Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1907-03-08

over Jocelyn's hand, ana Miiiicen''
watching them keenly, could see MOTH
inp-no CLEAN of mutual understand
ing in the politely smiling eyes.
"Perhaps," he said, II may have the
Measure of meeting you again"
~ am afraid it is doubtful" she an
swered. with something that sounded
singularly like exultation In her voice.
"Ne 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. so distorted that we fail to rec
Vgnize it.
Joseph looked up from his work and
saw Jocelyn coming into the bungalow
garden.
He went out to meet her, putting on
his coat as he went.
| How is Mr.. Meredithf" she asked
at once. Her eyes were very bright
and there was sort OF breathlessness
in her manner which Joseph did not
understand.
"He is a bit better, miss, thank you
kindly. But he don't make the prog
| ress I should like. It's the weakness
that follows the malarlal attack that
the doctor has to fight against"
"Where is he? asked JOcelyn.
"Well. miss, at the moment he Is In
the drawing room. We bring him
down there for the change of air In
the afternoon. Likely as not, he's
| asleep"
And presently Jack Meredith, lying
comfortably somnolent OH the outskirts
Of life, heard light footsteps, but hard
| ly needed them. He knew that some
one came into the room and stood
silently by his couch for some seconds.
| He lazily Enclosed his eyelids for d
L H..
there, but with a view of intimating
that he was not asleep. But he was
not wholly conscious. TO men accus-
toned to an active. energetic life a
long illness is nothing but period of
| complete rest. In his more active
| moments Jack Meredith sometimes
| thought that this rest of his was ex-
| tending into dangerously long period,
but ne was too weak to feel anxiety
| Ovssssrs.s<servthipg
Jocelyn moved away and busted her
self noiselessly with one or two Of those
small duties OF the SicEroOm which
women see and men ignore. But she
could not keep away. She came back
and stood over him with silent sense
of possession which made that moment
one Of the happiest Of her life. She re.
membered it in after years, and the
complex feelings Of utter happiness and
complete misery that filled It,
At last a fluttering moth gave the ex-
cuse her heart longed for, and her fin
gers rested for moment, light as the
moth itself, upon his hair. There was
something in the touch which made
him open his eyes, uncomprehending at
first and then filled with a sudden life.
"Ahv he said. "yOu-yOu at last!
He took her hand in both of his. He
was weakened by illness and great
fatigue. Perhaps he was off his guard
or only half awake.
II never should have got better If
you had not come" he said. Then sud-
denly he seemed to recall himself, and
rose with an effort from his recumbent
position.
II do not know" he said with re-
turn of his old half humorous manner,
whether to thank you first for your
hospitality or to beg your pardon for
making such INSCRIPTIONS use OF it."
"Sit down." she said quietly. "You
are not strong enough to stand about"
He obeyed her with little laugh.
"You do not know" he said, chow
pleasant it is to see you, fresh and
English looking. 1t is like tonic.
Where is Maurice?"
HE will be here soon," she replied.
"He is attending to the landing of the
stores. We will soon make you strong
and well, for we have come laden with
cases Of delicacies for your special de-
location. Your father chose them him.
SELF"
1--WE did not expect you for another
ten days." said Meredith after little
pause, as If anxious to change the sub
ject. Marie said that your brothers
leave was not up until the week after
next" -
"We do not always take our fdll
term" said she vaguely.
And he never saw 1t.
"As a matter of fact" she said
lightly, II suppose that you loathe
all fOOdT
"Loathe it." he replied. He was still
looking at her, as IL in enjoyment OF
the Englishness and freshness OF which
he had spoken. "Slmply loathe 1t. All
Joseph's tact and patience are required
to make me eat even eleven meals In
the day. He would like thirteen"
At this moment Maurice came in
Maurice-hearty, eager, full of life.
He clustered in, kicking the furniture.
throwing his own vitality into the at
mosphere. Jocelyn knew that he liked
Jack Meredith, and she knew more.
She knew, namely, that Maurice Cor
don was a different man when JACK
Meredith was in Loango. From Mere
dith's presence he seemed to gather
a sense Of security and comfort even
as she did-a sense which in herself