The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1909-03-10


coherently, practically in extremis, and,
II he had hitherto doubted where his
duty lay, from that moment he had
no longer any doubt. And very quiet
ly, hopelessly and irrevocably he had
crushed out of his soul the hope and
promise of the new life dawning for
him above the dead ashes of the past.
1t was not easy to do. He had not
ended it yet. He did not know how.
There were ties to be severed, friend
ships to be gently broken, old scenes
to be forgotten, memories to kill.
There was also love-to be disposed Of
And he did not know how.
First of all, paramount in his hope
less trouble, the desire to save others
from pain persisted.
For that reason he had been careful
that Gerald should not know where
and how he was now obliged to live,
lest the boy suspect and understand
how much Of Selwyn's little fortune 1t
had taken to settle his debts Of "hon-
or" and free him from the sinister
pressure Of Neergard's opportunities.
~ VA thot ACuoOAt wv, hC ulCduCu W
have Austin know, because if the truth
were exposed nothing in the world
could prevent a violent and final sep
aration between him and the foolish
boy who now at last was beginning to
show the first glimmering traces Of
character and common sense.
So he let 1t be understood that his
oddrodo n hio N1yIh lNn
for he also desired no scene with
Boots, whom he knew would attempt
to force him to live with him In his
cherished and brand new house. And
even If he cared to accept and permit
Boots to place him under such obliga-
tions 1t would only hamper him in his
duties, because now what remained Of
his income must be devoted to Alike.
Even before her case had taken the
more hopeless turn he had understood
that she could not remain at Clifton.
Such cases were neither desired nor
treated there. He understood that.
And so he had taken for her a pretty
little villa at Edgewater, with two
trained nurses to care for her and a
| pudtlOA lOl uel " uLANt.
And now she was installed there,
properly cared for, surrounded by every
comfort, contented, except in the black
and violent crises which still swept her
in recurrent storms-indeed, tranquil
and happy, for through the troubled
gllmmer Of departing reason her eyes
were already opening in the calm, un-
| Il aP childhood n,,t
side of that dead garden Of the past
peopled by laughing phantoms Of her
youth, but one single eXtraneous mem
ory persisted-the memory of Selwyn-
curiously twisted and readjusted to the
comprehension of child's mind, vague
at times, at times wistfully elusive and
incoherent, but 1t remained always q
memory and always happy one.
He was obliged to go to her every
three or four days. In the interim she
seemed quite satisfied and happy, busy
with the simple and pretty things she
now cared for, but toward the third
day of his absence she usually became
restless, asking for him and why he
did not come. And then they telegraph
ed him, and he left everything and
went, white faced, stern of lip, to en-
dure the most dreadful ordeal a mar
may face-to force the smile to his lips
and gayety into the shrinking soul Of
him and sit with her in the pretty, sun
ny room, listening to her prattle, an
swering the childish questions, watch
Ing her, seated in her rocking chair
singing contentedly to herself and play
ing with her dolls and ribbons-dress
ing them, undressing, mending, ar
ranging-until the heart within hin
quivered under the misery of it and ht
turned to the curtained window, hand:
clinching convulsively and teeth set t.
force back the strangling agony in hi
throat. And the dreadful part of 1t al
was that her appearance had remained
unchanged-unless- perhaps, she wal
prettier, lovelier of face and figure thar
ever before.
Thinking of these things now, hi
leaned heavily forward, elbows on thu
little table. And suddenly unbiddeI
before his haunted eyes rose the whit,
portico of Silverside, and the green
sward glimmered, drenched in sun
shine, and slim figure in white stool
there, arms bare, tennis bat swinging
in one tanned little hand.
Happily for Eileen, happily for him
alas, love in its full miracle had re
mained beyond her comprehension
That she cared for him with all he
young heart he knew; that she had no
come to love him he knew too. So tina
crowning misery Of happiness wa
spared him. Yet he knew, too, tina
there had been a chance for him; tina
her awakening had not been who'll!
impossible.
> And now, leaning there, his fac
buried in his hands, hours that b
spent with her came crowding bacI
upon him, and In his ears her voic
echoed and echoed. and his hands treu
bled with the scented memory Of be
touch, and his soul quivered and crie'
out for her.
Storm after storm swept him, and Il
the tempest he abandoned reason
blinded. stunned, crouching there wit
head lowered and his clinched hand
across his face.
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