The Hattiesburg news. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 1908-1917, 1909-09-18


to get off SO easily. He was pleas
ant-faced young fellow, with black
hair and blue eyes, and his name was
Alexander Graham. l have been par
ticular about Alex, because, as l said !
before, he played an important part |
later.
That afternoon had a new insight
into the character of the dead banker.
had my first conversation with
Louise. She sent for me, and against
my better judgment l went.
She held Aout her hand and I took
| it between both of mine.
what can l say to you, Miss In
nes?" she said slowly ITO have
| come like this"
I thought she was going to break
| down, but she did not
| "You are not to think of anything
but of getting well" | said, patting
her hand. When you are better,
am going to scold you for not coming
here at once. This is your home, my
dear, and of all people in the world,
Halsey's old aunt ought to make you
welcome"
She smiled little, sadly, thought.
| Il ought not to see Halsey," she
said. Miss lines, there are great
many things you will never under
stand, l am afraid. l am an imposter
on your sympathy, because IL stay
here and let you lavish care on me,
and all the time l know you are going
to despise me-"
NONSENSE" said briskly. why,
what would Halsey do to me if even
ventured such a thing? He is so big
and masterful that if dared to be
anything but rapturous over you, he
would throw me out of a window. In
deed, he would be quite capable of it."
She seemed scarcely to hear my ia
cetious tone. She had eloquent brown
eyes-the Illnesses are fair, and prone
to grayish-green optic that is better
for use than appearance--and they
seemed now to be clouded with trou-
Bile.
Poor Halsey!" she said softly.
Miss Innes, l cannot marry him, and
am afraid to tell him. l am cow
ard-a coward"
sat beside the bed and stared at
her. She was too ill to argue with,
and, besides, sick people take queer
fancies.
1--WE will talk about that when you
!, are stronger" l said gently.
, But there are some things I must
tell you," she insisted. you must
wonder how | came here, and why l
, stayed hidden at the lodge. Dear old
!, Thomas has been almost crazy, Miss
, lines. l did not know that Sunnyside
was rented. knew my mother wished
| to rent it, without telling my-step
, father, but the news must have
reached her after l left. When
started east, had only one idea-to
be alone with my thoughts for time
, to bury myself here. Then, I-must
t have taken a cold on the train"
r you came east in clothing suitable
for California" l said, land like all
I young girls nowadays, l don't suppose
! you wear flannels." But she was mo-
listening.
9 Miss Innes," she said, has m!
1 stepbrother Arnold gone away?"
1 "What do you mean?" I asked
t startled. But Louise was literal
l. "He didn't come back that night,
r she said, land it was so importan
s that should see him."
l. II believe he has gone away" l re
g piled uncertainty. Isn't it something
b that we could attend to instead?"
: But she shook her head. Il must d.
j. 1t myself" she said DULY.
r. Halsey came to the door at that nc
l ment and l could hear him coaxini
l. Liddy for admission to the sick room
"Shall l bring him in?" / aske
e Louise, uncertain what to do. Tn
e girl seemed to shrink back anon
IL her pillows at the sound of his voice
(, was vaguely irritated with her
n there are few young fellows like Ha
L. sey-straightforwar honest, and will
n ing to sacrifice everything for the on
T. woman. | knew one once, more tina
d 80 years ago, who was like that; h
g died long time ago. And sometime
re l take out his picture, with its can
n and it's queer silk hat, and look at l
10 But of late years it has grown to
n painful he is always boy-and | al
a. an old woman. l would not bring hill
back If l could.
a. Perhaps it was some such mel
n ory that made me call out sharply.
ID "Come in, Halsey." And then toe
my sewing and went into the boudit
n beyond, to play propriety. l did nj
p. try to hear what they said, but evel
lg word came through the open door wit
s. curious distinctness. Halsey had eN
te IDENTIFY gone over to the bed and
~ suppose he kissed her. There was
is lence for moment, as If words we
superfluous things.
ey "I have been almost wild, swes
it. heart,"-Halsey' voice. ''Why did,
"a you trust me, and send for me b
by fore?"
he ut was because I couldn't trust m
til SELF" she said in low tone. II a
too weak to struggle to-day; oh, HI
sey, how l have wanted to see you
There was something did not he;
then Halsey again.
eve could go away" he was Sc