The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1908-07-03
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i The Honor of !
i Nurse Joyce |
CHAPTER xvl.-(continued.,

She found it hard letter to write
"a painful letter, for was it not put
ting Leriod to all that was brightest
in her life-was it not the death Of all
her hopes? In the end she wrote no
more than two or three lines, telling
Norman that she would meet him at
II o'clock at Hyde Park corner. When
she had finished the letter she let it
lie before her for some minutes, won
dering if she were doing what was
best both for him and herself But
she felt that she needed to see him.
Il must see him again." she said to
herself, her eyes full of wistful ten
derness. Carrying the letter in her
hand she walked down to the hall,
where, since Sir Johns accident. a
footman was always stationed during
the night. Having received the mans
promise that he would go out and post
the letter at once, she went upstairs.
Mary was standing at the door of her
own room, and asked her to come in,
but Christabel begged to be excused
on the plea Of fatigue. She felt that
she could not endure Mary's society
even for few minutes.
Maxwell, who had kept slightly ajar
the door of the room next to Sir
Johns, in which he sat and wrote af.
ter dinner, had watched the change Of
nurses. He had heard Christabel so
upstairs and then come down again.
Listening intently he also heard what
she said to the footman, and instantly
determined to get possession of the
letter. Without a moments hesita-
ton he called the man as soon as the
click of a lock had told him Christabel
had retired. and ordered him to wait,
as he also wished him to post letter.
But Maxwe,Fs letter apparently
took some time to write. for after a
minute or SO he said to the footman
that he would post the letter himself,
and aided, You can leave me the
other letter, Williams, and I'll go out
and POST it myself with my own"
Williams, without remark. handed to
his master Clristabel's letter. which
he had been holding in his hand, and
left him.
Maxwell saw that the letter was adj
dressed to Norman Forde, tore it open,
and read it. He had no scruples in a
matter CT this kind.
AN appointment with Forde in the
intends to tel him everything-that
is obvious, Notwithstanding all her
fine protestations. | was sure of it.
was correct, however. in concluding
that he was quite in the dark when |
saw him to day, but if they meet he
won't be in the dark much longer.
must prevent their meeting-this one
at least will not come off" And he
carefully burnt the letter and it's en-
yelope.
Next morning Mary was we'll
enough to go down to breakfast as
usual with Christabel whose eyes
showed traces of an agitated and
sleepless night. Maxwell, perfectly
composed. asked in a pleasant tone if
they thought of using his motor car
that mcrning-he would be delighted
if they would. Mary looked at Chris
label, who replied somewhat absently
that she had matter of business to
attend to which made it impossible
for her, at any rate, to accept the in
vitation. Maxwell nodded but made
no comment
But when Christabel went to Hyde
Park Corner there was, to her sur
prise, no Norman Forde anywhere in
sight She had walked from Hans
Square In state OF profound depres-
sion, only too conscious of the pain
she must infiict on him and of the
gloom that must henceforth settle
over her life with the wreck of their
happiness but upborne by the convic-
ton that she was doing what was
right. She had thought he would be
waiting for her before the hour with
a lovers Impotence, and she was
punctual to the minute.
She paced up and down the path
Just inside the park for half an hour,
and still he did not come. She could
not unGerz tand it, and in great per-
plexity returned to Hans Square. 1t
did not occur to her that her letter
had not reached destination; rather
did she dread that some misfortune
had tefallen her lover, and another
fear wrought it's havoc on her heart.