Ladysmith news-budget. [volume] (Ladysmith, Rusk County, Wis.) 1907-1927, 1908-06-11

aeine that circumstances might arise,
something fresh might turn up, which
might cause you to change your views.
Therefore, to be frank, | wish to bind
you to us by offering you an annuity
Shall we say 800 pounds year? 1t is
really considerable sum, as it repre-
sents a capital of 10000 pounds. It
would keep you comfortably for the
rest of your days-you need never go
out again to nurse, thing which
fancy one SO young and attractive as
you are cannot care much for. Three
hundred pounds year is not to be
despised, Nurse Joyce, and is not to
be got every morning for the asking"
ct does not seem to occur to you
that you are grossly insulting me in
making this Offer" said Christabel,
rising from her chair. Il have assur-
ed you that your family secrets are
safe with me, and I do not see what
good is done by talking more about
it."
Maxwell gazed at her as she stood
before him, and admired her vastly
But just then admiration was an in
convenient thing.
Insulting you, nurse!" he exclaim-
ed Its the kind of insult most peo-
pie find no difficulty in pOcketing. Is
it that l have not insulted you
enough?' he asked, with a grin
"Come-be as frank with me as l am
with you How much do you want?"
81 want nothing. Cannot you under
stand?" asked Christabel the flush
deepening on her face. But your Sis
ter spoke to me of something you
might do, of something you ought to
do, and that is to make restitution
Your fathers great fortune is built
on a foundation of robbery and
wrong"
Restitution! To whom, pray?"
ITO the son of Thomas Forde."
It was MaXWelPS turn to flush.
ITO Norman Forde why not give
the name?" he asked with a sheer.
Now we have it! So this is your
game? Now you have dropped the
mask. This is what your fine senti-
ments come to! I saw you and Forde
together last night at the Savoy Do
you suppose he has the shadow of
legal claim upon US? tell you he has
none"
81 know nothing of that, but | do
know that he is in complete ignorance
of the wrong that has been done
him." said Christabel ut is possible
enough that he may never know; GER
tain1v he shall never know from me"
$50 you say; but why are you anx-
ious that restitution should be made
to him?"
Because it is just and right"
Quite So" said Maxwell, dryly. Il
think we will eliminate Mr.. FOrde
from our discussion, as l do not &C
knowledge that he has any claim on
us whatever. Let us get back to the
point. | am anxious that there shall
be no scandal regarding my father
that is the only thing l have to con-
slider. That there may be none through
you I offer you an annuity-shall we
say 5000 pounds year,
AS he paused for her reply there
was a quick, nervous tapping at the
door, and without waiting for an in
vitation to enter Lady Sisterson came
into the room. She looked sharply
from one to the other
What are you saying to nurse?"
she asked her son, imperiously i
have Just seen Mary, and she tells me
that Nurse Joyce has some strange
ideas"
This was not exactly what Mary
had said but it served.
Nurse Joyce thinks that she knows
something" said Maxwell. Without
admitting that she does, | have made
her an offer of an annuity-a hand
some annuity-if she will keep what
she thinks she knows to herself. We
do not wish the breath OF. scandal to
touch Sir Johns reputation"
And you have accepted the offer,
nurse?"
mo" said Christahel holly, Il have
not accepted it. But | have told Mr..
Sisterson, aud now tell you, Lady Sis
terson, that your secrets arc safe with
me. I shall never mention them TO a
living soul,
That was what Mary said that you
had told her." observed Lady Sister
son.
Yet nurse wishes US to make rcstl-
tuition to Norman FOrde," said Max
we'll
Norman Forde is your lover, is he
not?" asked Lady Sisterson, staring
hard at Christabel You told me
when you first came here that you
were not engaged to be married"
Il am not engaged, but you cannot
expect me to discuss my private af-
fairs with YOU" said Christabel, bold
ly.
What is in my mind, nurse, is
simply this. If you are in love with
this young Forde, you will naturally
desire to tell him ALL" said Lady Sis
terson. Il am willing to believe that
you imagine at present that you can
keep what you call our secrets to your
self. l can also believe that if you did
not know and care for this young man
it would not occur to you to say any
thing about the matter. But | cannot
trust a woman to be silent where she
loves-unless it is about something
discreditable in her own life. And
-"
Mother" interposed Maxwell, II do
not think you are doing any good. 1t
will be far better to leave these ne
gotiations to me-"
Really, MAXWELL"
Maxwell replied to this protest by
going to the door and holding it open