The Durham recorder. [volume] (Durham, N.C.) 1879-19??, 1907-07-23

himself mechanically lighting the can
dies on the dinner table and lowering
the shades TO lessen the chance OF his
face being seen.
While he was so engaged the inner
door opened, and Tom and Claire stood
face TO face.
Her eyes were great with horror
She shut the door behind her and then
stood close against II. shrinking from
him TO whom she once had chung
II can't bear it," she gasped. 81
must either speak to you or go mad!
Yes, yes. know We may be caught
I can't help that! Tell me quickly, did
you know who was before I Gamer"
'No, indeed
"Is 1t by accident that you are his
servant:"
"No; he sought me out. So you knew
me again, Clsiref"
what did you say? Never call me
that again. OF course knew you!
How could l forget you after all you
have made me suffer? II only
could"
The cruelty Of this speech struck him
dumb. He drew himself up and grimly
challenged her with his eye. Her suf.
ferings, indeed: What had she SUI.
feredi She was on the point OF mar
rying q rich man. No doubt II was
distressing TO her to encounter him
again at that juncture. His lip curled
at such distress.
She read his thoughts 20 the letter.
"YOu think have not suffered she
cried in a low voice. You little know.
but this Is the last straw-the punish.
ment | so richly deserve! Mr.. DaIn.
tree saved your life. You knew that.
Of course? But I don't think you
know why he did II. II was because I
asked him. II was for my sake
>"YOu:" he said hoarsely. Il see now
Il see: I might have guessed II long
ago.
"He wanted TO do something for me- So
she continued In a choking voice. II
let him do that deceived him to save
your life. am here because I deceiv.
ed him.
He thought he had seen everything.
He had not. but he was beginning &c
now. Good heavens! Why was his
heart beating so fast? II ought TO
bleed instead. Here was the girl he
loved. and upstairs was the man he
had reason TO love better still, and they
were going 10 marry like that He
tried to forget, 10 think only OF what
Claire had done for him.
God bless you" be murmured. HE
has saved my life twice over and much
more than my life, and ! owe II all 10
one brave girl who believed In me and
made him believe In me when all the
world
''St0p!" she cried. Il never believed
in you at ALL"
WHAT"
Il was sorry for you"
"You believed me guilty. even when
you tried to save my Iife?'
"Of manslaughter-yesv'
''I,et US split no hairs! You Think
lid it-stIllT'
Il can think nothing else"
In the dead silence following these
words the servant heard his master
stamping into evening dress overhead;
he felt his own crested buttons glitter.
Ing In the candIeIight that shone upon
the table he had set 20 beautifully for
the bride. and as she tossed back the
ringlets that he knew 10 well and re.
peated with unnInching eyes what she
had told him in 30 many candid words
ell TINT had distracted him up TO this
moment ceased 20 do 10 any more
Her coming was nothing to him now.
Her errand was nothing: she was vel.
come TO marry the next day. But be
lieye 10 bis innocence she must and
should. Injustice from her was tho
last bitterness, the crowning wrong
he one intolerabIe misery which alb
Iorbed oil that had gone before.
Something ~ this he showed her IN
his bitter, proud, memorable look: then
suddenly he retreated 10 the open
French windows.
"You are goingy" she cried. 81
might have known. You were always
generous"
Il am not now. hear my master
on the stairs"
you are not going altogether
Certainly not ut present"
"when, whenT' she cried below her
breath.
"when you do me common justice"
Daintree had gone into The wrong
Continued on third page.)