Evening star., 1909-04-30

tie basket of food and wine for Col
Ogilvie and the men with him: they
would need some sustenance on their long.
arduous journey. Those kindly Offices
kept both women busy while Col. Ogilvie
was putting on warm clothes for the
night travelling Presently Mrs Ogilvie
Joined him. When they were alone she
said to him somewhat timidly:
You will be tender. dear, with JOY? The
child is young, and harsh word spoken
in anger at time when she is high
strung and nervous and tired and fright
ened might be a lasting sorrow to her!"
She half expected that he would resent
her speaking at all. She was surprised
as well as pleased when. putting his
hands kindly on her shoulders. he said:
BE quite easy in your mind on that
subject. wife. Joy has all my love: and.
whatever comes. / shall use no harsh
word to her. 1 love her too we'll to give
her pain at the moment or to think of
afterward. She shall have nothing but
care and tenderness and such words as
you would yourself wish spoken.'' The
mother was comforted for the moment.
But then came a thought. born of her
womanhood. that the keenest pain which
could be for the woman would be through
her concern for the man. She had little
doubt as to what her husbands action
would be If his surmises as to Mr.. Hardy
should prove to be correct. And such
would mean the blighting OF poor JOY s
demonstrate with her husband on the SUBJ
ject: and she would have done so. what
ever might have been the, consequences
to herself. but that she feared that any
ill-timed expostulation might be harmful
to her daughter. All the motherhood in
her was awake and nerved her to endure
in silence. The only other words she said
as she kissed her husband were:
Goodbye for a while. dear. God keep
you in all dangers of the road-and-and
In, al "A 20
come to you at the end. of it. My love to
JOY! Be good to her. and never forget
that she can suffer most through any one
dear to her. Bring her home to me, safe
and-and happyi = - Her voice
broke and she wept on his shoulder. Col.
Ogilvie was a determined man. and in
some ways a harsh and cruel one: but he
was man and understood. He took his
wife in his arms and kissed her fondly,
stroking her dark hair wherein the silver
out in silence.
BY the door of the car he found Judy,
who said
II have put in your supper-you will
want it. dear-and also supper for the
men. And oh! Lucius. don't forget. for
poor Joys sake. that this day you hold
her heart-which is her lfe-in your
hand"'
This added responsibility filled the cup
of Col. Ogilvie's indignation. Already
.-'S
troubles-the agitation to his feelings
were almost more than he could bear. He
would have liked to make some cynical
remark to Judy. but before he could think
of anything sufficiently biting. the motor,
which had been throbbing violently,
started.
Before the angry man could attempt to
get back his self-possession ne was gazing
past the two shrouded figures before him
and. across the luminous arc Of the lamps
out into the night. The darkness seemed
to sweep by him as he rushed on his way
to Scotland.
When he had gone Judy turned to her
sister and said: Il was going to give him
Joys dressing bag and a change of dress
to take with him. She will want them.
poor dear, after long day of travel and
a night in a strange place. But l have
thought of a better plap."
"And that?" asked the anxious mother.
ITO take them myself! Moreover II
won't be any harm my being present In
case the colonel gets on the rampage. II
will restrain him some. Now you go and
lie down, dear. Don't say anything-ex-
cept your prayers-in case you fee! you
must say something. But sleep will be
your best help in this pretty tough propo-
sition. I'll go and get a hustle on that
Dutch landlord. He's got to find an auto
mobile and a chauffeur, and pilot II
necessary. for me. tdD!"
(To be continued tomorrow