The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1908-02-16

made the fourth table up thread of con-
versation.
I'VE were talking about Olive Netteton-' she
began but Mrs Baxter raised warning slender fore
finger.
NO scandal until King gets OUT she objected. He
has not yet learned that feminine gossip is pre-
cisey the same his masculine sense of humor-
both of the other persons misfortunes Only we
take seriously what men treat joke"
Outside on the wide stone veranda Caroline was
standing with her slender behind her. erect
poised. outwardy cold selfcontained If the ques
ton in her almost appeal. she stood
there alone-if there tragedy in the
mouth, there instant relaxation when she heard
Kings step behind her
THE mater sent out some tea" he said. land she
says you look tired and are to be to drink It
If you don't about it. it the rail.
Shall trouble you If stay here?"
You are friendly light chasing away shadows"
she said slowly Kingsley stood by made absoybedy
seconscious the unexpected reference to what
always in his mind. The girl slipped her tea slowly
looking down the straight path with its Haunting
ders to where the pergola wreathed with trumpet
and creeper, framed the valley below.
Dear hollyhocks and four o'clocks" she rhymed
land the lady slippers and larkspur savia-each
prim spruce bright a little New
England lady in her Sunday gown. Do you know"
she said whrnsically IT anachronism. I am
not Californian. King; not truly hred-in the bone
one at all. I belong here in the East, sure.
have the Puritan conscience"
Then I like the Puritan conscience" he said
smiling at her.
-Four years missing my dear" the voice said and
Olive Nettleton wandering the continent looking
into peoples faces the street, everywhere Rome,
St Petersburg, Cairo! Oh, it was creepy"
We'll it is Olives affair" Mrs. Osbornes comforta-
BILE put land they to be beginning things
all again But suppose she had married again."
"olive had the Puritan conscience" Leila
Dixon's thin clear "she would have
ried again, unless she had known he dead"
Caroline had been listening her head slightly bent
Now she looked up suddenly at the beside her.
"I wonder If you understand King?" she said. Its
psychology. suppose the problem Of a small SOUL at
that. Butt like that-woman they speaking
Of
Kingsley took the cup and from her and put
it carefully the rail. Then he sat down somewhat
awkwardy beside her.
I'm glad you've given a chance to speak," he
said. I'm not very agile mentally and can't fence
with shadows. But think know how you feel. It's
the not knowing how why-ts sort of wound to
your pride that won't heal Don't tell me you still
love him. I don't believe It. I don't want to be
brutal but people don't love the dead; they remember
them-you know that Caroline-and everything I
know of that awful time points to the one thing"
THAT he is dead" she breathed But want to
know; I'm like my old nurse at home, when her boy
drowned She didn't cry: she Just stood by the
river bank and waited day and night until they
him. And then she cried, and they knew her mind
saved"
King leaned and took Of her cold hands
between his warm. brown
You said little while ago that drove away the
shadows" he said earnestly. Caroline can't we face
this thing together love you-God knows. I don't
want to divide you with any one not even memory:
but it's to the point where I'm almost ready to
throw myself your pity. Caroline, let me drive
the shadows away always"
The girl dropped her chin into her two palms and
stared frowningly ahead.
You like him." she said at last "and he loved
ne. Oh yes whatever people may think nothing
take that away from me- He loved me. King: and
what II he should come back and find that have not
been faithful? In there"-she nodded toward the
house-"they have been talking Of some woman who
haunted the continent looking into the of the
people she met sit here and look over the hills
and say, Which way? Which wayr"
The young had folded his arms and leaning
back. he too gazed the hills. He was bafled
discouraged. but beaten eff you care about him.
Caroline" he said after silence, "he was not a
scoundrel I accept that I accept the ghost that
stands between But suppose I lay the ghost?
Would there be chance for me-"
Gould you save my faith" she asked sharply turn
ing to him.
Il will try" he pledged solemnly.
Mrs. Baxter came languidly to the window and held
the curtain aside with a sweeping gesture.
Dear me, how intense you look" she Knocked