The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1907-04-26

SidiIt ldIuluS, HIS 10Y uoou SWEET
heart
Thames Edward William Dain
tree is in love with Claire.
A great chill struck TO the girls loyal
heart 1t was the doubt that had kept
her awake. now a doubt no more. Her
trembling ceased. She turned her back
on Erickson and read by the moonlight
the candid words that he had written
in st. James park.
MY own poor boyr' she whispered
through her tears. .Oh. thank heaven
you had no money for those stamps!"
Claire" he gasped. falling back. do
not speak TO me like that! l am not
worthy. You don't understand. You
should go your way and never think OF
me again."
There is somebody else" said the
girl calmly.
Hush he said hoarsely. cit is not
that. love you. my darling God
knows how truly now! Yet l have
come to contemplate grief. / have
been everything that's bad"
He groaned. She said nothing, but
caught his hand and pressed it.
"Oh, Claire he cried, at was mad
ness, I think. I was mad at leaving
you and Old England perhaps forever.
and the ship wouldn't sail, Claire: the
ship wouldn't sail! When went to the
Office, thinking l had about three days,
they told me she would be three weeks.
/ walked out of that Office swearing
I'd find some other. but all / found
was the road to the bad. Drink and
dice and cards! You asked me to tell
you all. / tell you all / can. / tell it
you to- set you against me and make
you hate me forever. That is the kind
est thing. Claire, Claire, why don't
you strike me? Why don't you scorn
me and leave me to my fate? Oh, oh,
1 could bear IT better than this!'
Her warm arms were about him.
They clasped him tight. He could hear
her heart and his own.
Suddenly she stood apart from him,
with small clinched fists glittering
with rings. He held his breath.
1.-The man who is at the bottom of
all this" said she, who is he? How
was it? You speak of him in your let
ter Tell me more"
l.
It's past mending. and it was my own
miserable fault. Most of my money
went In fair play and-riot! He only
relieved me of the residue. Yet I tell
you, Claire with sudden fury, I'D
go contentedly TO my account II could
only kick him along in front of me the
whole way. Yes, I'd hang for the
hound and think the satisfaction cheap
at the pricer'
what is his manner" demanded
Claire.
'Blaydes." said Tom, "B-la-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 what" whispered Claire,
who had glanced Involuntary 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 Blaydesr'
He is no friend Of mine"
HE is at your house tonight!' cried
Erickson, with uncontrolled excite
ment
''No-he is not"
''Then give me his address"
Toni cannot"
You cannot? You who said you
would do anything in your power to
help me? And this Is all ask-this
villains address,. oh, Claire, he is not
fit for you TO speak to-
Claire answered with deliberate res
ervations. 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 forethought Above all,
no fresh fuel must be added to the vim
dictive 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 comment
the heavy stick lying in the grass
She turned faint at the thought of her
fiery Tom encountering the captain so
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
Claire az 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 Blaydes anc
were beginning II say goodi5y, wiz