Ladysmith news-budget. [volume] (Ladysmith, Rusk County, Wis.) 1907-1927, 1908-07-30

lands. Business is booming, MISS,
he went on, smiling knowingly. But
Mr.. Forde is in,' he added jerking his
thumb toward the partners room.
Shall 1 tell him that you are here?'
If any one had asked Christabel
whether she thought she might see
Norman Forde that morning she
would probably have denied with I'M
conscious and innocent hypocrisy any
such idea. but now, as the secret wish
of her heart was put before her thus
markedly, she was for disclaiming it.
1t was better that she should not see
Norman; she could send Philip line
telling him of her new engagement
SO she said to herself.
NO." she said to Billy, turning
away.
"That's Mr.. Forde calling me-"
cried Billy, as a bell rang in his den.
won't you wait a minute, miss?"
Christabel shook her head and
walked out, her heart very heavy and
her step slow. She had hardly gain
| ed the street when she heard the
sound of hurried footsteps on the
stairs down which she had just come,
and then her name was uttered by
voice which she knew well, SO that
the color mantled her cheeks. She
stopped, and Norman, hatless and
breathless, stood before her.
How do you do, Christabel? Billy
told me that you had come to see
Philip, but he's off for a day or two
about the cathedral. Can be of any
use?"
The greeting was on conventional
| lines, and it could not we'll be other
wise in the circumstances, but Nor
mans voice was choking-though it
was not because he had run down the
stairs in such a hurry.
They gazed at each other as they
| shook hands-his a gaze of eager
| questioning, hers a soft response she
| could not keep out of her eyes. He
| thought she was looking pale and
wearied; she noticed lines on his fore
head she had not observed before, and
| knew that She was the cause of those
lines. He was smiling, but the smile
was somewhat forced and did not hide
! the love-hunger in his eyes. Yet she
was glad TO see him, and did not fail
| to hear that he addressed her as
"Christabel," and not as Miss Joyce. ~
Il called to see Philip" she said, ito
tell him that l have become nurse to
Miss Sisterson, who is far from
strong. Sir John died last night-but
you would see the announcements in
the papers,"
yes, l saw them But won't you
come upstairs, Christabel, and tell me
all about it," asked Norman, plead
ingly.
She looked at him and hesitated.
She told herself that in all probability
it would be a long time before she
| would see him again; perhaps it
! might be never. Might she not-just
this once-do what he wished?
well, for minute or two" she re-
! piled. Il can't very well keep you
standing with your hat off in public
street filled with people, can II" she
asked, with something of her old
brightness and charm.
"Of course not" he replied, almost
gaily.
Billy cast glance of inquiry at
them as they came in, and suppressed
grin.
''It ought to be a case" he said to
his desk; land they'd make a proper
pair" and he grinned again. shes
daisy, and he amt half bad. Well,
l never! Did you ever?" he asked of
the desk.
$50 Sir John Sisterson is dead"
said Norman to Christabel, as he shut
the door of his room and was alone
with her, by way OF opening the con-
versation, though this was not what
| he wanted to say. He lasted much
longer after the accident than was ex-
pected."
Eyes; he sank very slowly till close
on the end" said Christabel, with her
head partly turned from him, but
with her heart beating fast.
"And you are not leaving Hans
Square at once? You are to stay as
nurse to Miss Sisterson?"
That's what I called to tell Philip;
but I am not to stay long at Hans
Square, as Immediately after the
funeral Miss Sisterson and l depart
for Sulja, the Sistersons' place in
| South Russia"
Indeed" cried Norman, startled
So she was going away; out Of Eng
| land altogether. This was no good
news to him.
"Sulja?" he went on II never heard
of the place before" And his voice
| was harsh.
ITS where the Sisterson Russian
works are explained Christabel,
guessing what was passing in his
mind by the change in his voice. 1--WE
are going to stop with the sister of
| the managing director of the works,
Nine. Anatovitch, an elderly unmar-
ried lady, who keeps house for her
| brother I met him at Sir Johns
when ! first went there. Miss Sister
son has been to Sulja before and she
enjoyed it. She needs a change badly,
as her health is very poor
"Christabel," asked Norman, in a
tone that compelled her to look at
him, ~''is it necessary that you should
do this? Why should you continue to
go out as nurse? Why should you
go to Russia with Miss Sisterson?"
cit is necessary for me to go away"
she said, meeting his eyes bravely, but
she was all Of a tremble.