Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1908-01-24

ton was their first. they had not
spoken since the previous evening, but
here was Daintree In glow for more
causes than salt water and fresh air,
and q glance told the other that he
was forgiven,
"Weil. Thomas. will you listen to me
another time? Neither lady has the
slightest idea who you are"
IL am thankful to hear you say So"
said Tom, laying the knives.
"Lady Starkie never set eyes on
you before. feel certain that Miss
Harding doesn't know you from Adam.
Don't you think 1t was rather vain Of
you to Imagine that she would?'
81 was afraid Of 1t, sir" said Tom:
'that was all"
"And very natural, too" said his
master kindly. II quite enter into
your embarrassment and only fear I
said more than meant in the heat Of
the moment last night. You must for
give me. Thomas. 1t was unpleasant
for you, I admit, but you won't mind
another day of 1t, will you? One more
day will end it--for the present"
The swarthy eountenance was more
radiant than ever Tom was nom
plused.
"Only one more dayf"
"For the present" repeated DAM
tree. "The indies return to Sydney
this afternoon. They go to the Pull
teney. Shall tell you why-shali /
tell you why?"
| And now one man was on fire, but
the other felt q chill run down him as
he nodded his head. BE could not
speak.
because it's to be at oncep cried
Daintree. beside himself with Joy.
Because a special license is to be had
by paying for II, so why on earth
should we wait for banns7 My boy,
we shall be married by the end OF the
| week. Only think Of 1t! / can't be-
lieve 1t myself. It's weeks sooner than
1 dared to hope. But women are all
alike The very best of 'em. Thomas,
will take you by surprise II they can.
What do you think? I'd tell this to no
other living man. When 1 met her on
board no day was too distant, and be-
fore we said good night 1t couldn't be
too s0onw
The fine eyes glistened; the deep
voice shook. There was no doubt
about this mans love. But Tom was
thinking of his darker side, and 1t, had
never seemed so dark before. for never
before had he allowed himself to dwell
upon It without shame. Now this was
a duty. The point of view was changed,
and the regrettable In Toms benefae-
tor became the intoIerable In Claire's
husband. Could she be happy with 80
dangerous a combination Of the spoilt
child and the INSCRIPTIONS tyrant1
Would she be safe? Tom sweated
with the thought. 1t was horribly en-
tangled with that Of his debt to Dain-
tree. Yet for all that was In his heart
the fitting and conventional speech
passed his lips, and he found himself
shaking the other by the hand.
| congratulate meY cried Daintree.
81 should think you did! You have
only to see her to know how happy
she will make me. She Is sweet,
true, unselfish girl She has beauty
and goodness and strong common
sense. She can appreciate and admire
and understand. She Is the poets
ideal. have been longing for her all
my life. And then her manner! She
will be leader of society when
come to my own. Yes, Thomas, you
may well congratulate me. She Is go
ing to make me the very happiest OF
men. can see her now-friend OF the
wits, patroness of all the arts. gracious
queen of an ideal salon-when the ex-
| lie returns to his own"
And doubtless he, could also see him
self-as Tom could see him-swelling
with happiness and pride and satisfac-
ton. Her happiness he appeared to
take for granted. 1t might be unfair
to say that he never thought OF 1t at
all, but he very seldom spoke OF 1t
even to Claire.
Tom was In and out at breakfast.
He contrived to be out as much as
possible. Her face tortured him. he
| saw marks like bruises beneath the
lustrous eyes that never looked bis
| way. He noted the nervous effort OF
her conversation while he was present.
But after breakfast, when he must
have met her face to face on the veran-
da, she turned her back upon him In
a manner not only pointed, but barbed.
And for awhile his compassion desert
ed him altogether.
! Claire was indeed not herself. Her
indisposition became more and more
transparent, and when she ultimately
confessed to a perfectly sleepless night
Daintree put 1t down to her great hap
! piness and was the first to insist that
she should run away and rest" till
luncheon. Lady Starkie. on the other
hand, made herself extremely comfort
able, quite doting on the harbor ana
Rose bay, while she declared that she
/ had seldom felt better In her life. New
ertheless when her host began reading
her his poems faintness overcame the
lady before he had got very far. 1t
was quite inexplicable and most disap-
pointing. but she feared that both
Claire and herself were still suffering
from the effects OF the atrocious table
on board that horrible ship. So Lady
Starkie followed Claire upstairs, with
the poems, which she took care to leave
there when she came down again.
1t was little hard on Daintree. but
be was now much too happy to be
readily depressed or vexed. His ram