The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1906-09-06
I11 Angels Uniform.

Homeland Lottie! Dan Joyce,
that staring man with the haggard,
bovish face, at whom the other pas
seHgers had glanced so often, sripped
his teeth to keep back shout-or a
sob. Home! For him, the gap in
those white cliffs looked like the
gate OF a paradise. Dear England
after. two and a half years in the
Australian husband! London, and
then-his precious Lottie, waiting for
him all these dull months!
He would catch the pale, slight
figure by surprisein his strong brown
arms, and tell her that love alone
had drawn him back six months be-
fore his allotted time, and how it had
secretly almost broken his heart to
leave hec to her lonely nurses rou-
tine, with only his old chum Ferrars
to watch from distance that no
harm befel her. Only his love-not
because of that incredible letter that
had reached him in the wilds two
months ago!
He was clutching it now. He
would tear it up and throw the pieces
at her feet. Her tired eyes would fill
and brim over; she would sob out on
his shoulder that she had written 1t
on wild, inexplicable impulse, when
the loneliness of life seemed too
heavy to bear. Yes! He had not
once doubted it. His quiet, trusting
Lottie!
No, there was some strange mis-
take that would be puffed away in
moment. Ferrars would have whls-
pered the word of comfort for him!
Ferrars, the actor, was the one man
living whom he had cared to trust
with his hearts deepest longing. For
that last brief letter that her fingers
had penned had been one to crush
and brutalize any man not so sure or
the woman he had asked to wait!
my Dear Mr.. Joyce-I shall not
be able to write again. You will
think it hard, for time, maybe, but
you would think still less of me as a
woman if 1 let you go on hoping and
looking forward. Against my will
my feelings have gradually changed.
I shall only ask you, as man, not to
cause unnecessary pain by ever try
ing to see me again. I hold you to
that. Good-bye.-Lottie Haynes"
Oh, to see her. lips culver close to
his own again!-to kiss away all the
haze of misunderstanding! "Lottie!
Lottiei" he was whispering to him
self all the way.
London-Amies street.-the house
itself-at last! One minute more!
1t passed. He was turning
away, quite steadily, but with queer
pallor under his tan. Miss Haynes
was gone away to some hospital, they
told him, staring curiously; that was
all they knew. Lottie had promised
never to give up that room of hers
until he came to take her from it as
his dear wife. She had gone, leaving
no clew.
Ten minutes more and he had rung
the same old bell. 'Oh, yes, Mr.. Fer
rars is still with us! We knew he
expected some friends, but he is not
at home yet" She hesitated.
"Thanks-thanks! Archie won't
mind me waiting!" he said, clearing
his husky throat. And he found him
self going dazedly up tae stairs.
An then presently he drew in his
breath sharply. A sudden buzz of
voices below; men laughing and chat
tering. Now they were coming up
Archie leaping on ahead. He could
pick out the old careless, rich voice
that he would know among thou
sands. Then suddenly the door was
pushed back and Ferrars stood there.
Ferrars, not changed an atom:-the
old smile on his dark, keen, good
looking face.
1t died out. Dan Joyce had
sprung, his hand out, that husky
"Archie, old fellow" warm and bro
Ken on his lips. But that was all
In the dying light all the blood had
seemed to drain from FerraTs' face
and left it gray; hestood like thing
of stone. For full minute, While
that muff1ed laughter came in from
the next room, life seemed to have no
meaning, and then Ferrars had closed
the door and held it fast.
You" he strained out. You
here-oack in England! What
what
I'm sorry" Dan whispered. II
never meant to give you that shock.
Archie, She she's gone! Gone"
His voice broke, he reached out
again, gropingly.
Dan! I thought of you as thou
sands of miles away, and-to see you
standing in my room!" The hand
fell away. He stood back as II
scarcely breathing, his face turned.
Where is she?" Dan asked
thickly. II came-I came home be-
cause 1 couldn't live longer without
her. Tell me that, if you know, and
I'll go. Where's my Lottie?"
Il do know" He had tiptoed to
the door and clicked the key. When
he turned there was sweat on his