Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1908-11-27

manor during his absence abroad was
OF sort that shuns invalids' rooms and
broken hopes. The spendthrift simple
tons and profigate knaves who had de-
voured Richards living nightly disap-
peared into another world But Claud
stuck to his post through good report
and ILL., This is the sort of man whom
Nathaniel Crockett calls a play-soldier
and accuses of having no other thought
than running tailors' bills"
But how" asked Diana breathlessly
-"how comes about such blind injus-
ticef"
"a mere case of willing ignorance
perhaps thoughtlessness. Old inhabi-
tants knew had they chosen to remem-
Der. And Glands weakness was to shrink
into himself. Datchett manor was in
deep water also; its half alive squire
was nonentity. Dinners were never
given there. What was to be gained by
forcing an intimacy with the brother
who plainly showed he was too proud or
too cynical to show hospitality2''
is the world quite so hardf"
"Quite, my dear lady. Especially
when it chooses not to think. Possi6 y
Claud has not been without fault He
is proud; he is cynical; he is world
weary. But he is as brave as they are
made, notwithstanding the story of the
white feather"
"But-with SO heavy burden on him
perpetually-how could such possibil.
ity as volunteering occur to him p
Richard took an extraordinary turn
for the better year ago. We contrived
chair for his crippled body, and
Masham used to push him about in the
grounds. Then came the volunteering
fever, and Richard was urgent for his
brother to go. Partly to please him,
partly from the belief that the squire
was really learning to exist without him,
Claud sent in his application and the
doctors passed him. At this point came
the melancholy discovery that Richards
desire to spare him arose from a craving
for freedom, for indulgence in his old
vice of drink, and that he and Masham
were in secret understanding with each
other. Masham supplying the very thing
that was poison to his masters system.
We sent Masham off, and Caud Mcclure
remained in England to bear the finger
of scorn turned upon him, and to realize
that Datchett, in a monstrous ignorance,
branded him coward"
Up Diana's cheek a slow and vivid
color was mounting-her breath came
hurriedlv.
IT too have Joined that kindly crew.
she said. Think, think of the wicked
audacity of it'll"
She wrung her hands silently, fixing
her gaze on the ground.
DR.. Sanderson considered her with
grim humor.
"You have done all this, have you
By my troth, you have taken full ad.
| vantage of the privileges of friendship
Are you thus honest and deluded with
all your acquaintance 20
ut is unforgivable,v she said in a low
voice.
"The best thing you can do is to make
a full and instant confession" he re-
marked shortly. "Such criticisms
spoken as they may be in silly and wan
ton ignorance-have knack of ranking
in sick mans breast"
| 81 will go now" she said. .'ThanR
you, DR.. Sanderson, for being honest will
mel"
"Wait a moment and will send nurse
Martin for her airing. You can take hel
place for an hour. 'Good-byel' Follow
me in five minutes And take my pa.
tient indoors at half past four"
With trembling limbs Diana prepared
to obey these injunctions, but her heart
beat SO fast as she rounded the corner
of the terrace that she paused from
sheer inability to control herself.
81 must do it." she said, and went OF
courageously with her eyes fixed OF
space.
The space between herself and the re
cumbent figure on the gray old terrace
seemed unreasonable
"Come on, Napoleoni" said a quiet
voice that sounded curiously tired anC
| far away.
She went swiftly and with nervous
tremors, but found no voice for greet
ing
Her heart was too sharply wrung by
the emaeiated pallor of McClure's face
to allow her to make even show OF
composure.
How ill-how very i'll he had beer
She stood at his side speeches. and re-
morseful
"Tt is SO nice to see you again, Ma.
poleon," he said in the same fatigued &C.
cents, "that I nearly offended by crying
Hail, Diana Fairl' That, / suppose
would have successfully driven you
awayf"
She sat down on the chair nurse Mar
tin had vacated close beside him, and
raised her eyes to his bravely.
ooh, no, Mr. McCurel have grown
wiser and kinder since / saw you last
If any present kindness of mine could
atone for the past"
He turned over the pages of maya.
zine, smiling whimsically as he waited
for her to go on; and, when the silence
remained unbroken, raised his eyes and
said
This is not the old valorous front
with which you met your foe and daunt.
ed him. Come tease me again, Napol-
con! I am sadly in need of tonnes. Con.
slider my weary imprisonment"
Then she faced him steadily, turning
her candid glance fully upon him.
please, Mr.. Mcclure, it mustn't be o
question of teasing now. have come to
tell you that I am sorry-oh, so sorry
for my wicked criticisms Of you, and
want you to say you will forgive mel"
"Rut for whatf" said he. still with his