The Washington herald., 1908-07-23
CHAPTER XIV.

AS he spoke. he ssIyed his conscience
with the determination 70 tell the truth
az the first convenient opportunity The
Nennables. IN any case. had sought him.
not he them And II would have been
almost impossible 10 have refused the rec
tors invitation Tisdale added a few
words as soon as the men were alone
You viii be doing a good deed. he
said. And. look here. talk 70 the dear
old man about things outside the Forest
Fancy what It has been. buried alive IN
Hernshaw Magma FOR FIVE and twenty
years. with the Pundles and the Bungays
and the Nottisfouts all around him Per
sonaily. I'd sooner associate with pub
Hcans and sinners-and. breathe IL not
50 would he"
I'm IN rather a hole" said Hugo
Look here. Tisdale. ny name IS Hugo
Reginald Charteries, and II you can be
hsve the halfpenny papers. I'm one OF
the biggest blackgUards in the kingdom
-Phew-w-w.
That's why I've kept out OF the rec
tory"
Tisdale's eyes were very wide open
Then he threw back his head and laugh
ed.
"seapegoat is the word. isn't lt?'
I've been a fool and a knave.~ said
Hugo slowly Two or three people have
stripped the scales from my eyes. and
you're one OF them"
Then very politely. he added a Few de-
tails When he had finished. TisdaIe un-
derstood that Hugo Charters was bound
to Angela Tempest but whether or not
the captive husged his chains was an in
teresting problem which TisdaIe felt IN
able to solve.
7 must tel the Vennables.'' said Hugo
Tisdale screwed Up his face. a grimace
indicating not so much peTplexity as q
whimsical apprehension Of two sides Of a
nice question
"As 20 that" he said presently. you
Will, OF course. do what you think proper,
as Nennable-s doctor. I absolutely forbid
you 10 tell him TIL he Is stronger"
IF he can play bTidge-
My dear fellow. Bridge an1uses him
Your story viii distress him You under
rate his kindness OF heart After all
why should you tel them7'
It's sort OF instinct"
7 understand that And 7 respect such
instincts But IN tbs particular case the
truth can do no good. and may do some
harm Look al Il this way: For the last
month you've been fighting this plague
with US We wanted you black OF white
badly And we want you still George
Vennabie wants you Between ourselves.
I'm worried about his heart There IS
nearly always cardiac weakness after
diphtheria He must be kept quiet and
amused You can do It better than any
man I know Wei. do IT."
IF told Miss Vennable?''
That's risky. too. You've seen enough
OF her 10 know that shes not q Pharisee
but I'm afraid she would Judge you rather
numerically There was a case in this
village
I heard about that"
And the word divorce TO a Mottisfont
oh, she's half NIottisfont; ;one must face
tEat-is henbane- don't suppose fo- an
instant she read the full report OF the
trial
Let Us assume that she did. for the
sake OF argument What then?-'
Tisdale made a significant gesture He
was surprised that Charters took things
so coOlly. almost with indifference. A
phrase or two OF 8IcAllister's foated into
his mind The correspondent throughout
the trial had exhibited brutal indifference
"a sort Of animal imPassiviry really dis
treSsing 10 witness in a highly civilized
Christian country The learned Judge.
too. had been scathing on the same point
You mustn't try her too high Why
he laughed. its rather difficult for ne
TO reconcile what know you are with
what 7 believed you 10 be They glib
beted you. didn't they?"
Yes" said Hugo. ''Haman hung 70
nearer heaven"
And how can you explain ,hings TO
her-ehT'
I have no intention Of explaining
IF you don't. Charters. I'm afraid JOY
Vennabie viii make il difficult for you to
play bridge with her father. Hes very
sharp. There would be more OF less Of a
scene-the one thing IN anxious TO
avoid"
7 ought to have said No at once
You said 'Yes-with pleasure
Then nothing is left but Important
business IN town."
He looked keenly at Hugo. Am right
in my conviction that this last month has
been worth something to your
It's been like bathing in Jordan"
Jordan? I see II you feel that way, I
take it upon myself, as a physician. 10
tell you 70 keep on dipping-and mum $
the word for the present
Finally. Hugo was persuaded
The first evening at the rectory was
very pleasant. so pleasant that Hugo
was beguiled insensibly into pastures
wherein he had not wandered for many
months. he had the gift OF being able
% describe vividly places he had visited
and an eager light In the eyes OF his
listeners lured him on and on. from coua-
try to country, as Il he were personally
conducting a small and select party OF
tourists. who had never been out OF
England before When he stopped. George
Vennable supplied the spur OF the right
word Joy said nothing, but she listened
even as DeSdemona listened to the ad-