The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1899-07-28
HER MISTAKE,
Eovelia:.s Should Keep Their
Manuscripts From Their
Lady Loves.
81 !. =. :

The two men occupied q sheltered nook
close to the Palace hotel, and Crawford.
after arranging Vandeleur's rug. threw
himself into i graS; cEair and lit his pipe.
Nandclcur closed his eyes rrStfully.
He looked pal" and thin and his left arm
rested i'll Il sling.
After few pulfs Crawford burst out:
"Ty Iovc. isn't this glorious? What
difference there is between it and On
durham
Rather. All the same, | liked it,
a 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 in
quirrd If You had completely recovered;
seemed quite interested in you, old chap.
Her name is Sinclair"
"Sinclair!'
Ycs-hcavens! What's the matter.
old man? You do look queer"
well. old fellow, you see knew her
once. Engaged. got chucked. Somehow.
you sca. can't-you understand"
Crawford quietly stopped down and
grasred NandeIeur's hand. There was a
lot OF silent sympathy in that quiet hand
clasp.
Nandcleur was always somewhat of n
mystery to Crawford. The latter could
never understand why Il successful novel
list such as lie was had given up a prom
Using future His hairhrcadth escapes
had l"comr the talk of the army. 1t was
at Omdurlnan his run of luck almost
came to Il close.
They had dragged him from beneath
the heap of bodies, and at first every one
thought that the dcrvish sword had fin
ishcd the mad correspondent" of The
Sentinel.
The shave was close one, but never
thelcss they had pulled him round. And
now he was on the fair road to recovery.
After Il pause Crawford spoke.
Forgive me, old chap; didn't know.
You see, we hadn't met until after-after
that
Don't apologize. am so confounded-
ly weak. Crawford. l can't stay here.
must get away. | cant meet her again
or, 1T least, not yet
"Oh, nonsense. You can't go just when
the air is pulling you around 50 well. Be
sides, there is little possibility of your
meeting, as she is not even aware Of your
being here. Hello, there's White calling
40 Aou my NdN ms sOu lOI
few minutcS?"
Not at all. In fact-l am afraid it's
not exactly complimentary to you, old
fellow. hut l would rather be alone for a
bit. You undcrstand?'
Crawford comprchendcd and merely
said: Il understand, old man. I'll he
back in half an hour" Then he quietly
walked off.
Nandeleur sat thinking. His thoughts
Were bitter as they went back two years,
and lie recalled the hcartlcss manner in
which this woman threw him over with.
ont any perceptiblc reason. lie could
never understand il.
Are ali women the same?" he Won
dcred. Does every woman play with n
man merely to fool him in the end?"
But his coGitntionS abruptly ceased as
his glance wandered down the path in
the direction of the hotel
lie started slightly, and flush showed
itself for a moment in his thin features.
\ strangely familiar figure was coming
toward him, and his fingers nervously
twisted and UNFINISHED as lie recognized
the one woman in all the world whom he
least desired to meet.
His natural impulse was to get away.
D!li HIS W tIkIltSS IcIutIcu SuCH pro
:crdin@ impossible.
In his weak state the sight of her con.
jurcd up strange emotions. He felt more
keci:ly his own helplcssness, and then as
lie watched her there arose in his heart
passionate longing for sympathy and
rest.
Ii onIy-if only-bah. What a fool he
waS-as big Il fool rs he was Is months
ago almost,
Then as she sauntcred careleSsly along
Il dull feeling Of resentment displaced his
previous NERVOUSNESS.
True. she might not deign to notice him,
but if she die there would be no trace OF
the old madness to crafty her
Meanwhile. the object of his wrath, ut.
terly oblirious of exciting The attention
of any one. never deviated from the path
that must inevitably take her past the
spot where Vandcleur was sitting, but
Stroled along with an open book in her
hand.
So immersed WIS Miss Sinclair with
her reading that she failed to notice the
man. who WAS rather fcehly esSaying to
light cigarette, until she was quite
close.
At the first glance. however, she recog-
niZcd him. and the sudden shock was al
most painful. but, recovering herself in 4
moment. walked straight up to Vande-
lcur and held out her hand, saying gent
ly:
81 am 50 glad, Mr. Nandclcur, to see
that you are hcttcr-So very glad"
Although Vandelrur'S heart beat quick
ly. lie WAS out war;liy calm and cool as he
replied nonchalanily:
Thank you Except for the fact of
feeling rather weak now anu then, L am
comparatively well. l trust you are quite
well. Miss Snclair?"
Yes. am very well, thank you. But
but Mr.. Crawford told me you had by
no means recovered yet"
Nandcleur mentally mathematical
Crawford as he said, with Il bad imita-
ton of Il laugh:
"PShaw! Crawford is an awfuIly good
fellow. but, you know, he occasionally
constructs Il mountain out of Il mole
hill"
Pointing TO the seat which Crawford
had vacated Il few minutes previously, he
continued:
Wont you please sit down. Miss Sim
clair? | long to have chat with an old
friend"
His own desire now was to keep her,
and au unnatural elevation pervaded him
as he hailed with almost hystcrical de-
light the prospect of showing this woman
how utterly Indifferent he was to her.
She hcsitatcd moment, then quietly
sat down.
but surely, Mr.. Vandcleur." she said,
''your wound cannot be of so trivial a ma
ture rs you would have one believe? Yon
we're reported killed ut first. All the pa
pcrs said 50, and LIVERY one was so
drcadfully sorry"
Were they" said Vandelcur ironical-
ly. SORRY to say their feelings must pass
unapprcciatcd Enough of myself, how
ever presume you are staying down
here for some timc?" he added, as he
threw his cigarette away.
please don't" cried Miss Sinclair.
you know have no objection. My
tastes have not changed even in IS
months"
Excuse me-" said Vandcleur coldly.
81 thought they had. However, it is of
no consequence. as | smoke very little
now. Tobacco doesn't commend itself to
invalids, you know"
During the conversation Miss Sinclair
had been surrcptitiously observing Van
dclcur.
With Il dull pain at her heart she noted
the unmistakable evidence of suffering in
his look.
y strong desire to tend and nurse this
man, whom she loved as a woman only
loves once. oyermastfrad ks:. and she ey-