The Durham recorder. [volume] (Durham, N.C.) 1879-19??, 1907-05-28

> "Blaydes." said Tom, "B-l-a-y-d-e-s.
Captain Blaydes, forsooth. on half pay!
Blaydes of the guards, who disgraced
themselves for all time by not
He broke Off and stood looking at the
girl.
by not whatT' whispered Claire,
who had glanced involuntarily through
the gate toward the distant lighted
windows. and who was now trembling
again, with a new and dreadful agita-
ton.
by not cashiering your friend, Cap
tain Blaydesv'
He Is no friend of mine"
HE Is at your house tonightw cried
Erichsen, with uncontrolled excite
ment.
"No-he Is not"
''Then give me his address,"
'Tom--I cannot"
"You cannot? You who said you
would do anything In your power to
help me? And this Is all ask-tlfis
villains address! oh, Claire, he is not
fit for you TO speak to-
Claire answered with deliberate res
eryations. Her duty was clear as the
stars. Tom and Blaydes must be kept
apart-that night at all events. Then
many things must be done, but quietly
and with due forethougnt. Above all,
no fresh fuel must be added to the vim
dlctiye fires now smoldering In her
lovers speaking eyes. So Claire decid-
ed to keep TO herself her own opinion
OF Captain Blaydes.
She had noticed without common.
the heavy stick lying in the grass.
She turned faint at the thought of her
fiery Tom encOuntering the captain 50
armed and SO. aggrieyed. but she in
sisted on his telling her OF his wrong.
Tom promised not to seek an inter.
view with Blaydes for two clear days
and not to harm him then, and on this
understanding Claire at last confessed
that the captain had taken rooms for
the summer in the village Of West
End. bare mile from where they
stood.
They had finished with BIaydes and
were beginning to say goodby. when
Claire started and vowed she heard a
rustic at the gate. At that instant
there came breath Of wind; the gate
shut with a clean metallic click; she
was locked out. for on this side there
was only the keyhole. and the key was
within.
He vas over the wall and back ri
her side within the minute. She was
trembling terribly. All her nerve seem
ed gone. She must fy-she must fly
but be would come again the next
evening" And again she was looking
up dlvlnely In his eyes. his right hand
ciasped In both Of hers. and again the
burden Of past weakness bowed him
down. but this time there was a coun
terpoIse Of hope and high resolve. 9
vision Of ntonement and self respect
regalned that gave to his voice a clear
er, manlier note and TO Claire In the
thin moonlight first aud last glimpse
Of the Tom Erickson Of WILDWOOD up
lands and red autumn afternoons. But
II was now her turn to be refused.
"So. Claire" he said. Il am coming
back no more. You have put it In ms
power not only TO have my little own
again. but 10 redeem the past, aud
must set TO work ut once. IL don't
get that f3J now you may hear OF me
next In Horsemonger lane. IL dc
there's an IndIaman-the Jean-saIling
on Monday. and sail In her II there's
steerage berth still going. At all
events my debts here will be paid and
done with. There may even be a few
pounds over 10 make me decent when |
land, aud II that Hrm won't have me
now some other may. You shall hear
Of me from there. There are not going
20 be two false starts. Aud one day
Claire. ] am coming back a better man
than | 20 away. and II viii all be
thanks 10 you. Oh. thank you for your
noble letteri 10 has saved the on tho
brink. little as deserved It. I shall
never stOOp or sink-llke this-agaIn.
That promise you. But you should
think no more Of me! I was never wor.
thy Of you. | never can be that. II Is
best 10 forget me. dear. You must not
spot your life by waiting for man..
Her palm sealed bis lips.
For the only man want" she wills.
pered through her tears. Darling.
could wait foreverr'
Il will write aud tell you about the
cas-" he continued. regaIning control Of
his voice. "it will be all your doing.
my own brave Claire. No. mol Not my
own! Never that any morer'
Forever. darling! Forever and ever
and ever
"No. moi Only be happy yourself.
snd forgive me for all made you sur.
fer. I shall never forgive myself
Gooiby. beloyedl oh, goodby, gccdbyr'
lie strained her to his breast, but left
no kiss upon those pleading, praying,
upturncd lips. lie was not worthy to
touch them with bis. lie remembered
mis- up TO the end.
n was twenty minutes past 10 by
CAPTAIN Blaydes' gold repeater when