Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-08-25
CHAPTER XII.

directly after dinner and he and James
had solitary evening in the Office with J.
the exception of Gordons frequent absence |
in his wife's room. Each time when he
returned he looked more gloomy. IT have
increased the morphine almost as much as
I dare" he said. coming into the office |
about ten. He sat down and lit his pipe.
James laid down the evening paper which
he had been reading. "Is she asleep now?"
he asked.
Yes By the way. Elliot. have you
guessed who that woman was who kid
mapped Clemency?"
James hesitated. II don't fairly know
whether am right, but have guessed"
he replied
'You are right. 1t was the nurse. That
had won her over, and set her up
housekeeping in Westover. He had been
staying at the hotel there before he came
here. He her lover, of course, al
though he was too circumspect not to
guard the secret. She has been living in
that house for the last three months under
the name of Mrs. Wood. widow. The
former occupants went away last summer.
Aaron has been telling me. He said that
once he himself saw the man enter the
house. and he had seen the woman on the
street. She had made herself quite popu-
lar in Westover 1t was no part of that
mans policy to keep his vice behind locked
doors. Locks themselves are the best wit
ness against evil. She attended the Dutch
ent at all the church suppers, and every
body has called her in Westover. Now
/ think she has fed half-crazed with grief |
over the death of her lover, and afraid of
some sort of exposure. Unless 1 miss my |
guess there will be Juror around here |
shortly over her disappearance. She was |
not a bad woman as / remember her. and |
she was attractive, with kindly DISPOSE |
ton. But he had his way always with |
women, and / suppose she thought she was |
doing him a service by kidnapping poor
little Clemency I am sorry for her, l |
hope she did not go away penniIess but |
she has her nursing to fall back upon: She |
was good nurse That makes me think. |
I must see if Mrs. Blair cannot come here |
tomorrow. Clara must have somebody be- |
side Clemency and Emma. ! should pre- |
fer trained nurse. and this woman Is |
simply the self-taught village sort but |
Clara prefers her. She ShrtnkS at the very |
mention of trained nurse OF course. 1t
is unreasonable. but the poor soul has al
ways had an awful dread OF hospitals ana
some way she thinks trained nurse one
of dreadful trinity. She must be hui
mored. Of course The result cannot Dc
you have no hope. them" James said
in a low voice
than If she had been already Dead said
James said nothing An enormous pity
for the other man was within him. He
thought of Clemency. and he seemed to
undergo the same pangs. He felt such
terrible understanding OF the other SUI
patty 1t became almost experience: His
Young face took on the same expression OF
dull misery as Gordon's. Presently cor
don glanced at him, and spoke with ring
of gratitude and affection IN MS tlreo
voice.
land YOU are the one ray Of comfort /
have am glad that have you to leave
poor little Cemency with:
James looked at him with sudden alarm.
''You are not mp he said.
mo but there is end to everybody's
rope. and sometimes | think l am about at
the end of mine. don't know. Anyway,
It is a comfort to me to think that Gem
ency has you in case anything should hap
''she has me as long as live" James
said fervently. Red overspread his young
face; his eyes glistened. Again the great
pity and understanding with regard to the
other man came over him. and feeling Tor
Clemency which he had never before had-a
feeling greater than love itself, the very
angel of love, dvinest pity and protection,
for all womanhood, which was exemplified |
for himself in this one girl His heart
ached. as If 1t were Clemency's upstairs. |
lying miserably asleep under the influence
OF the drug, which alone could protect her |
from indescribable pain. His mind pro- |
the possibility Of such suffering for her and |
for himself. The honey sting OF pain, |
which love has, stung him sharply.
Gordon seemed to divine his thoughts. |
God grant that you may never have to |
undergo what I am UNDERGOING, boy" he |
blood, her mother before her died the |
same way Clemency comes, on her moth
ers side at least, OF a healthy race morally |
and physically, although the nervous sys- |
TEN is oversensitive II my poor sister had |
been happy she would have been alive to- |
day And as far as know OF h the other
though he had that abnormal lack of moral |
sense that led one to dream of possession. |
Did you notice how much less evil he |
looked when he was dead. even with that
frightfully disfgured face?'
There are strange things in this world"
said Gordon with gloomy reflection cor else
simple things which We are strange not to
believe. Sometimes think people will have
10 take to the Bible again in that literal
disregard 1t. Well Elliot, 1 honestly feel
that you have nothing to fear in taking
poor little Clemency l should tell you If l
thought otherwise. She will make you
happy and l can think of no reason to
warn you concerning any possible lapses
In either her physical or her moral health
and have had her in my charge since she
first drew the breath of life. Come, my
son, it is late, and we have great deal to
do tomorrow. This awful business has
made me neglect patients. / have to see
Clara again. and get what rest 1 can"
Gordon looked older and wearier than
James had him he bade him
goodnight old and weary as he had often
seen him look. sudden alarm for Cor
don himself came over him. He wondered
after he had entered him room II he were
not strained past endurance He recalled
his own fathers healthy, rudy face, and
Gordon was no older
He lay awake q While thinking anXiouSly
of Gordon then his own happy future bla-
zoned itself before him. and he dreamed
awake and dreamed asleep, of himself and
Clemency. in that future whose golden Wis
tas had no end so far his young eyes
could see. The sense of relief from anx-
iety the girl was SO intense that II
was In itself a delight Clemency herself
felt it. The next morning at breakfast she
looked radiant. Gordon had assured her
the sick woman had rested quietly and
told her that Mrs Blair was coming
"Today can go where / choose" Glenn
ency exclaimed gayly.
Not until afternoon" replied Gordon;
then he relented at her look OF disappoint
ment and suggested that she go with Elliot
10 make his calls. while he went with
Aaron and the team. 1t was beautiful