The Washington herald., 1908-07-26

WIN stupid people into a paradise
She held out both her hands 20 Hugo.
Thank you for coming" she said, in
a chOked voice. She was struggling 20
keep her self-control. knowing that she
must break down unless miracle hap
pened- The strain had lasted for nearly
two months During that time she had
confronted horrors with a smile had
laughed when nothing but laughter would
have restrained tears
You are in trouble" said Hugo. speak
ing quickly and gripping her hands. but
master il, master it, Don't let it master
you.-'
Instantly. she was sensible that she had
sent for the right man
I Yes, yes
J lie IelL her rigid muscles relax With
drawing her hands. she sat down 10 re-
Peat what Tisdale had said. Hugo listen
&c, nlllnS in the gaps When she had
finished, she falterei Pite0usly. He stood
Ihere pointing 20 the hearthrug "and
/ when he went away I was left alone. for
D ne seemed 10 have taken father with
him She glanced at the two chairs.
adding Father won't come downstairs
I Tor some time, and when he does. I shall
I have 10 watch him. knowing that at any
moment he may be suarched from NE "
Z Then leaning forward. holding I'D her
I nand- she exclaimed Don't tell me 10
I hope for the best, AIr. TIsdaIe said that
I
know that the old life is over. our long
walks she looked at the map. are only
memories And from now on I shall
never helT his voice without thinking OF
I the time thar IS coming she shivered.
when I shan not hear it
That time may not come for many
years"
"Of course. I shall Try 70 think so but
/ Air. T[sdale made IL plain that the disease
I IS organic; quite incurabIe. sent for
you because you are a friend because 7
laQ % speak The aunts viii call to-day
4 shaI be told Your dear father viii be
better soon can't you hear them2 And
4 shan have 10 reply. Yes. Aunt Priscfl-
la Yes, Aunt Lavinia,' when I'm wild
with misery Have you ever known what
u IS 10 be cut in Two and 10 know that
one part the best part IS going 10 be
taken away"
Ny mother died when / was a baby
hugo replied: "and my father was not
very unlike Sir Giles SOttssfont"
Uncle Giles Is responsible for all THIS
misery she said dercely. II can't bear
70 50 near him. I'm ashamed Of being
Mottisfont- II anything happened 10 I
father should never want 10 see any OF /
them again Do 7 shock you2''
No
Why can 7 speak out to you. and to 4
no one eIseZ-
Their eyes met: then Hugo answered
DULY
You knew that you could rely On 1
my Sympathy; you knew that 7 would 1
Understand And 4 I could say any
thing He paused. as If some suDe-Ia-
i've eHort on his part might evoke the
r1Snt word, then he added slowly s"You
spoke of memories Isn't that soDethf-p7 I
something which IS yours forever and 4
ever. I would give a great deal 10 have
such memories And if-ff The worst
should happen, thank God that you are
able 10 look back upon years Of happiness I
given 20 very few II I were as YOU
He broke on abruptly Joy had never
taken her eyes from his face Now she /
rose, and approached him.
You have had trouble, tco2''
Yes"
I knew It That IS why 7 wanted Won
that IS Why you understand 7 saw II IN
your face the first day We met"
Ny trouble was different 20 yours. 7 {
lost something which might have been
The real thing and wasn't And nv mem
0T7es are-weIl. keep them under lock
and key
She noticed that he didn't look at her.
that his attitude conveyed an idea OF de-
tactlnent OF aloOfEess- Just then a bell
u1kled- Joy rose
That's father He wants ne Thank
you again for coming All the same
those who have lived in sunshine can
hardly understand what life IS without
IL"
You VII have plenty Of sunshine yet. ."
Not here, II he goes" II
hugo looked back, when he reached
the door She was standing near the
rnantelpiece, following him with her ewes.
pom her face lay an expression pecu-
Early sad and forlora, as II she had II
asked him
stone He told himself that he ought 10
nave said more, that what he had said
was platitUdinOus and uncouvincing- Was
il Akely that a young woman would be
content with memories, however fra
grant2 And who but the middle-aged
ana elderly could think Of sunshine when
It was raining cats and dogs?
he walked back to the cottage annovad
with himself and the s0rry part he had
played, and annoyed with JOY He would J
have liked 10 have said. almost brutaIly.
You are one OF the most fortunate Young
women know you have a lover who
adores you and who IS exactly what he
ought 70 be II The present seems dark.
think OF The future!"
His last words had hfnted az the T,,t5,-e
but she had apparently not understood {
him And Yet, all the time she was I
speaking. and most particular at the mo-
nent when she had seemed upon the I
ragged edge OF collapse. he had been
thinking She sent for me. but she
wants Burgess Burgess would take her
IN his arms and console her. She must
be thinking OF him longing for him. III
51n a sort Of absurd proxy She would I
never have sent for me. had Burgess
been here"
Passing through Hernshsw Pzrva. he
the aunts. He Tas passing
them by. lifting his hat, when Mss Pris- I
1lli2 stopped him with e gesture Some I
three weeks before ne had been intro G
1uced 70 the ladies'. and IN a subtle wav
had been given 10 understand that beard
ID strangers without proper credentials
we're TO be kept at q distance
Hugo noticed that the aunts were rather
more carefully dressed than usual Miss C
-avinia carried a muf with a knot OF Y
)uce-colOred riband; Mss Priscilla looked a
'emarkabiy handsome in a gray cloth {
mantle trimmed with chinchiIa- Their s
'aie, prominent eyes spa-kied with ex-
.itenent- Hugo realized that George Ven y
iablss Illness was matter for endless s
discussion, and advice was not sitogethe- a
InwelCome 70 the aunts- And. no matter 7
What happened. they would assume in
lublic and II private that optimism De- y
uliar 70 the MOttisfOnts. the bland con- I
1ction of nothing being really aIniss with v
-nTbOdy connected with them e
We are on our way 20 the rectory. not / f <
hat We are alarmed" said Miss Priscilla Z
fter formal salutaTiOus had been inter- q
hanged
Mss Lavinia fastened 10 add: Mr.. =
ennaole has always enjoyed such excel 4
snt health We heard that Won vrere with / =