The Brunswick news. [volume] (Brunswick, Ga.) 1901-1903, 1902-11-23


the next question.
The stranger spoke as one who has
a right to ask, and Dick found himself
answering meekly.
Next week the twentieth. i wanted
IT. sooner, but Constance said she
wouldn't be married until after tho
sixteenth. The fact Is, she was en-
gagged before"
He stopped abruptly, vexed with HIM
self. What on earth could his affairs,
and Constance's, matter to this man?
Il quite understand" replied the other.
in his level tones. Il have heard of
Miss Merton's former engagement"
"Oh, see" Dick looked relieved.
He hated explanations. and reflected
that this was probably some old family
friend. He lit another cigarette and
resumed in a more confidential tone.
You see, she had been engaged to
this chap for nearly year; Forsyth
his name was. and then he went abroad
and forgot her, the brute"
How do you know he forgot her?'
The question was one, apparently, OF
idle curiosity.
Dick flung his cigarette into the fire
with energy. "Oh, well, when a man
never writes, or answers letters, for
two years, you naturally conclude he
has forgotten. And Con has waited
until just now Why it's only two
months ago that she promised to marry
me, though l have known her all my
life, and cared for her, too. You see,
she thought she was still bound by her
promise And nothing would induce
her to be married until after the six.
teenth, because that was his birthday,
and he had once said they should be
married on that day. But that was
yesterday"
There was silence, broken only
by the snow beating against the win
dows.
There may have been reasons why
he--that man Forsyth-did not write.
In the depths of the bush there are
many difficulties. Letters are lost,
people one has trusted prove unfaith-
full
There was an undereurrent Of pas
sion In his tone not lost upon his
nearer. He stood up, STRAIGHTFORWARD
and tall, ON the hearth-rug.
u hope you don't think I'm not act
ing on the square by this chap For
syth,' he said warmly. But it does
seem TO me that poor little Con has
wasted two years over a good-for-
nothing chap. Ala mean to make
1t up to her now
The other man smiled oddly. II be-
lieve you, Captain Charteris," he said,
slowly, .but If you won't deem it ~an
impertinence should like to ask you
one question"
by all means.''
docs she--Constance Miss Merton
care any more? | mean, Of course,
she has forgotten the other man."
Dick smiled happily. quite | am
sure he said frankly. 81 hatter my
self that | occupy his place in her
thoughts now, lucky chap that l am"
Then, to redeem the last words from
any suspicion Of egotism, he added:
''She was so young, you know; only
seventeen when she was first engaged
TO Forsyth, and he was old enough to
be her father"
The other man made no answer He
looked the young man up and down,
his eyes resting curiously on Dick
Charteris's fair, boyish face. Some
thing between sigh and groan came
from his lips and startled Dick.
or mn 1ta al
quickly
"No-thanks;'' the other recovered
himself with an effort But l don't
think. after all. can wait to see Sir
Godfrey. II will write"
Il am leaving England" he said
with an obvious effort. and 1t is UNI
likely we shall ever meet again. WIN
You shake hands?" and Dick. oheying
some strange impulse. grasped his
hand and shook It warmly.
He accompanied his strange visitor
to the hall door and opened it. The
snow was falling very fast now For
one moment the man stood bareheaded
on the steps. Goodbye. goodbye"
he murmured, but he did not look at
Dick. He seemed rather to be talking
to some one unseen. At the foot of
the steps he paused, solitary black
figure in a white world.
John Forsyth is dead, dead" The
words came TO Charters with an in
tensity that was very solemn.
Feeling an odd sensation of uneasi-
ness. Dick went back to the warm and
cheerful smoking room. He piled up
the logs in the CRATE and glanced half
expectantly round the room. Some,
thing white lay under the chair where
his late visitor had been sitting. He
picked Il up. Only half-tone en-
velope. addressed to "John Forsyth,
Esq" He rang the bell violently.
The gentleman would not wait to see
Sir Godfrey. after ali" he said care
lessly to the servant 'Did-did he
leave his name with you. Hilton?"
mo. sill"
As the door closed on the man Dick
Charters knelt down and thrust the
envelope into the heart of the blazing
fire. Madame.