The Holly chieftain., 1903-07-03
CHAPTER XIV.

Five years had slipped away. ne
autumn afternoon, not long after her
return from the seaside, Mrs. Stag,
was sitting in her drawingroom be-
side the low table, from which she had
dispensed tea to five O'Clock visitors.
There had been several of these. but
the last had just gene. and it was late
to expect more. She had taken ad-
vantage of being alone to fill a cup
for herself, from which she was sip
ping meditatively. Time had been for
bearing toward her; she was compa-
Gently conscious that few women with
a daughter nearly old enough to enter
society could boast of SO good figure
and such a generally youthful effect.
But her present reflections concerned
neither her appearance nor her daugh-
ter. AS she set down the empty cup
she gave long sigh. as a sort of out
let for her feelings. and glanced at
the clock. While she was saying to
herself that ii was late for her hus-
land. he entered the room.
All Cherub, am behind time. Is
the tea cold?"
Il have only this instant finished
mine"
When he was comfortably estab-
lished with a smoking cap, Emma
said.
Who do you suppose has been
here?"
Like most men, Harold had no taste
for guessing. He merely stirred his
tea and waited.
Owen Page she continued "They
got back week ago. He is looking
wonderfully well-not day older
and he says that his wife has entirely
recovered from the effects of the Ro-
man fever"
How long have they been abroad?"
Three years. They sailed a fort
night after they We're married, you
remember, and have been there ever
since. He says that. with the excep-
tion of his wife's Illness everything
has run as smoothly as possible and
that they could not have had pleas
anter experience. Whenever think,
Harold, that it might have been Ell
feel like screaming"
Harold Stagg, whose movements
mentally, as well as physically, were
slightly more deliberate, as the result
of few inches of extra girth, stirred
what was left of his tea and drained
it; then, as he handed back the cup,
replied:
You might scream yourself black
in the face, and you couldn't help it
now"
Emma shook her head despondently.
you never did understand Har.
old"
Understand WHAT"
MY feelings on that matter. You
never truly sympathized.'
What matter?"
'Eleanor's refusal to accept Owen
Page. 1t was madness-sh sheer, sheer
madness-as | have said fifty times
before"
You have, my dear. What is the
use of reviving it for the fifty-first?
AS to my lack of sympathy, that is a
new charge. Did | not represent to
Eleanor in the most solemn language
that such an opportunity may not
occur again?'"
May not. 1t could not. do not be-
lieve there ever was girl who had
so good chance. and who threw it
away so idiotically. ! remember what
you said perfectly well. You let her
see. though, that you were not going
to interfere"
Il couldn't compel her to marry him
If she didn't choose to"
NO, but you could have put your
foot down and declared that she should
not leave us. | was willing to trust to
time If she had not been allowed to
go to that fearful college, | am conf
dent that she would have married
Owen Page within a year. Well, as
you say. am fool to bother my head
about her. I washed my hands Of her
five years ago"
"Oh. no, you didn't, Cherub. You
pretended to. but you couldn't. You
will always have a soft spot in your
heart for her.
Il did my duty by her if ever wom-
an did" Emma answered, with nom
committal sternness. Then, with quick
perception, she added: rs that letter
from herr"
Harold had taken out letter from
his pocket while she was speaking.
Yes" he said. She wishes me TO
pay her a visit