The Washington herald., 1906-11-17

right; it viii always be a pleasure for me
TO think Of that You must try 10 forgive
me for my selhshness. old boy. but some
how suddenly coming back to the old
place, seeing the old things about me
Just as they used 20 be. / felt a bit out
side Of everything; you know. old chap,
what I mean. Look, there is her photo
graph He pointed 70 a counterfeit
presentment Of Miss Elliott. whose
sweet face smiled at them from the
wall With quivering lips which he bit
savagely to control. he gazed at her a
moment, then blus came over his eyes.
and he hurried abruptly 10 the inner
room in order 20 conceal an emotion
which he was powerless 10 subdue.
Oeltjen fingered, longing to 60 and com
fort his friend. but delicateIy conscious
that for awhile at least he had better
be left alone. But the ensuing long and
speeches. silence frightened him. He
had heard OF men. the brayest men. who
finding life worthless. had straightway
abandoned il. At the end Of an hour he
commenced TO fear that Cressingham had
taken poison, and at last, unable 10 bear
the stiffness any longer he called out
sharply, Frank, there IS a heap Of tele-
grams and letters here awaiting you"
With "a feeling Of relief and Joy. he
heard the door open and Cressingham
emerged from the bedroom, his face still
melancholy indeed, but now calm and inn
passive as Of old. kilograms for mer'
he said; from whom can they be- Per
haps my father is IN He strode to the
open bureau and one after another tore
them open.
They were all from Col. Elliott. and
all contained the one message: Il am
bedridden. Please come and see me i'm
mediately on your receipt Of this"
The young man handed them to his
friend. My tasks are not yet over" he
muttered sadly I must go and see the
poor old gentleman. You viii excuse me,
my friend?"
Gladly; il is your duty, Frank"
"Ay. one that fills me with dread. but
snail get it all over at once. Goodbye.
Ludwig"
Goodbye, my friend-I shall wait here
for your return"
\ few moments afterward Cressingham
raped on Col Elliotts door. and was
presently admitted and Ushered into the
library where he had spent of old many
sweet hours with Franc!ne
The grief which he had found so hard
TO repress in his own house returned. upon
him in full flood then, but in the acuter
form. This was Fraucine's favorite room.
and tokens Of her were everywhere in evi-
denCe. Her tea-table rested in a corner.
her wOrk-box standing on it open. as
though she had a moment ago been in
terrupted and called elsewhere. Upon the
great armchair which she had used to
occupy during many a quiet chat with
him there reposed a glove which he knew
was hers, and il gave him a shock to
think how much the colonel must have
loved HIS daughter to have preserved un-
disturbed the room which she had last
quilted on the fatal evening which had
been the prelude to her strange subse-
quent adventures and her death.
Inspired by a sudden sentiment of rO-
mantle reverence, he stopped above the
chair and silently pressed his lips to the
velvet where her head had often rested.
feeling as he did so. with aching heart
and eyes that burned with the pain of
unshed tears. that he was taking d last
leave of the sweet and perfect dead wom-
an whom he had loved
He was startled by a sOftly-uttered ex-
clamation, and sprang erect, dashing his
hands 10 his eyes, angry and ashamed
that any one should witness his emotion.
Frank" said the voice OF a woman,
voice that made his heart stand still with
shock. with doubt and sharp, unutterable
fear, for it was voice from the grave
He turned to see Francine as of old con-
fronting him, only more beautiful more
sweet, more kind, perhaps, too, a little
more sad; Francine, with a smile on her
lips, with tears trembling on the long,
black lashes Of her eyes.
My God-you, you" he gasped hoarse-
ly, not yet cOmprehending that she was
more than a phantom of his own imagi-
nation.
She neld out her arms for answer, and
slowly. doubtfully, he advanced toward
her But the real woman convinced him,
and he had magnificent compensation for
all his grief and sadness of the past few
weeks, in drinking the sweetness of her
lips, in holding her clasped to him in
close and passionate embrace.
She told him her story soon. and its
simplicity amazed him. Madame Yiyella,