The Red Cloud chief., 1900-09-28

neatly over It.; the room was as tidy
and clean as 1t could be.
Beside a small flre-the sun was
shining brightly outside-stood a com
fortably cushioned easy chair, and in
II, clad I'm n somewhat old and worn
dressing gown, sat the mere shadow OF
n mana thin, emaciated creature,
whose long limbs and evident height
seemed to make his emaciation more
marked. His hands, almost skin and
bone, were crossed on his knees: a pa
per lay between them. He turned his
face toward the door as they entered,
and Enderby saw it fully. It was a
face that had once been a handsome
one, gentle and refined; but o the
bloodless lips, the hollow cheeks, the
sllnken blue eyes. the temple, over
which thin gray hair kept straying,
made II more like the face OF a dead
man than OF a living one.
A strange feeling of mingled pity
and conjunction moved in Enderby's
heart as he came forward to the chair.
81 am sorry to- see you looking so
i'll, Mr.. Lloyd" he said, rs the sick
man made a gesture to rise, bowling as
he did SO. "Do not rise, | beg of you"
Jasmine, will you place a chair
for Mr.. Enderby?" said the sick man.
1t was the first time Paul had heard
the girls name, and he turned to look
at her as she brought forward the
chair.
jasmine did not raise her eyes. but
see. for n second blush dawned in her
cheeks. For the moment she seemed a
woman in the first glorious dawn OF
w~omanhood.
She placed the chair. then almost
noiselessly withdrew from the room.
Her father glanced 10 see II she was
gone, then he turned to Paul.
MIR. Enderby, you were very kind
to my poor little girl the other night,
and for that let me beg to thank you.
We have few friends, my child and |.
We are poor and unknown, and there
fore friendless. For me 1t matters lit
tie. but for my child | feel sorry at
times that 1t should be so. | some
times wonder what would happen to
her if-if died. Yet surely God would
raise up friends-the God who has new
er quite forsaken me, however low
have fallen"
He spoke In a quiet. gentle voice
the voice of a reClusc who Is more
accustomed to think than 10 speak:
and Enderby glanced at him quickly
Was it possible that this man could be
a criminal-this gentle looking, enact,
ated, and now evidently dying man
the father of Jasmine? Or vas it al
q. Sir Henry had said, that he was real
ly insane, at least on n point?
81 thought, from what your daugh
ter said, Mr.. Lloyd, that you had a
least one friend" he said, determined
, to probe the matter as far as he could
Doctor Lyndon"
The sick man was startled at tn.
name. and looked up sharply.
"Ah, yes-Doctor Lyndon! He wa
my friend once" he said slowly, IAN,
a now also, | suppose. Yet sometimes
What was | about to say?" he brok
of suddenly. Mr.. Enderby, there |
e something In you which seems 20 dra,
my confidence; or Is 1t that hav
h been SO long exiled from kindly hu
manity that | am eager to seize tn
; first hand stretched out to me? Bu
y at least you are kind and generous
y so much | know from what you di
for Jasamine. | should like II 20
would come to see me again. wi
s you?"
u II shall be very glad to do So sal
70 Enderby, almost eagerly. May
'e come ON sunday | have more time
H. my disposal then"
u" Thank you" said the sick ma
family. He stretched out his waste
, hand, and Enderby could not but tai
:. it, yet again he felt a traitor.
Jasmine let him out,
No. Il am SO glad you came" she sa
in a low yoice-and he saw u mi
:. come over the soft eyes. He know
no one, and sometimes | think, II on
=. he could speak of what is preying {
his mind. he would be better"
~ Then there is something's Ende
by said, holding the small hand wi
an unconscious close grasp.
She checked herself again.
you must % let father know tn
a. | said that" she exclaimed eager
80 "Good-by. and thank you SO much!'
na "Good-by," he returned. AS he we
-, down the long stairs he wonder
=. again II he were a traitor.
@?