Ladysmith news-budget. [volume] (Ladysmith, Rusk County, Wis.) 1907-1927, 1908-05-28

there was precious little of deluSion
in what father said and that is why
kept him here, but even he does not
know who Tom was. But we are not
safe in the same way with Nurse
Joyce"
why not?" asked Mary.
Because I am sure that she is in
terested in Forde and he in her. Do
you suppose they do not talk of what
| is going on in their lives? She is
! sure to have told Forde Of her being
on nursing duty here, and it is pretty
certain that would recall to him his
| fathers connection with ours-noth-
| ing could be more natural than that.
Now, suppose they compared notes
! that would be natural, too-and that
| she found out that the Tom of faith
er's delusion was Forbes father, that
| his name was Tom FOrde. You have
only to go one step farther to imagine
| her telling Forde all that she has
heard father say. Now, Mary, you
can call this jumping to conclusions,
| but the Jump is a short and easy one.
Even you must see and admit that"
| Mary did not Immediately respond,
| for she felt there was reason in his
words But she had seen good deal
of Christabel by this time, and it was
| her instinct rather than her intellect
that inspired her reply.
you are assuming" she said, chat
Nurse Joyse will tell Mr.. Forde what
she has heard father say when he is
in that state. I don't believe that she
would; she is not that kind of a wo-
man; it would be disloyal and dis
/ honorable thing to do"
Again, Mary, l hope you may be
| right" said Maxwell. Then he went
on with a sheer, For my own part l
have no great faith in the loyalty or
honor Of anybody" He glanced sig
nifcantly from her to the unconscious
form of Sir john. THE biggest force
in life is self-interest; sometimes, of
| course, loyalty and honor are we'll in
line with self-interest, and that is the
time when they are trOtted out; other
wise they are virtues which no one
practices. Now where does Nurse
Joyce's self-interest lie, Mary? With
us or with Norman Forde?"
Mary was silent, chilled to the mar
row. The heart in her poor body was
uttering-fluttering painfully. She
had often heard such sentiments from
the lips of Maxwell before, and in a
less pronounced form from those of
her stepmother; they were the senti-
| ments, though unconfessed, of the
! vast majority Of the people with
whom she associated. And that I'M
kind, unfilial glance of MaXWelPs at
his father and hers had reminded her
that their father was like the rest of
the world-or perhaps worse. Mary's
soul was bitter within her, and she
wished with all her might-as she had
often wished since she had come to
know the truth about her father-that
her heart would stop its beating for
ever. But the one bright spot now in
her clOuded life was Christabel and
her friendship, and Mary spoke up for
| her friend.
81 do not believe" she said, passion
ately, that Nurse Joyce is guided by
self interest. She is a noble-hearteG
creature, and will not betray us"
Not even to the man she lOves?"
! asked Maxwell, with a wry face, for
he hated to think that Christabel and
Forde were lovers. mot even to him,
when he may have so much to gain?"
Not even then" said Mary
Maxwell laughed harshIy.
! Sentimental stuff" he exclaimed,
cynically. ANY way, go and talk to
! her and find out what she knows, or
! what she has done or is going to do"
| 1t was now II o'clock, and the male
! nurse made his appearance. Mary
went slowly to her own rooms, where
her maid was awaiting her.
Have you seen Nurse Joyce this
EVENING"" asked Mary.
mo, miss" replied the girl; "but I
! think | heard her moving about her
! room a short time ago.
Mary allowed the maid to undress
! her partly, and then, putting on a
! dressing gown sent the girl away
For some moments she sat still, in
doubt what to do; then, having at
/ length made up her mind, she went to
! Christabel's door and knocked. The
door was almost instantly opened, and
Christabel appeared, but did not in
vite Mary to enter.
"Maynt I come in?" asked Mary,
| anXiOusly.
"Oh, yes said Christabel in a
weary tone.
How strange you look, Christabel!"
| ing better yet? | heard from Max
we'll, whom / have just left, that you
were at the Savoy tonight, and that
he feared you were not well, as you
quilted the restaurant rather hurried
ly. You are looking i'll or worried,
dear-certainly not yourself. What is
the matter?"
81 feel somewhat out of Sorts re-
piled ChIistabel, wishing Mary had
not disturbed her. Ever since she had
returned to Hans Square her thoughts
had been like a treadmill, endless1y
going round and round. She had tried
to sleep but sleep, as usual "furthest
retired when courted most" and feel
ing restless and unstrung she had got
up and paced the floor. Yet she was
not glad to see Mary Sisterson.
''But you are feeling better, Christa-
bel?" asked Mary.
ga little, perhaps"
81 am very glad to hear it," said
Mary, and was silent for second or
two Soanpino earnestly Christ he1 =