The Yale expositor., 1901-02-01

CHAPTER VII.
To Clarice she vowed redoubled de-
votion. All! il any care of hers might
help her towards recovery, so that
when her lover returned from his In
dian campaign she might be well
enough to marry Only in helping 10
bring that marriage to a successful is
sue could she hope to efface the last
miserable half-hour. She would try,
too, and talk to Doctor Drake some day
by herself, and ask il any possible
change of treatment might hasten
Clarice's recovery. The very thought
brought comfort and. hope with it.
Having decided her course of action,
she proceeded to put it into practice;
smoothed her hair and tried to wash
the traces of tears from her face. Then
she sat down and wrote few lines to
her brother, declining to lend him the
money, and giving him her reasons for
the refusal After that she went to
Clarice's room, who, happily, she found
alone.
II thought you were never coming!"
said Clarice fretfully. Come and sit
close by me where ! can see you.
need your soothing presence so badly
to-day. Why, whist is the matter with
you, dear? You look as if you needed
soothing yourself. Yoa have been cry
ing, and thought you were a woman
who could not cry"
Janetta gave rather q watery smile.
"You were wrong, you see. have been
in trouble about several things, and l
could not see my way clear; but see
it now. / shan't cry any more, prom
Use you" And Janetta threw back her
head with something of her usual frank
reliance.
Clarice glanced at her wistfully.
E'You are reserved and proud, Janetta;
but if it were a case where money
would help"
With quick alertness Janetta bent
down and kissed one Of Clarice's tiny,
helpless hands.
"Ah! how good and dear you are;
but it is not a case Of money. l am
almost glad not to have it, because l
might do harm instead of good with
it"
Not my hands, my face" said
Clarice simply. And Janetta bent and
kissed her on the forehead, oppressed
with a sense of her own unworthiness.
The day passed like dream. She
saw Captain Merivale only at meals,
for he and Clarice spent the evening
alone together.
The next day, when he came down
after bidding her good-by, he found
Mrs. Mortimer standing alone in the
hall, giving her last directions for the
packing of his luggage into the car
rage. He looked searchingly about
for Janetta.
Miss Howard desired me to bid you
good-by for her." said Mrs. Mortimer,
answering his glance. "She went into
the town for something"
"Oh, thank you Tell her l was sorry
not to see her. You and she will look
after Clarice for me whilst I'm away,
won't you?"
The next instant he was gone. ia
Meta, meanwhile, sought shelter in a
little cove by the seashore, and sat
with her back against the cliff, and
her fearless eyes gazing out Stewards.
Her teeth were clenched in the eff
fort to keep back the sobs that rose in
her throat. She would gladly have
uprooted this strange love that had
grown up in her heart, but she could
not.
Hes gone now" she said, pulling
out her watch and looking at it, "It
can't be wrong to go on loving him
when l shall never see him again. 1t
can neither hurt him nor me, for he
does not know it; and God knows |
have but one great wish in life left to
me-that he and Clarice should marry"
1t CHANGED that on her way home
she came across Doctor Drake walking
quickly down the street. He would
have passed her by with a bow, but
she came to a stop.
There is something wanted to talk
to you about. Could you spare me
minute?"
Certainly" he said, with a slight
surprise.
II never get the chance of a word
alone with you. Will you forgive me
if l ask if there is nothing that could
be done to hasten Miss Seymour's re-
covery?"
Doctor brakes fair face flushed. at
is a question that is often before me.
Do you think her worse?" he asked
anxiously.
'She is out OF spirits, and losing
hope.'
"Of what?" inquired the Doctor i'm
patiently. "of recovery or what?"
"0f everything that makes her life
worth living. Until she is better she
will not marry"
"Or Captain Merivale will not marry
her" broke out the Doctor. Which
is it, do you think? You are speaking
frankly to me, Miss Howard, and 1 can
Sut answer you in the same spirit. No
specialist can do anything for Miss
Seymour. l will tell you briefly my
opinion, which is backed by other men
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