The Atlanta constitution., 1900-08-27
(Coprtght. 1901. by Annie French Hector.
All Rights Reserved)
CHAPTER XY.


CHAPTER XIV.
81. Maur and his director departed. pro-
found peace settled down on Ravens
cleugh and its inmates. North made steady
progress toward complete recovery. II was
rather remarkable how much a wound IN
the chest affected his eyesight. also II
tired his arms to hold up a newspaper. lie
was therefore frequently obliged TO ask
Madeleine TO read aloud to him. and the
reading often merged into reminiscence
and rambling pleasant talk
These were delightful days; involunta-
rfly both dropped into a tone OF consid-
erably greater familiarity when they
were alone. than when with Erie or MIS-
Sutton or even the children.
There was not an Incident. not an ex-
psrience. mental or emotional OF her SIM
ple life that Madeleine was not drawn
into detailing in these long. confidential
interviews. though OF all girls the least
disposed 20 talk about self
You seem to me 20 do a good deal OF
thinking" said North. after pause OF
some duration. "You cast all the ODDS
and ends YOU have learned (and l cannot
say they gave you a liberal ecucatiom
into a sort OF mental stock pot. and ex-
tract every atom of nourishment possible
from themF
Thank you. II f. a compliment, but
not very elegantly turned Fancy com
pairing the mental laboratory OF young
lady. who was YOU said. princess not
even disguised. 20 a stock poi.
well. II Is rather brutal. ! have de-
te-t0rated woefully. but do not the less
admire your power OF thought; You see
ever so many more sides TO every subject
than 7 do / am a lazy beggar on the
whole"
Not physically lazy. Mr.. North. i
should say you are most energetic What
fatigue you can undergo, wnat harushps
You can bear and
And all for nothing" he interrupted.
MY life has been wOeruIly wasted"
Not 50 much as you think. imagine.
said Madeleine dropping her work in her
lap and gazing away through the open
window You must have gathered a
great deal Of out-Of-the-way knowledge.
and some day Il will come in useful, as
Mrs. Sutton says Of her rag bag"
els that n return for my stock pot?
''Oh no. I; was an excellent illustration
How have you managed Tor books all
these long years.
Done without them, I do not think
am naturally fond % books. and here L
did not want them
4 hav.. alwavs longed for them" said
Madeleine. II think the people ! have
rncst envied are some school fellows OF
mine who once asked me TO stay part OF
nv summer holidays Their father was
a very learned man and / must say seem
sd rather duh. They had a large library
and every magazine and newspaper you
can think Of I used TO think what bliss
fl would he 10 sit and read IN that library
all day long.
Better for your mental health that
YOU were not able TO have such a surfeit-
you would have read away al your orisi-
naIityr'
would that have been any great lOssT'
YES. You would have been less charm
-.Nir. North. y ~ are 70 be real friends.
YOU should NOT talk ia a complimentary
strain. / want 20 be friends with you
AMI she paused FOR his eyes dwclt
ON her very earnestly and gravely in
deed with something " pain IN their lin
g,rius gaze
We'll. Ia be serious and fault-findins.
why do you let your brother get out Of
-yCur grasp
How do you mean
'-You are less al home with him than
with any one else. and he does not un-
tcrstani sou in the very least You
should have more faith in yourself. Mad
eIslue. The only creature you seem 10
fear is your brother That - not the
way 90 win a man Of his nature"
s-Oh. I know that quite N-ll. hut how
can help "a. I am utterly dependent ON
him and ! am bound with fetters of iron
by the sense of being burden ! some
tim,s feel I am a criminal for being
alive
''An idea quite unworthy of your sound
common sense. Why, the sight of your
Harmonious presence iu his house ought
10 compensate Tor large outlay"
THAT Is quite silly. You know Dc is
'-Ah. wen. everyone may not aEree with
me- hut that Is my view II the subject
Malslsint made no reply but adireSscd
her-t Dc tn hsr task. mendiug a sadly torn
fr0ck of ue.ly's-
II arm going fo ask favor resumed
North '-I- IS this-d1 not tell your broth
er that yots aud have ever met before.
mt go --a-t ti,i ! tell You you NAV, 1
have SOME matters to put straight before
J cnuf - msseli fullv.
.-Vsrl- well Fnu may be- sure / will not"
'-Ard you Wtll not think that am plot
ting r1 poison Mr. Erie and produce a
forged viii besfruiEg Rav.nscieugh on
ms ami tur Flar.l.siushin ~ the children.
whom I -ueuls. proceed % Kill by inches.
Tell me. don't yru wonder what IL was
that drove me forth like cain 10 wander
L. and fFu. Eh-
Yes Z do but shall never ask to
KNOW Al Eu4 FE.rH-e To Teal me Sil'A4A
listen with aI my heart"
--AIoz- delicate and delightful of friends.
you DO Uuf SNOW how heavenly sweet II
is 90 me tu meet my little peri of the
past after ray ioU- haui=hment from all
! knew and gar-l for. Somefim.s when
we are together 70 an evening and I
meet Your .ye~,-1h. well. you'u accuse
m of taiklu- nonsense again. but IL IS
NOT uuuseue'. and BIZ am an outspolzcn
barbarian. yuu must forgive me"
Madri.i. felr al4Ey with the strange
thrill 80 almost rainful pleasure that
shlverel through her veins at his words
ami -ules sh. did not dare To speak
Tell ms." said North rcsuminE in a
dinereut tone. what 10 you think Of
Forrestsr-'
Il have never made up my mind about
him lie can ~ very amusing. even in
teresting. BE- has read and seen 50 much
butt
You do not think him capable OF the
deeP-dyed viilaiuy my good friend Mrs.
Sutton suspects
Suspect echoed Madeleine laughing
E------y-E---x >-yy---l2sx--- ~