New-York tribune., 1905-07-02

The threatened stigma would be 1ntOleraDle ne
could think of no solution Of the business without
involving Aieen in some plight he shamed to dwell
upon There was not a ray of hope that anything
could alter or clear away the mystery, or his
own false position or the Majors wrath and
Indignation.
Almost hourly expecting to be summoned to his
presence by the father of Aileen, the was prey
to every wretchedness of the truly guilty. In de-
cencv to Major Van Twiller he knew that he must
not seek Aieen And to avoid the holowseeming
congratulations of acquaintances he denied himself
every social engagement on his list
His one consolation and refuge from thinking was
afforded by the pale little boy at the hospital, wait
ing for him always loving him steadfastly trusting
him implicitly In his yearning over Teddy,
stretched upon that iron bed, Wooster had one
strong anchorage to faith and hope. For the rest,
a horrid blight seemed settling moTe and more
definitely upon him as the hours went by and not
a word or a sign was vOuchsafed either from Major
Van Twiller Aileen.
The day going swiftly, when Wooster re-
turned to his iving-place from the hospital, only
to meet an unexpected friend. 1t was Franklin
Van Twil1er, who had called to see him
and been obliged to turn away, with the infor1na-
ton that he out.
Hello! BY gracious old man, I'm in luck after
all" cried the visitor in sudden elevation of spirits
1--WE been here twice since twelve o'clock and
thought it was all up for sure-and here you are!
Say old chap, may turn around and go back up
to your rooms with you now"
'tWhv, certainly Frank, by all means do!' said
Wooster glad see a friend whose heart he always
had found and generous. Il m wonder
fully glad you hunted up. You must have
been away.
They were shaking hands all this time, like the
two fond friends they always had been to one
another and each studying the others face
in the frank, afeCtiOnate way that tor years had
existed between them.
Yes was called away to Washington rather sud
denly said Frank I'll tell you all about it present
". You look little worm or i'll, or something.
so do YOU" Nelson's reoinder
''Well-long trip, and-other things besides. Is
your as good!
Better. | have spent the largest part of three
whole days at a hospital Frank, with poor little
rogue of a boy | rather like answered Wooster
evasively; to which he added with a smile that
was somewhat faint: And there are always those
other things you mentioned in every fellows
life" He reflected quickly that Frank, having
been away, had probably neither heard nor read
anv word of the recently announced engagement
of himself and Aeen. He decided not to mention
the subject himself, unless necessity should
arise wherefore he merely added: But come
along up.
They proceeded without further delay to Woos-
ters apartments. Nelson waved his hand toward
the sideboard where with familiar normality
Franklin helped himself to a good cigar This he
lighted while Wooster exchanged his coat and
shoes for jacket and slippers
Van Twiller Junior a fine-ooking fellow,
with an air of something reckless vet decidedly
likabe about him He was almost tall as Woos-
ter and equally broad The only thing about
him in any manner like his father was his long
1nustache. For the rest, his deep-gray eyes, his
brown-red hair and his delicatelv nodded features
"a trihe too fine, perhaps for mamie sim
ply a masculine expression of his mother
so you've been to Washington" said Wooster
as he held lighted match against his cigar. And