Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1904-11-17


them, and it was easy to invent some
tale about them. Nevertheless, he
shrank from meeting Marion, and
from answering her questions.
But he need not have feared it.
Marion was calm, and she asked no
questions, for her wound was too
raw to allow her to speak freely on the
subject.
Il could not find his grave" he said.
He fell into the hands of a hostile
tribe. This Creeper grew on the hotel
at Manila. He staid there before go
ing up country"
rs that all?''
Her purple ringed eyes seemed to
burn him.
THAT is all" he said.
He felt she did not believe him,
that she OWNED he was holding some
thing back. But she seemed to feel
that it was only something which
would add to her pain, and she &C
cepted his merciful silence. They
never alluded to the subject again,
though they met often. But she was
one of those women to whom time
brings no balm. She could never
forget.
And beyond an occasional letter to
Charlie, Harold made no sign. Vol
unfairly he gave up everything for
the sake of the woman he loved. Nc.
one knew what it cost him to do so.
For many years he staid in the Phil
! ippines, because he could trust himself
no nearer home, and he supported him
| self by writing on scientific subjects.
/ But as time went on, the homesick.
ness of an exile seized him in its in
exorable clutches, and he began to
wander in more familiar scenes. He
could trust himself now-not that the
desire to see Marion was weakened
that could never be-but years of bat.
tie with himself had given him the
Italy and Germany and France, every
move bringing him nearer home, till
at last he found himself in America.
He meant to bury himself in Chicago
1t was vast enough to hide him, he
thought; besides, he was completely
beyond recognition Time had added
its disguise to the Disagreement; he
was old beyond his years. He would
be happier in Chicago than anywhere
among old scenes. And he would be
nearer Marion. There was comfort
even in that.
AS soon as he arrived he went to see
if Charlie was in town. The two
men had not met since they parted
ten years before, and Harold yearned
for grasp of a friendly hand. 1t was
mere chance that Charlie would be
in Chicago. But when Harold in
quired at the hotel where he always
staid he was directed to the usual
suite of apartments.
Charlie was out at the time, and
Harold amused himself with looking
round the room. So many things were
familiar-the black leather bag for pa
pers, the travelling clock and writing
case-he remembered them all so well
He stole cigar out of box on the
mantel piece, and settled himself down
before the fire. The lapse of years
since he had last sat in that chair
seemed suddenly to have dwindled
down to mere nothing.
Soon there came the sound of foot
steps in the corridor, and the door
handle turned abruptly.
BE quick with the papers, please
Charlie" said a woman's voice. "As
told you, little Harold isn't well, and
must get home tonight" Then fol
lowed startled exclamation when she
became conscious of the figure in the
chair before the fire.
Harold dared not move. He knew
the voice only too well, and he prayed
silently that Charlie might see him
and take her away before she saw his
! face. But no; the silence that fol
lowed was broken by the rustic of a
woman's skirts, coming ever closer
and closer.
Not till she stood before him did
he dare to raise his head. Then he
saw her with the light of recognition
yelling slowly through the bewilder
ment in her eyes-only recognition and
love, nothing moreno horror, no re
pulsion. The sight, Of which the
recollection could still turn Charlie
sick and shuddering, had no power
except to stir to the utmost the pity
in her woman's heart. With a low
quivering cry she fell On her knees be.
side him, hugging the manned arm to
her breast; and it was on the distort-
ed, obliterated side of his face that
her kisses fingered tenderest.
So Harold knew that his sacrifice