The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1907-07-03
/ A Modern ESau.
BY J. GRAY.

even with the tender thought came
the realization that for years he had
never wanted her, had not been lone
ly in the least himself, and had
scarcely missed her. The task of
comforting her was rather a stern
duty to which he must apply himself
manfully than an anticipated pleas
ure, He, was intensely conservative
in his habits, and, as he stretched
himself before his study fire-for 1t
was a cool autumn day-he felt dis
tinctly rufIled to think that the old
order was about to change and give
place to new. A postscript stated
that she was still uncertain by which
vessel she would sail, but would
cable In starting, or wire when she
landed in England.
ELSIE is coming home at once, "
he said, as his sister Marian brought
him a steaming cup of tea with just
the right amount of cream and sugar
in 1t. Her father has passed away"
And even as he made the remark he
wondered whether it would take
Elsie long to understand all his little
peculiarities of taste, and whether
she would pander to them quite as
gracefully as his sister had done.
Marian took the letter, which he
handed over to her without any
qualms or shyness, and read it
through.
"You have both been very patient, -"
she remarked quietly, and as much
as she adored her brother, there
seemed a touch of contempt in her
voice. II hope you will be very
happy. Under the circumstances |
suppose you will not delay the we'd
ding"
mo, I suppose not" he replied,
and his tone was not that of an
ardent lover, but rather implied that,
having waited ten years for his bride,
he would willingly serve the time
again, though not from the same
cause as the patriarch of old.
AS the days passed Harold grew
more and more reluctant to welcome
Elsie, and yet he felt an awful SEN
sation of shame when he conside cred
his position.
"Of course l want her," he argued
with himself, "only she has been
away so long, and the thought of
marriage is somewhat embarrassing
to such an old bachelor"
At last wire came which, by its
abruptness, took his breath away.
LANDED yesterday. Coming to see
you this afternoon. ELSIE
He put down the telegram with a
gasp.
To-day! I thought should have
been able to meet her! Still, after
all. this is less embarrassing. II
would be trying to meet at the docks
or the station"
Cheering himself with this thought,
he hurried from the study.
Marian! Marian!" he called.
But no answer came from his sister.
At last housemaid appeared to say:
please, sir, Miss Priestleigh has
gone to the West End to shop; she
said she might spend the afternoon
with friend, and not be home till
late"
What friend?" he asked, eagerly.
"Can l wire?"
mo, sir; she did not leave any ad-
dress You were busy, and she said
she would not disturb you"
Harold always objected to being
disturbed in his mornings work.
There was nothing for it, then, but
to receive her himself. He went back
to his study trying to hammer the
belief into his mind that he wanted
Elsie, wanted her sadly, but his heart
contradicted so loudly that the brain
could not accept the statement.
Heaven help me! l do not feel
that / want her!" he confessed at last
What a cold-blooded villain l must
bel"
He took her portrait down from
the shelf and looked at it closely. II
was the same sweet face of ten years
before, although the photo had been
quite recently taken.
She is good and loving and pretty
and she is mine," he whispered. but
his heart throbbed no faster at the
thought. 1t rather sank lower, and
he almost felt faint with loathing OF
himself and dread of the interview.
He could eat no lunch. and awaited
his visitor in kind of sick uneasi.
ness. At last the ring came, but to
save his life he could not go out to
meet her. He sat pala and reluctant
till Jane came to say that a lady was