Ladysmith news-budget. [volume] (Ladysmith, Rusk County, Wis.) 1907-1927, 1908-06-04

SUN! exclaimed MAXWELL
wonder how she got to know-if she
does really know?"
"Why do you say Stuff" asked
Mary, deeply hurt
eff she has not told Forde every
thing it must be because she has had
no opportunity yet-that's why I say
Stuff"
That's not the way of it at all,
protested Mary, speaking more firmly
than she had yet done. II said to you
that | was sure she was noble wo-
man; do you think that women do not
understand each other? She has
true and loyal nature, and she regards
her position from the highest stand
point. She said to me that she could
not but respect what she had learned
about father, as priest would respect
what he had heard in the confession
all
Maxwell nodded, thinking for one
moment that it was possible Christa-
bel might hold such a view of her
duty, but second moments reflection
made him change his mind, when he
recol,ected that she was in love with
Forde 1t was a conflict of self-lnter-
ests. and her interest in Forde would
prevail over her interest in not betray-
ing her position as nurse.
1T sounds very pretty, very fine"
said Maxwell, sneeringly. You read
of that kind of thing in novels, but you
don't find it in real life. | must have
talk with her myself, and see If |
can't find out what her game is,
though it seems to me sufficiently OBJ
vious-and that is, to tell Forde all
she knows"
SIS there no such thing as profess
sional honor amongst you men, In
CURED Mary. rs there nothing of the
kind amongst doctors, and lawyers,
and clergymen.
"Oh, | dare say there is-When
there's not much at stake. And then
they are men, and men who would be
ruined by the betrayal Of any secret
entrusted to them if it was not worth
their while. But this woman is a
nurse, and her pay is small. How
much does she get? Two or three
guineas a week. What's that compar-
ed with her interest in Forde, if she
cares for him and can make him
rich?"
But there's a way, MaXWell-a way
Of making things right so far as we
can suggested Mary.
Indeed! What do you mean?"
There is the way of restitution,
Maxwell; you might call it the way of
compromise"
PROSTITUTION! Compromise" shout
ed Maxwell.
Yes" said Mary, boldly, ''restitu-
ton; it would be only just in any case,
would it not?"
This is sheer nonsense, Mary.
81 do not see that, Maxwell; it
would be doing what was right. And
oh, Maxwell don't you think there is
fate in these things? Isn't it strange
that she should have come here? Isn't
it like a kind warning to us?''
The hand of Providence" said
Maxwell, with a fiercely humorous eX-
preston on his face; Il suppose you
think there is such thing?"
"Of course there is, Maxwell,'' Mary
replied, simply.
7 have never seen it, and I don't
see it now" cried Maxwell, rudely.
81 see it," said Mary, "and am de-
termined that restitution shall be
made after father has gone"
after father has gone!" comment
ed Maxwell. Don't you see how in
sincere you are, Mary? If it is right
to make restitution, why should it not
he made at once? The thing has been
put off very long time-far too long.
Why wait till father is dead?"
How can you speak in that way,
Maxwell? Sometimes l think that you
are really possessed!' said Mary,
turning to leave him
Mary" he said, you'd better be
off to bed, you spitfire! [ shall see
Nurse Joyce in the morning"
When Mary had gone Maxwell care
! fully thought the position.
| So Nurse Joyce kneW-everything.
Was it possible, he wondered, that
she had known something before she
! had come to Hans Square? Had She
come as spy? Was she in collision
with Forde? But he was too clear
headed to entertain these ideas. Pure
accident had brought her into their
lives-a remarkable concentration of
circumstances.
What was to be done? 1t was use
less to dismiss her-that would be to
send her to Forde; on the contrary,
she must be kept at Hans Square,
kept from seeing Forde. Mary's idea
of restitution was absurd, but it might
be polite to offer Christabel money.
Could she not be bribed? Every man
had his price, and every woman, too,
thought Maxwell, who knew many
men and some women. He could not
believe that Christabel would not tell
Forde the truth unless she were given
some strong inducement to hold her
peace. 81 will supply her with the in
ducement," he said to himself. Il will
offer her money" And if that failed
he thought there was still another
way-perhaps two other ways.
Next morning Christabel did not
cone down to breakfast. Mary's maid
told her that her mistress was in a
very bad state and begged her to go
into her room to see her. And Chris
label saw that Mary did look very i'll
indeed, and was for sending at once
for a Coctor, but to that Mary would
not agree.
81 am more tired than ILL.," said