Ladysmith news-budget. [volume] (Ladysmith, Rusk County, Wis.) 1907-1927, 1908-04-23
CHAPTER VII.
Lovers Meet.

1--WE must leave you, nurse" said
Maxwell, stopping by Christabel's
chair. Business claims us. My mo-
tor car, however, will be back for you
in half an hour or so, and 1 hope you'll
enjoy your drive. It's a perfect day
for it."
His voice was slow as usual, but his
She saw that in his way he was a
handsome man, and there never was
a woman yet who was wholly indif-
ferent to a fact of this kind; in spite
of what had occurred between them
on the previous evening, she was now
conscious of being more favorably i'm
pressed.by him.
"You can trust yourself implicitly
to my chauffeur" he went on, for he
never makes mistakes. Well meet
again tonight, nurse" he added, with
a slight bow.
Yes, it was quite possible, Christa-
bel thought, that Maxwell Sisterson
could be charming-when he liked.
After the two men had gone Chris
label remained in the breakfast room
waiting for Mary who did not return
for fully half an hour, by which time
the motor car had been to the city and
in Oh o
was dressed for going out, and she
carried a packet in her hand, which
ChristabeI noticed was shaking.
ooh, l thought you might be ready,
Christabel," she said. DO put your
cloak on at once, as l wish to go out
Immediately
The words in themselves were moth
ing remarkable, but the manner in
which they were uttered suggested
that some subtle change had come
over Mary Sisterson. She was still
pale and agitated, but there was a
curious sort Of suppressed eagerness
about her that was new.
Sir John" she continued, mas ask
ed me to undertake a small commits
sion for him. He is perfectly con-
scious this morning"
81 am very glad to hear it, said
Christabel, and then she hurried off.
In a few moments more they were
speeding along in the motor car to-
wards a we'll known private bank in
the Strand, the address of which Mary
had given the chauffeur For the first
part of the way they rushed through
streets in which traffic was slight,
and neither of them spoke. Mary was
occupied with her thoughts; but Chris
label. to whom the ride in motor car
was more of a novelty, took an i'm
mense delight in the beating of the
fresh air upon her face. Then, as they
swept on into the more crowded thor
oughfares, the chauffeur was COM
PEELED to slow down and to stop sew
eral times.
81 wish father was always as lucid
as he is today" said Mary, in ore OF
these pauses; the direction which her
mind had been taking during the drive
was evident. Zone might almost be-
gin to cherish a hope-but l know
there's none"
Christabel answered sympathetical-
ly, but she, too, knew there was no
hope in this world for Sir John Sister
son.
81 am going to trust you, Christa-
bel" said Mary, in a low tone, land to
tell you something Of Importance,
which for the present you will keep to
Yourself. | am sure | ought to tell
some one, as my own hold on life is
precarious, though after what | have
gone through recently my heart must
be much stronger than the doctors de-
clared it was Sir John this morning
entrusted to me a packet containing
certain papers, which he babe me not
to open till at least three months after
his death. I have the packet with
me. and | am about to deposit it with
Couttss people; we are going to their
bank now, and | wish you to remem-
Der, in case anything may happen to
me- what | have done with it,"
"Willingly, Mary said Christabel,
wondering somewhat at this conf
dence. "Sir John Must have been
much better"
His brain was perfectly clear-as
clear as yours or mine. He sent his
nurse out of the room, told me with
out any hesitation where to find the
kew of the safe in his room, and where
to Law my hand on the packet in it
He did not talk much, but just told
me what to do. 1t was wonderful |:
sometimes, however, he has been like
that since the accident, but not aften,
said Mary, as the car moved on again
Presently the chauffeur, skilfully
threading his way through the traffic
drew up in front of Coutt's, and Mary
went within.
"You won't forget, Christabel," she
remarked, On returning to the car
'It may be very necessary that yol
should not"
81 am not likely to forget" Christa
bel responded.
"What shall we do now?" asked
| Mary. "Is there anywhere YOU would
prefer to go? You have rather more
than an hour to spare before you
duty begins. Have you any shopping
| No? We can do fifteen or twent,
miles or more before noon if WI
choose, but is there no one you woulC
care to call on?"
"Well, Mary, if you don't mind,
said Chistabel, taking the opportunit
| offered, 81 think l should like to Sc
| nv brother, to tell him where | an
| stopping. He does not know that
| have gone to nurse Sir John"