Ladysmith news-budget. [volume] (Ladysmith, Rusk County, Wis.) 1907-1927, 1908-05-07
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
|TheHOnOro of
Nurse Joyce


ested.
There will just be the four of us.
But, l say old girl, isn't it magnifi-
cent?" And thus ended the letter.
Yes, it is magnificent" said Chris
label to herself, and she was filled
with delight That evening off must
be got. 1t was very important to her
that she should get it, for did not that
mean seeing Norman Forde? Yet
she hesitated at first to ask Lady Sis
terson for a favor, fearing that it
might be refused To her surprise,
however, she found her ladyship I'M
expectedly gracious.
you can have tomorrow night, If
you like, nurse" she said adding, in
consequently, as it might seem, Max
we'll dimes out tomorrow business
dinner. | understand" and she looked
at Christabel with an inquiring
glance.
But that will leave you alone at
dinner tomorrow. Lady Sisterson.
Would you rather that | went out the
next EVENING"" asked Christabel,
knowing perfectly we'll that Lady Sis
terson might possibly suspect that her
evening off might perchance be con-
nected with Maxwells business din
ner" "a day later will not make any
difference to me-" she said.
ooh, l don't mind dining by myself"
replied Lady Sisterson, shortly. 'You
may have tomorrow evening. [ dare
say Mary will not object to taking
your place, and I shall speak to her
about it,
The following evening, then, saw
party of four-two pairs of unconfess-
ed lovers-seated in the famous res
taurant a little after Z o'clock, and
it may be doubted whether among the
cav and fashionable host Of diners in
the Savoy there was any party more
happy or merry than this. 1t was
early. and the place was not full, but
every table was either occupied or re-
served.
The scene was eXhilarating; the
four were in the highest spirits, and
Christabel, to whom the change from
a. house clouded with sickness to this
sparkling and brilliant room was like
some reviving cordial, never felt hap
pier in her life Naturally there was
first much congratulatiOn over the
success of the rising firm of Joyce &
Forde; then the men pointed out to
the ladies such celebrities as were
present if haplv they knew who they
were. and the talk drifted pleasantly
around a hundred topics of current in
terest. But it was not wonderful that
as the dinner proceeded it came about
that Philip found most to say to Ada
Addington, and Norman to Christabel.
ANY one with half an eye could see
that the two couples were lovers.
How long do you think you will be
engaged in Hans Square?" Norman
asked Christabel.
The question was of the most ordl-
nary kind, but it was not asked IN an
ordinary way. Norman was athrlll
with suppressed excitement and long
ing. He was eager to ask her another
question altogether-the question of
questions man can put to woman,
and he hoped that some early oppor-
tunity might present itself in which
he could ask it. Perhaps that very
night he might he might take her
home to Hans Square, and make an
for himself-this was in
his mind as he spoke.
Not very long, probably replied
Christabel, who was not far from
guessing his thoughts-she felt that
the crisis of her life was near at hand,
and was ready to meet it with joy
and gladness. And a crisis was APP
preaching, but not such as this maid
en- expected. Sir John daily grows
weaker, poor mani"
"Do you know" said Norman, in a
low. confidential tone that charmed
Christabel, Il find something rather
curious in your being nurse to old
Sisterson.
In what way" she asked, as he
paused. IT'S my business to nurse
anybody to whom l am sent, isn't it?'
Yes, yes-but old Sisterson! It's
strange how things come about At
least, | find something strange in this.
Did you ever hear by any chance that
my father and Sister&Un were part
ners? 1t was ever so long ago-years
before you were born; they were con-
tractors and builders, and had place
in Wadsworth, and they were doing
pretty well, I've been told"
81 never heard of it," said Christa-
bel. as he paused again.
Their partnership was dissolved by
my fathers sudden death" Norman
went on. TRANQUILITY, i'll the same low
tone. "One evening he fell a distance
Of some fifty feet from a scaffolding
on to the pavement and was killed in
stantly. It's very old story. l heard
it as a boy some years after his death,
for l was only baby in arms when it
occurred My mother, who survived
him by ten years, told me about it..
She was always rather bitter about
John Sisterson. I dare say it was be-
cause she resented his success-when
father was not there to share it,
AS Norman went on Christabeis
face took on more and more
thoughtful aspect; her brightness and
gaiety grew overcast 1t was curious
that Norman's father had been Sir
Johns unfortunate partner-the man
who was now the subject Of the fright
full delusion that nightly obsessed that
injured brain. She could even hear
Sir John saying, Down, down, fifty
feet" It certainly was strange!
MY mother was wont to declare, "
| continued Norman but perhaps
! am ONLY boring YOU. Miss joyce. and