Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1908-07-31
CHAPTER VII.

nd
fresh could be brought to light; indeed
the old evidence against Lance Heriot
saemed to stand out blacker and more
discriminating than before. And at last,
after weeks OF patient thought and eff
fort. he was obliged to revert to his old
opinion of the hopelessness of the case,
and break it to Nan that he had done
his utmost, but only to meet with fail
ure at every turn.
"The truth will be known some day."
Nan still persisted disappointed yet
satisfied that it was through no want of
earnestness on Austin's part that it was
still hidden But / suppose there is
nothing more to be done. Lance must
bear his uadeserved punishment to the
end. | wonder how the other man
feels?"
What other man, Nanf'
1.-The man who should be paying the
penalty in Lance's place-or for that
matter it may have been a woman.
There. let us put it aside and speak of
something elsel It's the only subject,
isn't it, on which we can never agree ~
no. there's another" Austin told her,
half earnestly. half in Jest. 81 want
you to come to me very shortly, but you
scorn the idea"
Austin, how can | help itf How can
leave Shirley-till Lance comes back %
And when Heriot comes back it will
below can leave Shirley until she
is married y"
Perhaps" admitted Nan, with a quiet
smile But | think, from something
Shirley said day or two ago-from
the way she has spoken all along--that
they'll get married soon; most likely
within a few weeks of his return
Does Miss Cadogan remember, / won
der that your brother will have to be-
gin the world afresh, and that at the
outset there may be difficulties to en-
eounter?"
docs she-do either of us-ever for
get it? But Shirley has the small in
come left her by Miss Cadogan; and
then, too, there is the house. ngleside.
She means to let that, if possible, and
leave Hambledon altogether in the
spring 1t would be useless for Lance
TO hope for employment here, you see."
But leave Hambledon? Then shall
you go with herr"
Il must, Austin, for little while"
For moment rueful, dissatisfied
look lowered over her lovers counte-
nance; then his eyes met hers-the gray
ity and wistfulness that he saw in them
touched him, and, pillowing her face
against his shoulder, he kissed it again
and again.
What loyal, true-hearted girl you
are, Nan! II You are so staunch
friend, what viii you be as wife, 1
wonder?''
That" Nan told him with laughing
severity. may depend a good deal upon
the husband
They seldom spoke of Lance after
that, seldom even mentioned his name
when they were together. Nan came
and went between Lyncroft and Inple-
side as before, still teaching the children
that was her own wish-but almost
like a daughter Of the house already.
Then in February of the following wear
came the removal from Ingleside. and
after that their glimpses of one another
were few and far between.
They wrote letters that breathed of
pure, whole hearted affection in every
line-letters that were read and re-read
that it was a delight to both to receive
and answer, and of which the latest
invariably found resting place near the
heart of each until another came and its
forerunner was added to the little packet
growing larger week by week in drawer
or writing desk.
One that came from Nan towards the
end OF April bought the news that Aus
I'm had been expecting to hear for 8
week or two past-the news that Lance
was with them again. That was to say
he had been with them. and was STAYING
IN lodgings close at hand pending his
marriage. which was to take place in
anout months time. That was ali
Nan said about 1T. Nothing that Austin
on even Ets father, had his eyes CHANGED
10 tall on The letter, could have taken
10 himself as Teproach; nothing of the
ehange that prison-life had wrought in
nm; nothing Of how It had aged him
pnoken his spirft-soured it. Only the
mere 1aets--Lance was a free man: he
lad been with them; he and Shirley
Nadogan were 10 be married shortly
Yet something IN the tidings filed Aus
I'm with depression and vague sense
Of responsibility.
/ wonder if be would see me-if he
would let me be of help to him in anv
wayY" was the thought that fingered
IN his mind long after the fret reading
Of the letter was over.
1t had come by an evening post, that
particular letter; there had been one
from Guy to his mother at the same
time, the greater part of which she had
read aloud, then replaced in its envel-
otpe, with the half -stifed sigh that Aus
I'm always attributed to motherly vearn-
ing over the absentee.
wonder how Heriot would take it ?"
ne found himself bordering again as he
sat alone in the smoking room an hour
T TWO later after his father and mother
mad gone upstairs. II don't want TO
iorce myself upon him if he bears malice
ana would rather not see me. But, on
lie other hand, if / could help him to
ahytmng Perhaps the best plan
would be to write to Nan and ask her
advice"
Yes, that was it. Nan was a shrewd, |
saetful little being; she would know
mere must have been some signs and !
tokens In her brothers attitude that |
would have told har bxy 4b;s @s,~,.a - L.