have heard me. Not even the fear OF
your misunderstanding shall deter me
from performing what I consider to be
right and my duty to do. 1t Is right you
should know that had some slight ex-
cuse for my apparent wanton capricious-
ness"
She paused moment, resting her chin
on her hand, and Vandeleur stole q
glance at her.
She had changed somewhat, he thought
grown gentler and more subdued, and
the passionate desire drew on him to open
his arms and say:
II forgive all, forgive all! Only love
me!''
"Please go on" he said.
THANK you," she replied quietly, II
will. The STORY of Man and Wom-
an IL an old title and has been used
many times, yet purpose using 1t once
again as a heading for my narrative"
She paused a moment to collect her
thoughts and glanced at Vandeleur, who
continued to gaze sternly seaward. Then
she continued:
1.-THE man in this particular case APP
peared to love the woman very dearly,
and she-well, she requited his affection"
Vandeleur started and shifted his posi-
tion slightly.
HE was a writer Of books" she con-
tinued, land on her twenty-third birth
day he presented her with the first
proof Of the book that had made his
name. 1t was q unique present, and she
appreciated it accordingly until on turn
ing over the leaves she found between
the pages letter.
ut was love letter, written In the
mans handwriting on a large sheet Of
paper and signed with his Christian
name, but not meant for her. The name
of the woman for whom it was designed
was Gladys"
"Heavensw cried vandeleur hoarsely.
The Hand on the Wheel-it was the
page Of manuscript that could never
fnd!'
YES" she said quietly, at was page
of manuscript that you had lost. She,
however, did not discover this until later,
but in her misery at what she imagined
to be the mans falseness never answered
his demands for an explanation, never
spoke to him again"
She paused for a moment, overcome
with emotion. Vandeleur gazed at her
dumbly.
"Some time later" she proceeded with
difficulty, "a book was published by a
man, entitled THE Hand on the Wheel
His heroine was called Gladys, and the
love letter that had destroyed the wo-
mans happiness was reproduced almost |
word for word in Its pages.
'"Then she understood, anil for the first |
time discovered the awful mistake she
had made 1t was too late, however, to |
repair the error. He had gone abroad.
"Then at last one day the news came
that he had been killed, and 1t nearly |
broke her heart"
Vandeeur could not speak. The joy in
his heart was supreme enough to preclude
all utterance. He merely held her hand
as II he could never let it go.
Presently he drew her gently toward
him and rested his cheek against hers.
"You forgiven she whispered.
"My dear! My darling" was all be