The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1908-03-06
unusual in this welcome.

care you still living in the same
house?"
EYES," Katharine replied, without in
terest in the matter. "They are quiet
people who leave me alone"
MAY I call upon you some day"
"Certainly. Why not?"
SIT must be on Sunday, after service.
L shall not interrupt you then. My
name is Katharine, like yours-Kath-
arine Willoughby. You will tell me
yours, perhaps, when L call at your
lodgings. I should so much like" she
added, in lower voice, ''to be your
friend, if you will let me-"
Katharine made no reply. But he1
eye fell upon the girls: dress. There
was a colored scarf round her neck,
and a bit of bright color in her hat
and tan-colored gloves.
Il thought" she said, "that you were
in deep mourning. Was 1 dreamingi
Sometimes a strange feeling comes over
me, as if everything was dream"
you are quite right. 1 was in deer
mourning. But, oh, Katharine, on the
very day that I found you the most
joyful news that ever reached any CIR.
came to me. 1t told me that the-the
person for whom l mourned was moi
dead at all, but living, and 1 put of
my mourning"
"Was it your lover?"
eyes, it was my lover. Thank God,
he was restored to those who love
him.
"Come on Sunday" said Katharine,
suddenly interested. 81 will tell you OF
all my trouble, if you are not too happy
to hear it,
On Sunday morning Miss Willoughby
called. But she could not hear the
story that morning, because the girl
lay in bed with some kind of fever
Her head and her hands were hot;
her words were wandering She spoke
of the fog and of the night, and called
upon Tom to come back and help her.
But as for her story, she could not tell
it, because reason and will and knowl-
ledge and self-rule had left her brain,
which was the abode of delirium.
They carried her to the hospital for
women in the Marylebone Road. There
was nothing to show where she came
from OF who were her friends. In her
pocket-girls no longer, except in books,
carry treasures in their bosoms-lay
tied together packet of letters. They
were from 4 man who signed himself
''Tom'-tout court-nothing but Tom"
and addressed her as Katharine.
What can be done with "Tom?" This
Tom was madly in love with her. He
called her every endearing name that 4
fond lover can invent; he recalled the
past days of happiness together; he
looked forward to the future. He was
in railway train; he was on board
ship; he was among soldiers: he spoke
of natives; he spoke of Arabs-cleariy
therefore, Tom among Egyptians.
Probably a Tom who had been killed.
He did not somehow write like an
officer; his letters contained no news;
for that he referred her to the papers.
All ne mad to tell her was that he loved
her-he loved her-he loved her-and
was always and forever her Tom.
The Sister of the ward read these
sacred letters, and placed them, with a
sigh that so much honest love should
be lost, under Katharine's pillow. Time
enough to try and find out, if she grew
worse, what had become of this Tom,
and who his Katharine really was.
She did grow worse, but she had
youth on her side and a good constitu-
ton, which had certainly not been
spoiled by luxurious living or the want
of exercise. She even lay at the point
of death; had she died there would
have been nothing to establish her
identity but those letters and her hand
kerchief marked 'K. r. c." Then she
would have been buried, and Lily's
prophecy would have come partly true.
"She is better this morning" said the
Sister. "Her head is cool. She has
been sleeping long time
''She is more beautiful than ever in
her weakness" 1t was Miss Wiilough-
by who stood beside the bed With thG
Sister and the nurse. "Sister, think of
it! She told me she was without
friends or relations. Is it possible?'
1t is certainly not possible" said the
Sister. "There is perfect innocence i'll
her face and-more than that-in her
talk. We. hear the delirious talk of
women whose lives have not been inno-
cent, and We learn their past. This
girls mind is as innocent as her face.
You mightmak a painting of that, and
call it Eve Before the Fall or Una"
or Mary, the Sister of Martha She
may be friendless, but" The Sister
shook her head and went away.
Miss Willoughby sat by the bedside
and waited.
mo friends and no relations How
could 4 girl have neither friends EoI
rela Yet to conclude that the
girl deserved to have none was cruel
and unjust. Miss Wiloughby was
ashamed of her hard thoughts. BE.
sides she had heard from the Sister
about those letters. Then Katharine
opened her eyes again, and looked as
if she could speak.
DO you know me now DEAR" asked
Miss Willou"hby.
Yes, | know YOU"
You have been very i'll. You ar"
still weak You must not talk much
But tell me your name
"Katharine Regina
"What?' Miss Willoughhy started.
'iI0w did you get that name"
ct is my Christian name"
"What is your surname? What was
your fathers name?"
"WilIoughby Capel?'
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. Regina! It
is very strange. Have you any re'a-
tiOnS named WillOughby?"
Il have no relations at all
Then she closed her eyes again.
Leave her now" sHid the nurse.
"She is weak. and had better rest and