The Holly chieftain., 1900-09-14


acquaintance of Edinburgh days, ana
he had begged Margaret 70 stay . fsw
weeks with him on her way.
And something--ah. that longing
that years could not kill to see once
more beloved face. to hear once
more = dear voice. now lost to her
forever had impelled Margaret to
yield.
she looks . noble woman" thought
Adrienne to herself: but there is .
story Of suffering behind that face, I
am sure. She makes me think Of the
words. somehow. Perfect through
suffering"
At dinner of course the principal
topic OF conversation was the late
campaign. Presently Cleland's name
was mentioned.
"Ah. yes, poor fellow! / heard
something of that" said Mr. Crombie.
I'm afraid he must have fallen into
the hands OF the enemy" He turned
suddenly to Margaret "By the by.
did you ever meet DR.. Paul Cleland in
Edinburgh. Doctor Crawford? I fancy
you must have done so,"
Adrienne's eyes had fixed themselves
on Margaret's face.
She saw the strange expression that
leaped into those dark gray eyes-one
OF mingled pain. apprehension and
dread.
"Yes. met him." she answered. in
her soft tones. with their slightly
Scotch accent What about him?"
The colonel briefly rehearsed all that
there was to tell. Adrienne, glancing
surreptitiously at Margaret, could see
the expression Of terrible anguish
slowly gathering in the girls eyes, and
to herself Adrienne said: "she loves
him! Oh, how blind I have been! He
had never eyes for any woman but
those that told of friendship-no, not
even for me. although l tried hard to
persuade myself he had. And now
can understand why-he loved her.
and for some reason they were
parted"
So these two women sat through the
two hours of dinner, each living
through lifetime of agony. while out
wardly they had to preserve the calm
and self-possessed demeanor that So
cial conyentionalism demands of the
well-bred.
In the drawing room Adrienne found
herself alone for little with Marga-
ret, and, feeling she might never have
another opportunity. she made a des-
perate attempt to plunge into the sub
ject.
Il know DR.. Cleland very well," she
said quite suddenly. taking seat near
her companion. but her own face was
partly in shadow. I'VE were, In fact.
very good friends. 1t seems to me q
terrible thing that nothing should be
done to rescue him, If that is possible.
feel sure he has been betrayed into
the hands Of the enemy"
Margaret's dark eyes looked long
and strangely into the beautiful face.
After long pause she spoke.
is there nothing we could do, Mrs.
Breynton?"
Adrienne started. The words had
seemed to her like an echo Of her own
thoughts. At that moment there was
the sound OF a step upon the stairs.
We cannot talk of 1t now" said
Adrienne hurriedly: but you are his
friend, Doctor Crawford?"
Il am his friend" Margaret MUIR
INJURED. in a low voice.
Then. will you come and see me
tomorrow evening? said Ardienne.
bending little nearer. IL feel as
II l should like you to be my friend,
Doctor Crawford. too. / have not
many out here. VIII you?"
She stretched out her hand-a beau
tiful white hand. flashing with dia-
monds. Margaret extended hers-one
almost as white, but stronger, more
helpful hand-such a hand as one toss
ing on feverish pillow might have
desired to have upon his burning
head. No rings glittered on It.
So the two women so strangely met,
each carrying sad secret In her heart
on which the name of the same man
was written, clasped hands In friend
ship that was only to be sealed-.if
either had known it-by death itself.
The next morning hurried message
came for Mrs. Breyton. It was from
the hospital, and from the principal
doctor there.
Major Rayburn was brought in
here last night" the message ran,
"and is sinking fast today. He calls
for you continually. It is a case OF
acute typhoid. II you are not afraid.
come at once; no time to be lost"
Adrienne went.
She hardly recognized Philip Ray
burns in the CHASTITY face wboso ho,.