The Washington herald., 1908-01-20

ly 1--WE are not considering the children
now; they don't count And besides, they
can always come back here"
She sat down on the broad fender stool,
and pOndered a moment, staring into the
fire.
Really ana truly I believe il you pull
her up sharply, let her know you are
tired Of being played with. all VIII 90
we'll Mrs. L.ancing is a bundle Of nerves
l-she has had so much to try her that
she is really not able at this moment of
taking matters into her own hands.
think it is So natural that she should be
doubtful and nervous, said Katherine,
but one thing is sure. that the longer
she delays the more difficult it will seem
10 her 10 take any definite step She
wants some one else TO show her the
way. That is your duty"
| She looked up at him: and Haverford
smiled as he looked down at her.
/ Practical little person. he said you
would have made "a splendid man,
| Kathie"
Il mean to be "a working woman" the
| girl answered and that can be Just as
/ good as being a man"
| Haverford did not answer her. He stood
looking into the fire for a long time I'm
silence.
Il wish ! could feel that all would
work out as YOU say" he said. rousine
/ himself at last; but" Then he said
l know she is i'll; she seems To me 10 be
ON the eve of a nervous brea kdown. hut
any remedy / suggest seems TO have no
healing power for her. You cannot think
how ] brood over her, She is So dear 10
me. The first living creature who has
{ fnnEEH a giu I
BrenJon gave me very much the same ad-
vice as yours. he said next. "The last
time ] was here she urged me strongly
10 take Camilla abroad at once. / have
pleaded with her dozen times 10 do
this. i'm vain"
From "a long, pregnant silence be rous-
ed himself
Sometimes l ask myself if she would
not be happier without me"
No. said katherine, sharply What
what an absurd ideaw Then she turned
on him again. oh, 1 wish were in vour
place! / would not talk. or think. or
SIT down and worry. I would simply say
am going 10 have such and such a thing
done. and / would see that il was doneur
she was trembling so much she had to
get up and move away from him. and
was thankful that she lights had not
been lit in the hall, and that il was too
dark Tor him to see her face distinctly
moment later she said:
You would like dinner as soon as We /
can have IT, 1 SUPPOSE"
This reused him.
on. thank YOU very much. bur 7 want
10 get back / will have SOME sumner in /
town. ! have q morning full Of engage +
ments tomorrow lie went To sIip on
his big motoring coat again. Don't lot 4
Mrs. Brenton imagine all sorts OF things 4
because ! ran down In this hurried wav." I
Oi course not said Katherine.
He Held her hand and pressed it warmly
lhank you so much. he said: you
nave cheered me up "a great deal a man
Is always a clumsy creature in these sort
or things, and | am quite sure that every +.
thing that is happening is my OWN fault /
Good-by."
We shall meet soon." said the girl. as
steadily as she could. Il shall telegram
10 Mrs. Lancing in the morning. and tell
her ] md it necessary to take the chill
dren TO town. / shall invent great
many things for her to do. I dare say
she viii find me very tiresome. but must
risk that" IA
He laughed and released her hand. and
Then he moved back again and lookeu at
her IN his characteristically keen way.
II have not asked you how Won are
yourself" he said.
1T is such an unnecessary question"
retorted Katherine when you see that
/ am in robust health"
Are YOU? I thought YOU were looking
anything but robust as you came down
stairs" II
Now, please. please. don't begin TO go D
through the usual catechism"'
Il won't, except I want 20 know one
-hlng-have you got the maid you were ]
going to have?"
All the servants in this house wait
upon me and the nursery" said Kgth-
crime. Il have only to command and T
nave what / want VIII that satisfy
gout' But he stiu paused.
III ! could only get her abroad" he
said. with thrill Of eagerness in his
voice. i should keep here there, and
-hen send for You and the children. 4
month or TWO in Switzerland, and then /
through Italy by easy stages Doesn't if
sound delightful? Well' Good-by once
more, and ] think I shall take your ad-
wee. lie laughed almost cheerily IF
could only manage to elope with Ca
n!lla without her knowledge or consent
low she would enjoy it."
Katherine clapped her hands
AT last" She said, you are beginning
o see your road"
He would not let her go outside nor
would he let her summon the butler. He
'dssed out and shut the door behind him
ma Tor moment Katherine leaned
gainst the door and shut her eyes while
he fought down the wild tumut Of pas
ION and heart suffering that rushed upou
er
There was a humiliation too. in the
uIterlng proud shame that she should
oniess, even to herself. that this man
'ho had just gone from her was So
apable Of moving her that the touch of
is hand, the sound Of his voice. meant
)y IN its most exquisite meaning. and
hat as he passed away from her. taking
'lth him the spell of his presence. the
ght and the warmth Of life itself went
lth him. And still a very lifetime of
Decentralization would not alter vvbat
ad come Love 10 some natures is borne
S lightly, has as little value as a thistle
own floating on the wind it has the
oarkle OF Jewel, the passing radiance
summer day, TO fade with the setting
IN, and to come again when another
2y is born. But with other natures love
)mes but once, and comes to stay; pair.
PROV, age, separation, even death itself.
ave no power 10 dispossess such
We Of its dwelliug-piace In natures. such
these
and 1t was In this fashion that love
I'D come by stealth. as il were. into the
sart Of Katherine Granger.
TO BE CONTINUED TOMORROW.