Ottumwa tri-weekly courier., 1908-11-03

VIII do all we can"
There is Mr.. ShiI. too" said Tank
erlane. 81 should say his vitality has
been sapped to the limit 1t Is. may
say, necessary that my wife should
know nothing about him.
Il When they reached the William and
Sarah. DR.. Hardy examined both the
patients, and ordered Laura's immed.
late removal to the local hospital. He
advised that John Shil, who was suf-
fering chiefly from sheer exhaustion.
should be taken back to Black Hall,
and that a great eyes specialist should
be sent for.
asked Tankeriane.
| Il don't know. should not like to
say. The eye is tricky thing. Sir
George Carr's opinion will decide his
| fate. He is rarely in error But one
thing is quite certain that. if he is
hopelessly blind, he must not be told
the truth till he is strong enough to
hear it,
can rely on you keeping all
knowledge Of this from Lady Tanker.
lane?"
Certainly; but with regard to your
SELF, Sir William, | don't think YOU
had better see your wife till she sends
Tor you. have no wish to inquire in
10 your private affairs, but it is quite
evident that it would not be wise to
thrust your society upon her at the
present time
Il understand" Tankerlane repIied.
Will carry out your orders
|
shl was taken to Black Hall. and
Laura was removed from the boat to
the hospital, and Sir William Tanker.
lane took rooms al the Green Man
and waited for his wife to send for
him.
But two weeks elapsed before Laura
was strong enough to see anyone, and
then she asked for John Shil She
was told that Mr.. Shil was at Black
Hall. and that ne was too i'll to leave
his house. Then she asked question
after question, and worked herself in
10 such state of peevish excitement
that DR.. Hardy thought it advisable to
! tell her something of the truth.
My dear Lady Tankerlane," he said
gently, and then he paused, knowing
| that the mere mention of her name
, would tell her part of that which he
wished to know. She looked at him
| with fear in her eyes and he laid
his cool hand on her pulse.
Where is he?" she whispered.
| How did you know"
Sir William is at the Gre IN Man J"
he replied. He is waiting TIL you are
| well enough to see him. HI. will not
| force himself upon YOU He will wait
tlll you send for him. | hope YOU
won't consider it an impertinence if
advise you to send for him as soon
as possible. He is very anxious
about you, and l. can see that he loves
your dearly"
A whole week passed before Laura
| decided TO see her husband And then
she sent for him, not; because she
! really wished to see him, but because
the meeting was inevitable, and she
wanted to get it over. He was wait
ing like a sentry at the gate of her
prison house, and she could not
escape from him
The interview was short and re.
markable for the way in which both
parties avoided any reference to the
past DR.. Hardy had warned Sir
William that Lady Tankerlane must
not be allowed TO speak about any
thing which would excite OF distress
her: that the meeting must be short,
and, If possible, devoid of all emotin.
Acting on these orders, Sir Will
liam reduced the whole scene TO the
commonplace level of drawing room
conversation between two friends.
Neither on his arrival nor his depart.
ure did he attempt to kiss his wife.
and his greeting was bare touch of
the hand. They conversed on the
most ordinary subjects, and in the
most ordinary tone of voice
Yet, when Tankerlane left. he felt
that he had bridsed great gulf with
a slender plank that he might vet
build UP to bear his weight He had
picked his words carefully. But he
had contrived to show his wife that
he had forgiven Der, and that, in spite
OF her folly, he still loved her with all
his heart and soul
Another week passed, and she con
sented to see him again. and this time
he approached the subject that was
uppermost in his mind
Laura, he said gently, when Dr..
Hardy had left the room, "in three
weeks time you will be able to be
moved from here What arrange
ments shall I make for your"
Il will make my own arrange.
ments,' she replied in low. weak
voice. II do not wish to be burden
to you"
Laura" he said firmly, you are
my WIFE
You can get divorce" she replied.
1T will be easy enough after what
mas happened
81 love you, Laura he continued.
"and | know that you have done
nothing dishonourable Surely 7, at
any rate, should know that, after all
that has passed between us. do not
wish to force my presence on you.
Laura, but think that IL would be
best for you to return 10 Tankerlane
Court You can live your life there as
you please. You shall have your own
apartments, and / will not enter them
unless you send for me | have told |