The Washington herald., 1908-06-30

by the hand again?
Passing St Clement Danes the fog
grew thicker, and the light from the
lamps flared fitfully The Strand was
more crowded than usual. as Charteris
looked in vaiu for an empty hanson. A
chill breeze. sweeping up from the river,
reminded him that his feet and hands
were freezingly cold, while his head
seemed TO be in flames. He decided to
walk home TO his fiat overlooking Hyde
Park. where Edward was awaiting him.
AS he walked he heard his name on
the lips of the newsboys.
''Hextra speshul! Tempest divorce
case.. Verdict!!! Portrait Of the CO.
respondent,!r'
One imp thrust his wares within few
inches OF Guys nose. with raucous
" Ere yere! One 'a'pennyi" To silence
Importantly. Charters bought a paper.
The boy stared at him admiringly. rec
ognizing the to1, the real sport. who
never asked for change. His grimy paw
closed over sixpence; his sharp eyes
twinkled as Guy Quickened his pace.
Thank ye. sir Ye've got a tanners
worth this time"
At the next lamp-post, Guy glanced at
his portrait with grim satisfaction. for
walking down the Strand he had been
conscious that he might be recognized.
Nobody would recognize him from this.
He smiled derislvely. rejecting that the
portrait represented quite adequately
the public conception OF him. Certainly
he looked what the vast majority Of his
fellow-coUntrymen believed him TO be
the biggest backguard in England.
A few minutes later he was in Pail
Mall. approaching the Wayfarers Club
Coming down the stone steps slowly pull
ling on his gloves, a tall, thin man,
with keen, kindly face, saw Charteris
and drew himself up rather stifly. Both
men nodded simultaneously, hesitated
for an appreciable moment. and went
their ways in opposite directions. Guy
walked on with his head in the air; the
other looked back twice. He nearly cut
me- Guy was saying 10 himself. ought
TO have spoken?" was the insistent
thought Of the other; for Guy and he
had been friends at Eton and Oxford
and afterward. although Of late the
friendship had cooled somewhat. lacking
the friction OF constant intercourse.
Farther down. Guy encountered a sec
ond man. This fellow was highly cs-
teemed as "one Of the best" a thruster
in pursuit OF foxes and pleasure; big.
red-faced, heavy-jowled. pouter-breasted
major Of Lancers. a son Of Venus and
Mars. who had never shirked a battle or
a bottle and, as he put 1t, had done
himself top-hole" ever since he Joined
, his regiment.
This splendid person greeted Guy with
bolsterous affection as "Old Sport" Guy
was entreated to dine. do a show. and
sup-make a memorable night Of it, in
short
Any fool can see you want buckIn'
up. my boy"
Il am late for an appointment" said
| Guy. You are very kind. but"
! The big fellow winked knowingly.
"Of course" he said. I might have
guessed that. Well, she'll buck you I'D.
By-by! Your own pals are with you to
manr
His own pals?
! The question bit deep. The major had
/ spoken with convlction-with hnaIity He
and innumerable others like him were
/ Guys pals now. How had Il come to
pass? BY what imperceptlble process had
he lost the friendship Of the kindly
/ faced Wayfarer and gained instead the
patronizing good will of this swash-
buckler? And IL the Wayfarer had asked
him TO dine, would he have refused?
When he reached his fat. Pixton. his
servant. was awaiting him. The mar
had = pale. wooden, inscrutable face
thin lips. and a pesslmistic expression
due to chronic dyspepsia. Pixton came
from Saffron Charters, one Of Edward
people" the son. indeed, Of the head
gamekeeper. Guy had taken him anC
trained him because he provoked pleas
ant memories, some Of them connected
with ferrets. Pixton, once a slip Of a lad
now weighed fourteen stone Guy wa.
never able 10 determine whether or not
Pixton preferred London 10 Saffror
Charters. Whenever he said in hi!
pleasant. genial voice: Il say. Pixton
don't you wish we were boys again
standing outside the terrace wood, on ,
frosty morning; and bunnies bolting-eh?' p
always the placid Pixton would reply
Sometimes do. Mr.. Guy. and sometimes
don't"
AS PixtOn came forward 70 help hi
master out Of his overcoat, Guy sal,
lightlyi ITS all over. Plxton-thanl
goodness
PiNton replied in ominous tones:
Mr.. Edward Is here sir"
L know"
And Mrs. Charteris."
Mrs. Charteris?" repeated Guy. H
looked astonshed. but his face grew
brighter. Edwards wife had alwav
stood stoutly by him: a true friend
nore-a sister. The mere mentor
Of her name made his blood cir
culate quicker. None the less he wa
sensible Of a shock; he was unprepare,
to meet this simple, sweet creature; h
shrank from taking her kind hand: h
wondered il he could return her in
genuous glance What must she thinl
of him? For the second time that after
noon he tried to picture himself as he ap
peared TO others whose good opinion h
had once enjoyed. That confounded Way
farer for instance, turned aside. not be
cause there was any taint Of the Phari
see in him, but for the unanswerabl
reason that Guy had changed. not he
Cynthia. too. would never change; IN
old. pleasant intercourse with her coul
not be renewed, She would look at hir
with sympathy and tenderness. with
compassion shining through tears, bu
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