Daily camera., 1901-08-17
osac man was thousands Of MITES

away, and the thinking did no harm,
even though, during the Spanish war,
she searched the newspapers for news
of him, and felt a little thrill of pr'de
and pleasure when she saw that En-
sign Richard Scott IIarvic had been
promoted to licutenantcy for dis'in-
guished gallantry in action. She could
not guess that Dick, pierced to the
core by what he considered her mer-
cenary course, had made up his mind
to let her see that the loss had been
hers.
That was shortly before Mr.. Hop
kins was taken lila long and serious
illness-and Alice's wifely anxiety
drove everything else out OF her mind.
Her husbands death was genuine
grief to her, all the greater because
she felt that in return for his whole
heart she had given him so little 81
her own She missed him even more
than she had done her father, and fell
into a sort Of apathy which lasted un-
til she was reused by the discovery
that her mothers health was failing.
ut is nothing serious" the doctors
told her. "She needs change of air
rather than medicine. Take her to
Old Point Comfort. This climate is
leadly at this time of year"
The change did good to both mother
and daughter. Alice soon found her
self taking more than languid inter-
est in life. The proximity of Ports
mouth, with its navy yard. made naval
uniforms frequent sight, and revived
old memories.
1t was scarcely surprise to her
when, us she entered the hotel parlor
one evening after dinner, she found
herself face to face with Dick Harv.e.
Involuntarily she extended both
hands.
"Oh. Dickl" she exclaimed, and re-
covered her self-possession almost in
stantly, feeling the chill of his manner
Mr.. Haryie barely touched her hand
with one of his; the other arm rested
in n sling. Mrs. Hopkins?" he said,
coolly. This is an unexpected pleas
ure."
Alice shrank into herself, like sea
anemone. but she managed to ask, po'
litely: "You have been wounded"
"Only n trifle. My ship and l are
both in dock for repairs. Excuse
me-" and he left her to join group
at the further end of the room.
Thereafter, although they saw each
other almost every day, their inter
course was OF the scantiest. Alice was
persuaded that Dick wished to avoid
her. and kept carefully out Of his way.
This was not difficult. All the other
women lionized him as a hero. and
Alice, as befitted her widows weeds.
held herself aloof from gay company.
She had no idea that the old wound
ranked still in her lovers heart, that
he stunned her as q burnt child breads
the fire.
"He despises me too much TO notice
me-" she told herself, bitterly, and de-
voted herself more tenderly TO her
mother.
A week went by thus; then fate
led Dick Harvie pas, the door of the
music room, where he heard we'll
remembered voice in song. He paused
behind the heavy portiere in time TO
hear Alice sing the las, line OF f"Annie
Laurie" 'How beautifully you sing
those Scotch ballads" said one admir-.
ing voice.
"Pray don't stop" cooed another.
"You know Aud Robin Gray do
you not, Mrs. Hopkins?" asked the ac-
companist, musician in the pay Of
the hotel. "Pray sing it for us; i, Is
so admirably adapted to your voice"
and she played the prelude without
waiting for yea or nay.
There was little tremor in Al!ce's
voice as she began. OF at leas, Dick
fancied SO, but as she sang il d,sap-
peared. and she held her little audi
ence spellbound. Dick, listening be-
hind the curtain, scarcely hreathed
while the thrilling tones rehearsed the
pathetic tale OF filial self-sacrifice. II
moved him to the depths, and his eyes
were moist as she sang the last verse:
II gang like a shaist. and I carsnR 10 spin I:
I caurna think O Jamie. for that wad be q
sin.
But I'll do my best GUIDE wife to be.
For aud Robin Gray is a kind mon to me"
As the song ended. with half sob
which was the perfection Of artistic
finish, there was a murmur of ap-
piause and earnest requests for more.
But Alice excused herself, smilingly;
she had already left her mother too
long.
As she passed through the portiere.
on her way out, her eyes cast down to
hide the tears which were ready to
start, a hand was laid on her arm, and
she lifted her lashes to meet Dicks
eyes with the old love-look In them
which she knew so well.
WAS that really and truly the way
Of it, Alice?" he whispered.
And Alice could only sob. under her
breath: "Oh, l3Qkl"
AERE(~TInN.