Waterbury evening Democrat., 1906-10-09

uS 1utOS uNiu6 up tuC PaucSt "have hitherto lived in the world-right In 1t. There Is lot of dust and com motion: the dust gets into peoples eyes and blinds them; the commotiOn wears them out: and perhaps. after all, Ioango Is better"
 .T once met a Sir John Meredith" she said suddenly.
 My fnther."
 He paused. drawing in bis legs and apparently studying his neat brown boots.
 "Should you meet him again." he went on, ''it would not be advisable to mention my name. He might not care to hear 1t. We have had slight difference of opinion. With me 1t Is different. I am always glad to hear about him. have an immense respect for him."
 She listened gravely, with sym pathy that did not attempt to express itself in words. On such short ac- auaintance she had not learned to ex- pect a certain lightness of conversa- tioaal touch which he always assumed when speaking of himself, as If his own thoughts and feelings were mat ters for ridicule.
 "Of coursc." he went on, T was in the wrong. I know that. But 1t some times happens that . man is not Tn position to admit that he is in the wroag--when. for instance, anothe: person would suffer by such an ad- mission"
 "Yes," answered Jocelyn, T under stand.'
 At this moment servant came in with lamps and proceeded to close the windows. She was quite an old woman-,an Englishwoman-and as she placed the lamps upon the table she scrutinized the guest after the man. ncr of privileged servitor. When she had departed Jack Meredith continued his narrative with a sort of dellbera- ton which was explained later on.
 And" he said, "that is why I came to Africa-that is why want to make money. do not mind confessing to a low greed of gain, because l think I have the best motive that man can have for wanting to make money.'
 He said this meaningly and watched her face all the while.
 "A motive which any lady ought to approve of"
 She smiled sympathetically.
 "I approve and I admire your spirit.' She rose as she spoke and moved toward a side table, where two lighted candles had been placed.
 My motive for talking so bare facedly about myself" he said as they moved toward the door together, was to let you know exactly who am and why 1 am here. It was only due to you on accepting your hospitality. l might have been criminal or m es- caped embezzler. There were two on board the steamer coming out and several other shady characters"
 "Yes," said the girl; "I saw your motive"
 They were now in the hall, and the aged servant was waiting to show him his room.
 
 "No one knows." Victor Durnovo was in the habit of saying. "what is going on in the middle of Africa"
 And on this principle he acted.
 "Tcn miles above the camping ground where we first met" he had told Meredith. you will And village where I have my headquarters. There
 is quite a respectable house there
 with-a-a-woman to look after your
 wants. When you have fixed things uT
 at Loango and have arrnnged for the
 dhows to meet my steamer, take up all
 your men to this village-Msala Is the
 name-and send the boats back. Wat
 there till we come"
 In due time the telegram came, via
 St. Paul de Loand. announcing tht
 fact that Oscard had agreed to join thu
 expedition and that Dnrnovo and h. might be expected at Msala in on' month from that time. It was no without vague feeling of regret tha Jack Meredith read this telegram. IL be at Msala in n month with forty mel , and a vast load of provisions mean ] leaving Loango almost at once. And l. strange though it may seem. he ha, become somewhat attached to th dreary west African town. The singu
 lar cosmopolitan society was entircl. ] new 10 him: the life. taken as lifs . almost unique. He knew that he ha, : not outstayed his welcome. Mauric ] Gordon had taken care to assure hin of that h his boisterous. hearty man
 ner. savoring moro of Harrow than O Eton, every morning at breakfast [ Jack took a scat on the porch an : began to search for his cignr in th ] pocket of his jacket. Jocelyn went [
 the front of the veranda and watche her brother mount his horse Whe } she came to the back of the yerand , a little later she was thinking abou l Ter brother Maurice. and it never sus
 sesfed Itself to her that she shoui [ not speak her thoughts to Meredith : whom she had not seen until thrc } weeks ago. She had never spoken c . Maurice eehird bis back 10 any ma
 bcfore.
 l -Docs 1t ever strike you.- she said 1 2 Jack. that Maurice Is the sort of ma r to be led astray by evil innucnceT' !. -yes. or he led s;raIzht by a good i' s fuence. such as yours"