Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1907-03-28

She glanced up, half displeased. I'VE
were both staying at the little inn,"
she said, as though no further explana-
lion could be needed. Then again her
manner changed. She moved imper-
ceptibly nearer and touched his right
hand. His left, which was farther
away from her, was we'll in the sha'l-
CIV of the cushions.
Jack" she said caressingly. cit isn't
to tell you this stupid old story that
fve brought you here. It's really to
tell you a sort of sequel" She stroked
his hand gently once or twice. "AS |
say, I met this man and We've le-
came very fond of each other. You =
derstand? Then we quar%reled-Wl"."
relied quite ~badly-and came away.
I've remembered him rather lo.lg Y
than / remember most people," Was
one of those logged individuals who
stick in ones mind. But he has stayed
In mine for another reason A2Nn
she looked up. He has stayed b"r",'~r
you helped to keep him there. You
know how I have sometimes put my
IA v soal hhooNH 'Ni VIVA y 'H
that your eyes reminded me of some
one else? Well, that some one else Was
my Englishman. But you mustn't lie
Jealous. He was a horrid. obstinate
person. and you-well. YOU know what
I think of YOU She pressed his h ~.
"But to come to the end of the - y.
I never saw this man since that long
ago time until-until the night of
Blanche's party" She spoke slowly. 10
give full effect to her words. Then she
waited for his surprise.
But the result was not what she eN-
pected. He said nothing. and. with IN
abrupt movement, he drew his hand
from between hers.
AREN'T you surprised?" she asked II
last, with a delicate note of reproof.
He started slightly, as if recalled to
the necessity of the moment. SUI
prised:" he said. Why should / tc
surprised? One person more or less at
d big party isn't astonishing. Besides.
you expect a man to turn up sooner or
later in his own country. Why should
Tbe surprised:'
She lay back luxnriously. Because.
my dear boy" she said softly. lit is Il
mystery. It's one of those fascinating
mysteries that come once in a life
time"
Loder made no movement. You
must explain he said very quietly.
Lillian smiled. That's just what I
want to do. When l was in my tent
on the nig!. Of Blanche's party. Il man
came to be gazed for. He came just
ike anybody else and laid his hands
upon the table. He had strong. thin
Aands like-well, rather like yours.
But he wore two rings on the third fin
ger of his left hand-a heavy signet
ring and a plain gold one"
IOder moved his hand imperceptibly
till the cushion covered it. Lillian's
words caused him no surprise, scarcely
even any trepidation. He felt now
that he had expected them, ever wait
ed for them, all along.
II asked him to take off his rings"
she went on, and just for a second he
hesitated-1 could feel him hesitate.
Then he Geemed to have made up his
mind, TO: he drew them off. He drew
them off, Jack, and CUES what l saw!
Do guess!!'
For the fist time Loder involuntari-
" drew back into his corner of the
couch. Il guess" he said
brusquely.
"Then Ill tell you. His hands were
b hands Of my Englishman! The
rings covered the scar made by ko
Kos teeth. l knew it instantly-tle
second my eyes rested on it. 1t was
the same scar that I had bound up
dozens Of times. that l had seen healed
before | left S~antasalare."
"And you? What did you do?" 10
der felt it singularly difficult and IN
pleasant to speak.