The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1906-03-31


safe; that he regretted his misdeed ana
that he would return it by messenger.
Edith sank back in her chair douDly
relieved in mind.
THANK goodness, there's nothing here
that must hide from Donald!'
Mrs. Lockwood smiled with an air OF
almost infinite wisdom mingled With
pity.
Mr.. Hardy's letter has not come"
said she. Undoubtedly it has been
lost in the mail. Will you say so TO
DonaldP'
''Why not?"
Because, my child, he VIII not be-
rye you. The incident is possible, or
course, but in real life it very, very
rarely happens. Remember, Donald
does not know chat you know what ne
knows. Do you follow me|
"You mean that if 1 knew that he
knew for certain that Mr.. Hardy had
written to me 1 should tell the truth,
but otherwise 1 might take the easy
course and deny having received a
letter?'
Precisely. And you mustn't do it.
tell you, Edith. that this triding mat
ter is a bomb loaded with destruction
l have noticed a change in DOnald's
manner of late. He has been a bit
chilly to me. and that's a fact. And
when man turns the cold shoulder To-
ward the matchmaker it means that
the match is in danger"
Donald loves me-" said the girl.
But he doesn't fully trust you. So
much you have made clear to me-"
Il have thought that if could really
be what he wishes me to be, if in great
things or small 1 could speak always
the whole truth
Nonsense, my dear; charming, child
fish nonsense! Now listen to me-" And
Mrs. Lockwood expanded at consider
able length her wretched gospel Of de-
Ception, and upon the end of it set forth
concrete evidence.
Remember" she concluded, with a
shrewd eye on the girl, that you are
doing this for his own good and for the
eternal salvation of his peace of mind.
l say eternal because it's the only
word for married life. It's so long, so
very long" And she INDUCED in the
least little yawn at the memory Of her
own.
There interviewed some hours. Even
ing came. Clocks, which were a fad
of Mrs. LOckwoOd's, were calling 0 from
room to room Of the house. Edith had set
/ her resolution, like a species Of alarm
/ gong. for this hour, and when all the
clocks were still she looked up at Don
/ aid, who was standing before her, and
/ said:
You remember the little photograph
that lost?"
YES" said he, with the smallest pos
Bible start Of surprise.
"Well, I've found it."
"You have found it," he said slowly.
| 81 mean that know where it is. Mr..
Hardy has it.
! Indeed! Have you seen him"
NO" she answered, shifting her look
! from his face to his tie.
perhaps Mrs. LOCKWOOD
ooh, no; she hasn't seen him either.
! have had letter from him"
/ He was much surprised, but Edith
did not know it because she was now
looking at a cuff Of his coat.
YES" she went on in q voice not
| quite steady. HE wrote to say that he
had taken 1t, not knowing how much
valued it nor why it was especially
precious. He apoIOgiEed humbly and
| promised to send it back to me at
once"
perhaps he has already done So"
said Donald after brief pause.
mo, he hasn't3 but I'm sure he will
! What made you think he hadr
Gas was removing my Overcoat in
the hall a few minutes ago." he an
Bwered, 81 happened to displace a tray
/ upon a table There was an envelope
! under It addressed to you in Mr..
Hardy's writing. 1t was probably for.
! gotten by the servant to whom the
postman handed it in. I will get it."
He went out into the hall, leaving hey
rigid and staring. Before she could
! form a coherent thought he had return
I'd and had put an unopened letter into
her hand.
''If you would care to read it now
he said and crossed to the piano, upon
which he began to play softly.
Edith glanced once at him, then tore
open the envelope. 1t contained, Of
course, the delayed communication
from Nathaniel Hardy. And she had
already told Donald what was in it!
ooh, yes, yesv' she said in a choked
voice. "Just a note to ask If I'd re-
Ceived the other You see, hadn't ac-
knowledged it."
He turned toward her, and their eyes
encountered. She could not withdraw
hers, though his glance was Unendur-
able to her. Slowly she advanced to-
ward him and put the open letter into
his hand.
why did you tell me that you had
receives this?" he asked. by the ring.
Edith; answer by the ring"
81 was afraid you wouldn't believe
me-" she whispered.
/ How did you know what was in it'll
You said you hadn't seen him"
"Auntie talked to him by telephone"
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