Omaha daily bee., 1903-01-11
CHAPTER xxi.
Message.


The pretty woman In her widows weeds
stirred slightly and settled her skirts as
though my answer had given her the great
est satisfaction
Now, take my advice. Ralph" she went
on. See her again before it is too late"
You refer to her fresh lover-eh?" I In
CURED bitterly.
Her fresh lover ?" she cried in surprise.
II don't understand you. Who is he, pray?'
I'm in Ignorance of his name"
But how do you know of his existence?
I have heard nothing Of him. and surely she
all her poignant grief. and all her regrets
lave been Of you"
MRS. Henniker gave me to understand
that my place in your sisters heart has
been filled by another man." l said in a
hard voice.
MRS. Henniker!" she cried in disgust.
Just like that evil-tongued mischief
maker! I've told you already that
l detest her. She was my friend
once-it was she who allured me
from my husbands side. Why she
exercises such an influence over poor
Ethelwynn l can't tell. 1 do hope she'll
leave their house and come back home.
You must try and persuade her to do So"
do you think, then, that the woman has
lied?" I asked.
II am certain of 1t. Ethelwynn has never
a thought for any man save yourself. I'll
vouch for that"
but what object can she have in telling
me an untruth7"
The widow smiled.
"A very deep one. probably. You don't
know Edith Henniker as well as 1 do, or
you would suspect all her actions of ul-
terror motive"
WELL" I said, after a pause, ito tell the
truth, I wrote to Ethelwynn last night with
a view to reconciliation"
"You did" she cried, joyously. Then
you have anticipated me, and my appeal to
you has been forstalled by your own con-
science-ehT"
Exactly" I laughed. "She has my letter
by this time and 1 am expecting a wire in
reply. I have asked her to meet me at
the earliest possible moment"
Then you have all my Fluctuations,
Ralph she said, in a voice that seemed
TO culver with emotion. "She loves you
loves you with a hercer and even more pas
sionate affection than that 1 entertained
toward my poor, dead husband. OF your
happiness I have no doubt, for I have seen
In those days gone past how you idolized
her, and how supreme was your mutual
content when In each others society. Des-
tiny, that unknown influence that shapes
our ends, has placed you together and
forged a bond between you that is I'M
breakable-the bond of perfect love"
"1f 1t is really destiny l suppose that to
try and resist 1t is quite futile" / remarked
mechanically.
Absolutely. Ethelwynn will become your
wife, and you have all my good wishes for
prosperity and happiness"
/ thanked her, but pointed out that the
matrimonial project was as yet immature.
How foolish you are. Ralph" she said.
You know very we'll that you'd marry her
tomorrow II you could"
"Ah! II l could" / repeated wistfully.
unfortunately my position is not yet sum-
ciently we'll assured to Justify my marry
ing. Welded poverty is never a pleasing
prospect"
But you have the world before you.
I've heard Sir Bernard say so times with,
out number. He believes implicitly in you
as a man who will rise to the head OF your
profession"
l laughed obviously. shaking my head.
II only hope that his anticipations may
be realized" l said. But I fear I'm no
more brilliant than a hundred other men
in the hospitals. 1t takes a smart man
nowadays to boom himself into notoriety.
AS in literature and law, so In the medical
profession, it isn't the clever man who
rises to the top OF the tree. More often
it is a second rate man. who has private
influence and has guaged the exact worth
Of Acknowledgement. This is an age Of
regulations quickly made and just as rapidly
lost. In the professional world a new
man rises with every moon"
But that need not be so in your case"
she pointed out. with Sir Bernard as
your chief. you are surely in a unique POSI-
ton"
Taking her into my confidence, I told
her OF my ideal OF a snug country practice
one OF those In which the assistant does
the night work and attends to the club
people, while there is a nucleus OF country
people as patients.
l had long ago talked it all over with
Ethelwynn. and she entirely agreed with
me. / had not the slightest desire TO have
a consulting room OF my own In Harley
street. All I longed for was a life in the
open air and rural tranquility, a life far
from the tinkle of the cab bell and the
milk mans strident cry. a life OF ease and
bliss, with my we'll beloved ever at my
side. The unfortunate man compelled to
live in London is deprived Of half of Gods
generous gifts.
Though this unaccountable coldness has
fallen between YOU" Mary said, looking
straight at me, you surely cannot have
doubted the strength Of her aiection?"
But Mrs. Henniker's insinuation pug
Eles me. Besides. her recent movements
have been erratic and almost seem to bear
out the suggestion.
That woman is utterly unscrupulous!"
she cried angrily. Depend upon II that
she has some deep motive in making the
slanderous statement. On one occasion
she almost caused q breach between myself