The Washington herald., 1908-07-16
CHAPTER XI.

Next day. Just after breakfast, Mrs.
Owbridge ushered JOY into the room
where Hugo was sitting He rose, rather
stiffly, suppOsing that she had come TO
see Burgess. Offering to ind him.
NO. no." she said hurriedly. exhibiting
a slight confusion. I know that he's
writing upstairs Don't disturb him In
fact. II want TO speak 70 you"
In silence he offered her a chair, look
ing at her troubled face, which seemed TO
have lost its CIyue-like expression OF hap
plness and serenity and TO have gained
instead an interest almost greater be-
cause so poignant. Characteristically.
she wasted no words.
'.Alr Burgess has told you about the
diphtheria7"
Yes"
I've Just seen Frank TIsdale, the doc
tor. He IS usually too cheerful and op-
timistic. but to-day" she twisted her
fingers nervousIy. well, 7 cornered him;
I made him speak the truth
As she paused for an instant Hugo
said earelessly: That's way you have.
Isn't it,"
Her tone was easier. and a faint smile
showed as she nodded. Then she seemed
to pull herself together TO deliver the
doctors fat.
He says its epidemic. and very. very
virulent''
Her blue eyes seemed 10 court atten-
ton with q peculiar appealing interroga-
ton She laid a slight stress upon the
second very"
I'm 50 sorry" said Hugo gravely.
Children and young men and women
who are not very ROBUST viii be most
liable TO get Il"
Undoubtedly"
That she was driving at something he
OWNED. Her hesitation. 50 alien to her,
the trouble which obscured her clear
eyes. her fdgeting fingers. indicated ex-
treme mental distress Hugo was asking
himself II she were afraid. when she
startled him by putting into words the
actual question:
You are not afraidz" Without waiting
for his answer she went on: And nor
am 7 We are not entitled 20 take any
credit FOR that. are we2'
She spoke almost deAantly-
Certainly not
That sort Of thing IS constitutional.
Mr.. Burgess told me that you had some
experience OF Asiatic cholera"
nave Deel II ClO4eTA-CdILlpS-
rs it true that people die Of sheer
fear2'
Il have heard OF such cases. Fear
makes a man susceptible TO cholera. OF.
for the matter Of that, 70 any contagious
disease At Panama when men fell
down in the streets with yellow JACK,
the funkers were the first 10 be attack
ed. And the first 20 die Some didn't
have the courage to fight FOR their lives,
poor devils
joy looked al him steadily. Her air Of
eoasrraint and Uneasiness had vanished.
You saw that2 Couldn't you get away
-escape2"
Hugo laughed
Every able-bodied man was wanted
There were hardly enough OF Us 70 bu-z
the dead"
How awful
Yes. I mentioned that on purpose. 7
makes # easier 20 face this. Here you
have everything. and there
He spoke chssrily. emphaticalIy. At
his words, and all they conveyed, she lost
her nervousness. With different manner.
she said brlsAiy-
Tn ashamed OF myself for feeling 50
blue OF course, you're wondering what
I've come forc' She examined his face,
which had resumed its impassive express
sion. Il suppose you know that you
have a great influence over my cousin 2''
''I2~ His tone betrayed astonishmenE
Yes. YOU I dare say you don't know
II; and that perhaps. makes it the
stronger or course. he hasn't told you
how very delicate he is7"
He doesn't look delicate
But ne is. That is part OF his charm
When he was a boy We were devoted 70
him. because we thought that he would
be with Us for only q short time He
was q wonderful boy"
A dreamy expression suTused her fine
eyes. the color OF 2 rain-washed sky
He is a wonderful young man" said
Charters slowly
Il don't think cS him as a young man"
Charteris nodded. He was amazed. but
his face betrayed neither surprise nor in
terrogation- Joy went on:
To he he IS still a boy. although he is
three years older than an I can't tell
you what he IS TO me"
You needn't I can guess"
She was too occupied with her own
thoughts 20 notice the odd infection IN
his voice: and her simplicity, the ingenu-
Gus direCrneSs Of her methods, the fn-
stinct in her 20 "go straight" were likely
to confuse and puzzle a man OF the world
who had had nc dealings whatever with
girls OF that kind He supposed that she
had Just made al avowaI OF love for Bur
CESS. to whom. possibly. she might be Sc
cretly engaged. In an intense voice she
continued, not looking at Hugo. but star
ing, as Il were, into the yesterdays OF
which he could know nothing:
7 never met a boy like hin-so mod
est, so affectionate. and-don't laugh at
me-so itually-Einded."
That is very rare IN boys Hugo mur-
INJURED
Tt oughn't to be-" she said vehement
Iy. It's a disgrace 70 our system Of edu-