Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1909-03-05

tomorrow. May II
You know you may, Gerald. ali
slways ready to stand your friend"
At the end Of the corridor Selwyr
halted before Eileen's room. A lgh
came through the transom He wait
ed moment, then knocked very soft
ly.
rs it you:" she asked In a low
voice.
Yes. didn't wake you, did IT.
mo. Is Gerald here?"
Yes; in his own room. Did you wish
to speak to me about anything?'
Eyes"
He heard her coming to the door. II
opened very little. Good night
she whispered, stretching toward him
] her hand. That was all ] wanted
toto touch you before closed my
eyes tonight"
He bent and looked ct the hand ly-
/ Ing within bis own--the little hand
with its fresh. fragrant palm upturned
and the white fingers relaxed. dropping
inward above tat the delicate blush
vein In the smooth wrist.
Then he released the hand, untouch-
ed by his lips. and she withdrew it
and closed the door, and he heard her
laugh softly and lean against it, wills
perlng:
"Now that am safely locked in
merely wish to say that IL the old DAYS
q lady's hand was sometimes kissed.
Oh, but you are too late. my poor
friend. can't come out. and
wouldn't II I could-not after what |
dared to say to you"
And, too low for him to hear even
the faintest breathing whisper Of her
voice: "Good night. love you with all
my heart, with all my heart. in my
own fashion"
He had been asleep an hour. perhaps
more, when something awakened him
and he found himself sitting bolt up
right In bed, dawn already whitening
his windows.
Somebody was knocking. He swung
out of bed. stepped into bis bath slip
pers and. passing swiftly to the door.
opened 1t. Gerald stood there, fully
| dressed.
I'm going to town on the early
train" began the boy. II thought 10
tell you"
The dawn was no paler than the
boys face, no more desolate. Trouble
was his, the same old trouble that has
logged the trail Of folly since time be-
gan, and Selwyn knew 1t and waited.
At last the boy broke out: This is a
cowardly trick, this Sinking In to you
with all my troubles after what you've
done for me, after the rotten way I've
treated you. Philip, can't tell you;
simply cannot It's so contemplate,
and you warned me, and | owe you al
ready so much!"
"You owe me little money" obsery-
cd Selwyn, with careless smile, "and
you've lifetime to pay it In. What is
the trouble now? Do you need more? /
haven't an awful lot, old fellow, worse
luck, but what have is at your call,
as you know perfectly well. Is that all
that is worrying you?'
"No. not ALL I-Neergard has lent me
money-done things-placed me under
obligations. liked him, you know. ]
trusted him. People he desired to know
made him known to. He was IA
trife peremptory at times, as though
my obligations to him left me no choice
but to take him to such people as he
desired to meet. We've had trouble
recently"
"What sort?"
Personal I felt-began to feel-the
pressure on me. There was at mo-
ments something almost Of menace in
his requests and suggestions, an impor-
tunity | did not exactly understand.
And then he said something to me-"
go on WhatT
"He'd been limiting at 1t before, and
even when | found him jolliest and
most amusing and companionable l
never thought Of him as IA social
possibility mean among those who
really count-like my own people"
Eyes, my boy, see. Go on. When
did he ask to be presented to your sis
terT
"W-who told you thatT asked the
boy, with an angry flush.
"You did-almost. You were going
to anyway So that was it, was 1t?
That was when you realized a few
things-understood one or two things,
was it not? And how did you reply?
Arrogantly, suppose"
Eyes"
"With-a-some little show of-a-
contemptT'
Eyes. / suppose So"
Exactly. And Neergard was put
out slightly%
"Yes," said the boy. losing some of
his color. ga moment afterward
was sorry ] had spoken so plainly,
but need not have been. He was
very ugly about it."
Threats Of calling loans?" asked
Selwyn, smiling.
Hints; not exactly threats. l was
in a bad way too" The boy WINGED
and swallowed hard; then. with sud
den white desperation stamped on his
drawn face, he added: "Oh, Philip, it.
1t is disgraceful enough, but how am
going to tell you the rest? How can
speak of this matter to your
What matter?"
"A-about-about Mrs. Ruthyen."
"What matterH repeated SelWYn.