Los Angeles herald., 1906-09-02
ZL&-.
49,

gle painfully into sitting position
u think my leg Is broken" she said family.
The man nodded The air was rent with qroans,
and now and then scream Of anguish made
her shiver- It was collision, Of course, and
in few minutes her brain cleared little
"I'm in no danger" she said to the man who
was watching her II am sure there are others
who want help more than do Please leave
me-"
The man shook his head.
"lhe gentleman particularly told me not to
leave you, miss" he said 'Leastways. not till
he comes back He's a-worldng getting people
out. very brave, pleasantspoken gentleman
too. He saved you, mss-youd have had worse
than broken leg but for him.
Katherine closed her eyes and leant back for
few minutes Her head was reelinq and her.
leg was beginning to pain her terribly but she
did not lose consciousness again, and she sud-
denly sat mp as strangely familiar voice said
almost in her ear:
is she all right?'
She found herself looking into Humphrey
Erlstoke's eyes-her Humphrey
"Youl" all she could gasp, and that so
family that perhaps he did not hear her. He
was looking at her anxiously
"Are you pretty comfortable he asked.
'Ieg hurting your
"A-a little" She lied bravey, vvinling back
the slow tears that sheer pain was forcing from
her pretty eyes. He turned and spoke a word
to the man behind him, and that worthy de-
parted. They were virtually alone.
eff it hadn't been for you" she said, as he
turned and sat down beside her. ''I should have
been-dead, perhaps"
"Oh, don't knowl Someone would have got
you out he said with a sort Of shamefaced
cheeriness; 'but, all the same, I've sent that
johnny for the doctor, and he'll see what's the
matter with the leg. It's hurting you badly.
Ell? You needn't tell lies about it, Kathy'
IL IL L :
arm around her. her head was very near his
shoulder.
"My poor girl" he said fondy. s'It's beast
ly accident, but it's got this good point It's
brought us together again. You won't send me
away this time Kathy."
'T never did 1t was you that wanted to be
free. There was some mistake, and / was mis-
cradle ever since II thought you did not
care"
"The thought was false Kathy. l always
cared. Who made the mischief L wonder? Well,
no matter now. No one shall make any be-
tween me and my wife"
"Your wife!"
white cheeks. He met her startled eyes with
smile.
eyes, that's what I'll call you, please good
ness in a months time. Haven't / waited long
enough Kathy for happiness"
The doctor was well in sight, but perhaps
they did not know that, or perhaps 1t was that
they didn't care who them. Anyway there
were bright tears in Kathernes eyes, but smile
on her lips as they kissed quite simply. That
was her answer to Erlstoke's query.
She told him the whole story later, when she
was taken back to the Manor House with a
broken leg, but other injury, and Erlstolxe
found his cousin and the owner of the title in
stalled there 1t was news to Katherine to find
that her Humphrey Lady Marcia's favorite
"And you dared to think I'd have sold the
amethysts? he said. "You could not think
such thing, Kathy. Why I refused three
times their price when my cousin wanted to get
them out of me for his wife, They shall shine
round your pretty throat in day or two, my
dearest"
And they did, TO the immense amazement of
Lady Erlstoke and her husband.