Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1907-12-26

at once. Her family used to come to
our village for the shooting, and her
father was my fathers enemy. It's
hard for me to meet her like this after
that. I'd have run away If I'd known"
"Precisely why 1 didn't tell you," re-
Joined Daintree triumphantly. Come,
come, my good fellow, I know all
about the relations between the W
families, and you mustn't datter your
self that Miss Harding will remember
you. You've altered considerably, for
one thing, and 1 dropped your surname
on purpose to spare you any such rec
ognition. Miss Harding won't know
you from Adam"
81 would rather not wait upon her
all the same"
Daintree showed his teeth.
mot wait upon the lady who is to be
my wife and your mistress? You dare
to say that to my face? Let me find
you at your post when 1 come down.
stairs-or take care!'
And he stood a moment at the door,
with the most significant and malig-
nant expression, after which he went
upstairs to dress, leaving Tom to re-
greet for the first time his impulsive
confession of completely in the Castle
Sullivan outrage and to reflect upon
the many sides Of the man whom
Claire Harding had come out from
England to marry. Memories dashed
him by the score. He had seen how
the tyrant could treat his servants and
his dog. He had pitied the bride in
the abstract, and was it to be Claire
Harding, and vas he to stand there
and see them married?
His head was in a whirl Of conflict
ing emotions and anxieties. Still stun
ned by the mere shock of seeing her
whom he had never thought to see
again in that outlandish place and all
: but another mans bride, he was faced
by an immediate dilemma which called
t for instantaneous decision. If Claire
were to recognize him at dinner, then
she was pretty certain to betray a Sc
cret which Daintree. on the other hand,
was almost as certain to guess if his
servant absented himself after what
r had just passed. Well, Claire knew
v best why she had made a secret where
none was necessary. But if more trou-
BILE was to come of 1t, let him be there
n to take her part. Let him be there
n forever to watch over her in those
h passionate hands! And Tom found
It himself mechanically lighting the can
dies on the dinner table and lowering
# the shades to lessen the chance Of his
s. face being seen.
While he was so engaged the inner
= door opened. and Tom and Claire stood
y face to face.
n Her eyes were great with horror.
She shut the door behind her and then
!" stood close against it, shrinking from
him to whom she once had chung.
ST can't bear it!' she gasped. 81
e must either speak to you or go mad!
Yes, yes, l know we may be caught
1 can't help that! Tell me quickly, die
you know who 1 was before came?"
mo, indeed!'
els it by accident that you are hi
servant?"
"No; he sought me out. So you knew
me again, Clairew
"What did you say? Never call m
that again. OF course l knew you
h How could l forget you after all yo'
~ have made me suffer? If I onl,
could!'
in The cruelty of this speech struck hir
n dumb. He drew himself up and griml
challenged her with his Eye. Her sui
~ ferings, indeed! What had she sui
o fered? She was on the point Of MAJ
rying a rich man. No doubt it wa
distressing to her to encounter hir
r. again at that juncture. His lip curle
at such distress.
10 She read his thoughts to the Letter
h "You think 1 have not suffered!" sh
n cried in a low voice. "You little know
III but this is the last straw-the punisl
IF ment l so richly deserve! Mr.. Dail
rs tree saved your life. You knew tina
10 Of course? But I don't think 70
at know why he did it. 1t was because
ia asked him. 1t was for my sake"
"YouT" he said hoarsely. II see no.
,ff Il see! l might have guessed it Ion
m ago!'
T. "He wanted to do something for me,
MS she continued in q choking voice. .
let him do that. I deceived him to say
ra your life. I am here because 1 deceit
ed himT
". He thought he had seen everythin
lis He had not, but he was beginning
now. Good heavens! Why was b
,is heart beating SO fast? 1t ought
ny bleed instead. Here was the girl
ON loved, and upstairs was the man |
NO had reason to love better still, and the
in were going to marry like that. E
Of tried to forget, to think only of VIII
Claire had done for him.
in "God bless you" he murmured. II
Il. has saved my life twice over and mut
5e more than my life, and / owe 1t all
he one brave girl who believed in me al
he made him believe in me when all Il
IN. worl,."-
I'm "Stop!" she cried. II never believe
m. in you at ALL"
th- "What?"