Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1909-02-09

1t is not your aunt, she can mold ner
tongue as we'll as use it; the boy, Ar
chic, does not know anything to
tell"
He wouldn't tell 1t II he did" IN
terrupted the colonel: and very con-
cisely but with evident pride he gave
Archie's experience in the Chinese
quarter.
Keatcham's comment took the listen
er's breath away so far afield was 1t
! and so unlike his experience of the
man: 1t was: Winter, son like that
would be good deal Of comfort,
wouldn't he?"
Poor little chap!" said Winter.
Gle hasn't any father to be proud OF
him-father and mother both dead
Keatcham eyed Winter thoughtfully
moment, then he said you've
been married and lost children, your
aunt says. That must be hard, But
did you ever read that poem of James
Whitcomb Rileys to his friend whose
child was deado It's true what he says
they were better of than he who
had no child to die.
Rupert was looking away from the
speaker with the instructive enlbar-
rassment of man who surprises the
deeper feelings of another. He could
see out of the window the lovely April
garden and Janet Smith amid the al
| mond blossoms. Only her shining
black head and her white shoulders
and bodice rose above the pink clus-
ters. She looked up and nodded. see
| ing him; her face was a little pale,
but she was smiling.
81 don't know" he said, ITS hard
enough either way for a man."
II never lost any children"-Keatch-
| ans tone was dry, still, but It had not
quite the former desiccated quality
but was married, for little while.
| II it's as bad to lose your children as
1t is to lose the hope of having them,
it-must be hard You lost your wife,
| too"
| eyes" said Rupert Winter.
| At this moment he became con-
scious that Keatcham was avoiding his
gaze In the very manner of his avoid
| ing of Keatcham's a moment ago; and
1t gave him a bewildering sensation.
Il wanted to marry my wife for
seven years before we were married
Keatcham continued in that carefully
monotonous voice. "She was the
daughter of the superintendent OF the
mine where was working. was
| only is when first saw her. ! was
1 Is when we were married. She used
to give me lessons; she was educated
and accomplished. She did more than
is easy telling, for me. OF course, her
parents were opposed at ,hrst because
| they looked higher for her, but she
brought them round by her patience
] and her sweetness and her faith In
me. Six months after we were mar
ried she had an accident which left
her a helpless invalid in wheeled
| chair, at the best; at the worst, snf-
| fering-youve known what 1t is to
see anybody, whom you care for, In
horrible pain and trying not to show 1t
when you come near?"
81 have,' said Winter; merry hell,
isn't it,"
II have seen that expression" said
Keatcham; II never recognized its
peculiar appropriateness before. Yes,
1 1t is that. Yet, Winter, those two
years she lived afterwards were the
| happiest of my whole life. She said,
the last night she was with me, that
| they had been the happiest Of hers
! The same flush which once before;
when he had seemed moved, had crept
,p to his temples, burned his hollow
| cheeks. He was holding the edge ct
/ the table with the tips Of his fingers
and the blood settled about the nails
| with the pressure of his grip There
! was en- intense moment during which
| Winter vainly struggled to think OF
something to say and looked more of
| his sympathy than he was aware;
then: Cary Mercer needn't think
that he has had all the hard times in
| the world" said keatcham in his
usual toneless voice, relaxing his hold
and leaning back on his pillows. The
color ebbed away gradually from his
| face.
II don't wonder you didn't marry
again." said Winter.
You would not wonder II you had
known Helen. She always under
stood. Of course, now, at 81, could
buy pretty, innocent, young girl who
would do as her parents bade her, and
cry her eyes out before the wedding.
or handsome and brilliant society
woman with plenty of matrimonial sx-
perience-but l don't want them. !
should have to explain myself to
ham; I don't know how to explain
,,-.vnl7: YOU see ] ce-'t half do 81"
ri reckon understand q littls."
II guess you do. You are different,
too. Well, let's get down to business,
think you some way Of getting the
women out of the house; and get your
sleuths after Atkins. It's we get him,
or he gets u.s.!
The amateur secretary assented and
prepared to go, for the valet was at
the door, ready to relieve him; but
opposite Keatcham, he paused a Sec
ond, made pretense of hunting for
his hat, picked 1T up in his left hand
| and held out the right hand, saying:
"Well, take care of yourself"
Keatcham nodded; he shook tho
hand with a good firm pressure.
Much obliged, Winter" said he.
WELL" meditated the soldier as he
went his way, II never did think to