The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1900-01-28

NJ BILE now?" asked
- ~ Crawford, OF the
rTN News, as he threw a
o.! ,XrWl rug across Van
yrllklk deleur's feet.
thanks"
The two men occupied sheltered
nook on the cliffs at Hastings, close
to the Palace Hotel, and Crawford,
after arranging Vandelemr's rug,
threw himself into a grass chair.
Vandeleur closed his eyes restfully.
He looked pale and thin, and his left
arm rested in sling.
After few moments Crawford burst
out:
"By Jove! isn't this glorious? What
q difference there is between 1t and
Omdurmanl"
"Rather! All the same, liked it.
I liked the rush and whirl; ay, even
the killing and the chance of being
killed." adding cynically. IT suppose
I am ungrateful. but sometimes Iwish
that Arab sword had caught me few
inches lower down."
mans often wonder whether it was
professional enterprise made you so
reckless, ora love affair, Ell? By
Jovei that reminds me- Of something.
"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 I
had been pretty thick at the front. as
she inquired if you had COM
pletely recovered, seemed quite inter-
ested in you, old chap. Her name is
Sinclair"
-'Sinclair?"
"Yes-heavens! what's the matter.
old manp You do look queer"
"WelI, old fellow, you see I knew
her once. Engaged, got chucked;
somehow. you see, I can't-you un-
derstand."
Crawford quietly stopped down and
grasped Vandeleur's hand. There
was lot of silent sympathy in that
quiet handclasp.
Vandeleur was always somewhat Of
a mystery to Crawford. The latter
could never understand why a sue.
cessful novelist such as he was had
given up a promising future. Hit
hairbreadth escapes had become the
talk of the army. It was ct Omdur
man his run of luck almost came to .
close.
They had dragged him from be
meath the heap of bodies, and at frs
everyone thought that the dervisi
sword had finished the "mad CORE
spondent" OF the Sentinel.
The shave was close one, bu
nevertheless they had pulled hin
round. And now he was on the fai
road to recovery.
After pause Crawford spoke.
: Forgive me, old chap; I didn
know. You see. we hadn't met unit
after-after that"
''Don't apologize; I am SO cor
ioundedly weak. Crawford, I can
stay here; I must get away. I can
meet her again-or, at least, not jul
yet"
/; "Oh, nonsense! You can't go jul
when the air is pulling you round E
we'll. Besides, there is little poss
bility of your meeting, as she is NJ
even aware of your being here. Hall
there's White calling me. Do 70
mind my leaving You for a few mi
utes?'
"Not ct all. In fact am afra
it's not exactly complimentary to 20
old fellow. but would rather be alo'
for bit. You understand"
Crawford comprehended, and mere
said: CT understand, old man; I'll
back in half an hour" then quiet
walked off.
yandeleur sat thinking. 81
thoughts were bitter as they went ba'
two years, and he recalled the heal
less manner in which this wom
threw him over without any percep
BILE reason. He could never undo
stand it.
Are all women the same? he wo
dered. Does every woman play WI
man merely to fool him in the en-
But his cogitations abruptly ceas
rs his glance wandered down the pa
IN the direction of the hotel.
He started slightly and hu
showed Itself Ior uoAeus AZ A' V
features.
A strangely familiar figure was 90
ing toward him, and his fingers n
vously twisted and UNFINISHED as
recognized the ore woman in all
world whom he least desired to me
His natural impulse was to get avn
but weakness rendered such p
ceeding impossible.
In his weak state the sight OF
conjured up strange emotions.
felt more keenly his own helplessne
and then, as he watched her, tn
arose in his heart passionate long
for sympathy and rest.
If only, if only-bahl what fool
vas-as big fool as he Was eign's
months ago almostl