Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1908-11-27
DIANA FAIR.
BY the Author Of Basbaras Fa1 doctor Cynthia e Of the
Mix P>op," Etc.
CHAPTER vII.-Continued.

Diana, returning from a visit to the
Testers, saw it, and, overcome by sud
den inexplicable sense of nervousness and
pleasure. made sharp detour behind the
lex trees to avoid passing 1t.
With quickening breath she went into
the house, and, as she did SO, ran against
DR.. Sanderson.
His kindly face looked harassed yet
half triumphant; she drew a long breath
and sighed as he caught sight of her.
'fWell-a-dayi Ills long lane that
has no turning. Now that I have really
got him round the corner 1t comes home
to me what touch and-go it has been.
Datchett and Crockett could i'll have
spared such a man. Heaven be praised,
we have dragged him through"
Diana sat down in high -backed chair
In the hall and looked up into her com
panion's face.
81 WISH" she said impetuously, 81
could have your version of him, DR.. San
derson. only know Uncle Mats, and
somehow it is SO hard and prejudiced.
No one seems able to judge him rightly"
He gives no one the opportunity,
fancy. For the past ten years he has
lived the life Of recluse. If you like
to come into the garden / will tell you
something about those ten years"
HE is on the terrace now"
'T know. We need not pass him to
get to the rose garden. Will you Gomez
In the garden Diana found moss
grown seat, and, sitting down, asked a
question.
Clure's wife who is dying up at the
manorfs
He looked at her sharpH-at the calm
face and frank eyes-and then he
laughed.
What put that into your head, young
lady 7" he asked.
"On the night came for you," she
replied, while was waiting in the con-
sulting room, couldn't help oyerhearing
what you said to MFR. Mcclure. You re-
ferred to some one who was dying, and
held out hopes Of there being no change
for month, and spoke of his bearing
his burden alone"
"And you conclude the burden must
necessarily mean wife, eh7 And TO
what other conclusions, pray, have you
arrived concerning my patientf"
"None of myself. Many through other
people They seem to regard him as a
hermit, half -misogynist, half-fool. The
Testers called him Dfogenes, and Dick
harrington said he was death's-head
at the. feast"
$50 much for the rash Judgment of
youth" remarked the doctor. "Tell me
some more-say, of an elder generation. y
at is Uncle Mats estimation that
troubles me most" Diana said. "He
must have known him for years; and
when I asked him question about Mr..
Mcclure he answered that he was q
play soldier delieately and beautifully
clothed, who showed the white feather at
his country's call, and thought only OF
running tailors' bills"
The doctors mouth hardened.
'sYou remember the character sketch
pretty accurately"
'T do" she answered, flushing, "be-
cause it seemed to me contrary to my
own instincts. He puzzled me dreadful
1y, ] confess; but, in spite of my
prejudice, something inside me persisted
in telling me that he was not only cynic
and fop. felt / misjudged him--that
something deeper, more real than his
chronic gibes underlay the nonchalant
exterior, and that, to me, he was an
enigma defying comprehension. Won't
you give me your point of view?"
'You don't deserve it. Women are
too prone to Judge by hearsay."
81 judged only by my own eyes. II
Mr. Mcclure would cover up the serious
purpose of his life in quizzical banter
and tired indifference lockers were not
altogether to blame"
DIR. Sanderson came and sat down near
her on the old bench.
"You shall hear the estimate of one
who knows. have reckoned Claud Nc
Clure my friend for twelve years-ever
since he came home from the grand tour
on the conclusion of college days. He
was then sociable young fellow of FIVE
and-twenty, good at sport, good at a
jest, good at work Nothing was toe
much trouble, nothing indifferent to him
There was an elder son, SO he was des-
tined for the bar. A week after his re-
turn-they had been left orphans in
boyhood-he found how the land lay
During his long absences from home
at college and on the continent-he and
Richard had seen little of each other.
1t didn't require five months residence
at the manor to discover how things were
going. Richards crop of wild oats had
not by any means been all sown Cards
and horses were exhausting his patri.
mony and threatening the prospects OF
the property; gambling debts led to q
miserable confession as to mortgaged
lands and misappropriated funds; and
after futile expostulations, Caud, with
q heavy heart, left the home of his fore
fathers and went up to town to eat his
dinners. He was there one month"
The doctor paused, staring thoughtful
ly into the rose bushes.
They sent for him post-haste one
summer midnight" resumed the doctor
and he reached the manor to find his
brother shattered object almost past
recognition. AT first held out no hopes
OF recovery-the mangling was so awful.
But he had an extraordinary vitality.
After five weeks Inconsistencies the
miserable brain staggered back to life.
and then followed year OF GONZALES
cense terrible for him who sustained and
upheld the crippled existence"
And it happened how" asked Diana,