The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1906-08-17
In Angels Uniform.

MS leetL 10 keep Dack a SnCut-OI Il
sob. Home, For him, the gap in
those white cliffs looked ike the
gate of a paradise. Dear England
after two and half years in the
Australian husband, London, and
then-his precious Lottie, waiting for
him all these duh months,
He would catch the pale, Slight
figure by surprise in his strong brown
arms. and tell her that love alone
had drawn him back six months be-
fore his allotted time, and how il had
secretly almost broken his heart 10
leave her 10 her lonely nurses rou-
tine, with only his old chum Ferrars
10 watch from a distance that no
harm befel her. Only his love-not
because of that incredible letter that
had reached him in the wilds two
months ago.
He was clutching il now. He
would tear il up and throw the pieces
at her feet. Her tired eyes would fill
and brim, over; she would sob out on
mis- shoulder that she had written il
on a wild, inexplicable impulse, when
the loneliness Of life seemed too
heavy 10 bear. Yes, He had not
once doubted il. His quiet, trusting
Lottie,
No. there was some strange mis-
take that would be puffed away in a
moment. Ferrars would have whis-
pered the word of comfort for him
Ferrars, the actor, was the one man
living whom he had cared TO trust
with his hearts deepest longing For
that last brief letter that her fingers
had penned had been one TO crush
and brutaliZc any man not so sure OF
the woman he had asked to wait,
My Dear Mr.. joyce shall not
be able TO write again. You will
think il hard, for time. maybe, but
you would think still less of me as a
woman if | let you so on hoping and
looking forward. Against my Will
nay feelings have gradually changed.
! shall only ask you, as man, not tG
cause unnecessary pain by ever try
ing to see me again. | hold you to
that. Good -bye.-Lottie Haynes
Oh, 10 see her lips CULVER close to
his own again'-to kiss away all the
haze of misunderstanding! "Lottiei
Lottie,' he was whispering to him
self all the way.
London-Amies street.-the house
itself-at last, One minute more!
It passed. He was turning
away, quite steadily, but with a queer
pallor under his tan. Miss Haynes
was gone away to some hospital, they
told him, staring curiousiy; that was
all they knew. Lottie had promised
never to give up that room of hers
until he came TO take her from il as
his dear wife. She had gone, leaving
no clew.
Ten minutes more and he had Tung
the same old bell. "Oh, yes, Nr. Fer
rars is still with us! We knew he
expected some friends, but he is not
at home vet She hesitated
"Thanks-thanks Archie won't
mind me waiting" he said, clearing
his husky throat. And he found him
self going dazedly up the stairs.
Al lhtI DltSChlly i' hitW III LID
breath sharply. A sudden buzz OF
voices below; men laughing and chat
tering. Now they were coming up
Archie leaping on ahead. He could
pick out the old careless, rich voice
that he would know among thOu-
sands. Then suddenly the door was
pushed back and Ferrars stood there.
Ferrars, not changed an atom.-the
old smile on his GSrx, keen. good
looking face.
1t died out. Dan Joyce had
sprung, his hand out, that husky
"Arcnie, old fellow" warm and bro
Ken on his lips. But that was all.
In the dying light all the blood had
seemed to drain from Ferrars' face
and left il gray; hestood like thing
OF stone. For a full minute, while
that muffled laughter came in from
the next room, life seemed TO have no
meaning, and then Ferrars had closed
the door and held it fast.
You" be strained out You
here-back in England! What
what
I'm sorry" Dan whispered II
never meant to give you that shock.
Archie, she - she's gone! Cone
His voice broke, he reached out
again. gTopingly.
Ian, J thought OF you as thou
SANDS of miles away, and-to see you
standing in my room" The hand
fell away. He stood back as if
scarcely breathing, his face turned.
Where is shc?" Dan asked
thickly. Il CAME came home be-
cause / couldn't live longer without
her. Tell me that. if you know, and
III go. Where's my Lottie?"
Il Go know He had tiptoed to
the door and clicked the key. When
he turned there was sweat on his
forehead as after a great mental
ordeal. Dan, do know-and cant
help you. Now you know why
have not written lately-I could not.
! heard heard there was another
man. What could ] do wRen she