Waterbury evening Democrat., 1906-10-15
By HENRY SETON MERRIMAN
Author of The Sewers" "Rodcns Corner" From
 One Generation to Another" Etc -

pSssl' I At'S ~-|s"---~t A ~---S'' 0''- son, Mir. Meredith, and we thought you might like to hear about him and about Loango."
 Yes" he saids with strange hesi- tatiol. 'yes. you are kind. Of course 1 I am interested. l won.er," he went on, with sudden change of manner q wonder how much you know" q know" she answered, that you have had a difference of opinion-but no one else knows! You must not , think that Mir. Meredith has spoken l of his private affairs to any one else. The circumstances were exceptional, and Mir. Meredith thought that 1t was due to me to give me an explanation
 Sir John looked little puzzled, and Jocelyn went on rather hastily to ex- plain:
 My brother and Mir. Meredith were at Eton together They met some where up the coast and my. brother asked MT. Meredith to come and stay. It happened that Maurice was away when MT. Meredith arrived, and did not know who he was, so he ex- plained."
 'I see," said Sir John; "and you and your brother have been kind to my boy. And I dare say" he added, with a somewhat lame attempt at cynicism, that you have heard no good of me"'
 But Jocelyn would have none of that. She was no child to be abashed by sarcasm, but woman, completed and perfected by her love.
 Excuse me-" she said sharply, but that is not the truth, and you know it. You know as well aA do that your son would never say a word against you"
 Sir John was looking at her keenly, his hard blue eyes like steel between the lashless lids.
 You disquiet me-" he said. T have sort of feeling that you have bad news to tell me"
 "No," she answered, mot exactly. But 1t seems to me that no one realizes what he is doing out in Africa-what risks he is running"
 Tell me-" he said. drawing in his chair. T will not interrupt you. Tell me all you know from beginning to end. I am naturally somewhat inker- ested"
 So Jocelyn told him. And what she said was only a recapitulation of facts known to such as have followed these pages to this point. Suddenly he broke into the narrative. He saw, keen old worldling that he was, discrepancy.
 But" he said. there was no one in Loango connected with the scheme who'-he paused, touching her sleeve with a bony finger-"who sent the tele- gram home to young Oscard; the tele- gram calling him out to Jacks relieff'
 Oh" she explained lightly. T did. My brother was away. so there was no one else to do 1t, you see"
 Yes. I sec"
 And perhaps he did.
 Sir John took his leave. He bowed over Jocelyn's hand. and Mlllicent, watching them keenly, could see noth- ing-no gleam of a mutual understand ing In the politely smiling eyes.
 Perhaps" he said, T may have the pleasure of meeting you again?"
 'T am afraid 1t Is doubtful" she an swered. with something that sounded singularly like exultation in her voice. "we are going back to Africa almost at once"
 And she. also. took her leave of Lady Cantourne.
  One afternoon Joseph had his wish. Moreover. he had it given to him even as he desired, which does not usually happen. We are given part, or the whole. 90 distorted that we fail to rec ognize 1t.
 Joseph looked up from his work and saw Ioceiyn coming into the bungalow garden.
 He went out to meet her. putting on his coat as be went.
 How .s Mir. Me-cdithT' she asked at once. Her eyes were very bright and there was q sort O: breathlessness in her manner which Joseph did nos understand
 He Is a bit better. miss. thank yoI kindly. But he don't make the prog ress I should like. It's the weakness thct follows tao mslarial attacl: that the doctor has to fight against"
 Where s he?'' asked JCcelyn.
 Well. miss. at the moment he Is in the drawing room. We bring him down there for the change of air ia . the afternoon. Likely as not he's asleep"
 ! And presently Jack Meredith. lying comfortably somnolent on the outskirts . Of life. heard light footsteps. but hard iy heedei them. He knew inst some ] enc came into the room and stood i silently by his couch for some seconds , He Iszily unclosed his eyelids for q . moment. TO: in order to see who wat there. but with a view of intina;in. } that he was not asleep. But he va not wholly conscious. To men accus toned to an active energetic life { ! long illness Is nothing but a period oi } complete rest. h his more active moments Jack Meredith sometime. thought that this rest os his was ex tending into dangerously long period but he was too weak to feel anxietl about anything
 JOcesyn moved away and b.sied her self noisesessly with one or tus of thOs' small duties of the ssckroom vhscf women see ani men ignore But sh' co1Id not Eec2 away. She came baei