The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram., 1907-05-26

I mind or Claire. Dut ne was not IllllA-
| ing Of her as the horses trotted up. He
had forgotten all about her when be
heard her voice. Next moment the
| curricle bridged the stream of lamp
| light issuing from the hall. And Tom
| stood among the roses he had strewn,
| silhouetted against the doorway, with
| out moving hand or foot or once lift
| ing his unseen gaze from Claire Hard
ing's face.
What followed seemed to be happen
ing TO another man. Daintree cried to
him, and he helped the ladies' to get
down. He touched her hand. Their
eyes never met. Daintree jumped
down and led Claire on his arm
through the roses. Fawcett came up,
the curricIe was gone, and Tom stood
alone in the drive, watching the ladies
go upstairs within, followed by their
maid and Daintree, and after that he
stood watching the staircase until
Daintree ran down it and had him by
both hands.
"You dear good fellow, you have
thought of everything,' he cried. You
couldn't have done more if you'd been
the happy man yourself, and 1 shall
"Nor l." cried Tom bitterly.
"Why, what's the matter"
"You might have told me who 1t
was, sir. / recognized Miss Harding
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 I didn't tell you." re-
Joined Daintree triumphantly. Come.
come, my good fellow. 1 know all
about the relations between the two
families. and you mustn't fatter 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.
"Not 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 I come down
stairs-or take carep'
And he stood moment at the door,
with the most significant and malig
nant expression, after which he went
upstairs to dress, leaving Tom to re-
gret 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 lashed
Il.
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 was he to stand there
and see them married?
His head was in q 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
for instantaneous decision. If Claire
We're to recognize him at dinner, then
she wag 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
had just passed. Well, Claire knew
best why she had made a secret where
none was necessary. But if more trou-
BILE was to come of it. let him be there
to take her part. Let him be there
forever to watch over her in those
passionate hands! And Tom found
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 We're great with horror.
She shut the door behind her and then
stood close against it, shrinking from
him to whom she once had clung.
Il can't bear it," she gasped. 81
must either speak to you or go madi
Yes, yes, I know we may be caught!
1 can't help thatI Tell me quickly. did
you know who I was bsfore I came!"
.sNo inIaa<1r'
rs it by accident that you are his
servant?"
NO: he sought me out. So you knew
me again, Claire?'
what did you say? Never call me
tuaI again. vi COURSE hueW NOus
How could 1 forget you after all you
have made me suffer? If 1 only |
couldt'
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 suf- |
fered? She was on the point OF mar
rying a rich man. No doubt it was
distressing TO her to encounter him |
again at that juncture. His lip curled |
at such distress.
She read his thoughts to the letter. /
You think l have not suffered!'' she /
cried in low voice. You little know. /
but this is the last straw-the punish |
ment l SO richly deserve, Mr. Dain- |
tree saved your life. You knew that, I
of course? But I don't think you
know why he did it, 1t was because 1 I
asked him. 1t was for my saker'
Your he said hoarsely. II see now
i see, 1 might have guessed it long
ago.
He wanted to do something for me-"