Newport weekly independent., 1903-11-20
Five Lost Years of Happiness @
 Byl P. +. SYMES
RHR DUDLEY KEITH left hi:

i against the writing table, by which he hurriedly sat down. The youEger-an embryo M, D.-owing much of what suc cess he had attained to Dr. Keith and standing consequently rot a little in awe of him, was laughing with his com | panion, who just then exclaimed: You're an awful scoundFel, Joyce!" 70, come, Mountfort! That's a big word: it's only a joke, you know. I haven't the least idea who she may be-" Show it to Keith" and before Joyce | could remonstrate Mountfort, handing photograph across the table, said:
 Look at that, Keith; perhaps you know the original7 Joyce got it to-day in answer to a matrimonial humbug. l tell him he is aA awful cad" | In silence, With a heart like stone in his breast, Dudley Keith devoured every lineamenS Of the grave, sweet face Of the | girl he had met and loved two months agGaAhe, the guest of Col Norton, and she the orphan companion of tAe coE6nel's nearest neighbor, Mrs, AnMes- ley. The girl from whom he had parted one month since under the murAal un- derstanding that he would claim an an- swer to that, as yet informally spoken | question, when he returned, as he meant to do now, in a few days time.
 Risinug to his feet he confronted the two wondering men,
 You are right" he said, between his teeth. None but a cad would play such low, dishonofabIe game! Sit down. he continued to young Joyce, pointing to the writing materials; "in- close and return that at once!"
 And, awed by that tone of authority, the shame-str1cken Joyce did his bid ding, and then, still under that st eIn eye, dropped the letter into the club let ter box and went on his way anathema- tizing his weakness in letting that dom- ineering fellow dictate to him.
 And Dudley Keith drove home to his handsome house, within the shadow Of the gray pile of the solemn abbey, in . whirl of anger, scorn, and wounded love. He had thought her so pure, so womanlys But sine was like the rest, ready to sell herse1f-whether in joke or in earngsa 1t mattered nothing.
 Half an hour later, with a fierce1y pas sionate gesture, he flung open his desk and rapidly wrote letter to Col. Ncr ton, excusing himself from accepting fii= proffered hospitality for the next week blind to the fact that the substance o1 that curt note was weighted with cruel force to crush the sensitive pride and to destroy the sweet dreams of gen. 11e heart waiting, in trusrfna security, { lUnged-for tomorrow
 It~is Mrs Arnold's at home" f41vc years later. Her gardens are gay V itf the brilliant colors of nature and O fashion. She herself--The gayest 0G al rests moment from her duties a: hostess, with her intimate Friend, Harry Joyce, now qualified M. D.
 '1@I am surprised to see Keith 'here,f' h. was saying. He is such a recluse. ant a veritable misogyn1st as'well.."
 nReally! Nevertheless, once Knev him to pay marked attentions to tht companion of an aunt of mine, Nbsst ht -'ltfailed, unaccounatbly, to put in all ap .ilpearance when expected My auntJolt me the story She was quireSdisappunt ,1ced7in him, he had gone esosfar. The sir I II-never married. though, to Thy lynawl hedge, she had two good offers 7 'Y'You don't say so! should rnever < iNhavs suspected Keith guilty of Skir- ,5E7ation. I recollect, some years ago, h. i egave me the greatest taking }Gowz ! EvNer had in my life iin 0connGc tfon 7wst u Ean unknown lady"
 1 , And Harry Joyce rented tne episssi' I 46f the photograph: o,.
 Egasped, as she pale1 With fea sbefera E av sudden thought
 50, an awfully nice ,l1oking girl ;ir vwhite, holding a violin, Why, -wlaat.;s |tthermatter?"
 \ ~"O,2iwhat shall I doa' faintly articu. Hated Mrs. Arnold. "T1t was ,se.t it! I rneverel thought of has4n!"'
 JAnd Hastily she told how, to ,etssive5 the tdu1iness of country visit, she had taken from her aunt's albenn the ,sho- tograph ef,her "companion,9 ,9 and pos ed 1t in 'reply,5o an advertisement.
 ''Just in fun, you know lii was Ibs,~ fore met MT. Arnold, and was rathes wild. l Conlyvwanted to see what answer would get, Fbut none came. The photo- | graph was retnrned at once, witsaout a line-as. of eastrse, you know c. what can do?'
 Its awfulfy awkward" muttered Harry Joyce. ''kac of course you must give square aoeount of the thing there's no doubt of that"
 You mean--teM ,Dr. Keith? O.. Must I?"
 That's it, I'm afaaid. You see it looks as if it had worked mischief. Of I course Keith concluded the girl had sent it herself, and tbs fellows awfully \ changed since"