Ladysmith news-budget. [volume] (Ladysmith, Rusk County, Wis.) 1907-1927, 1909-08-05
CHAPTER xxxlv-Continued

From the threshold or the drawing
room Hilda watched through the hall
door the 1.-THE, graceful figure OF Mar
garet Strangways pass down the pain
in the gathering grey of the twilight;
then the man who had been sitting Id
the car in the heavy coat came To-
wards the house, leaning on her arm
with the air of an infirm, elderly man.
through the hall, to where Hllda
stood, with moist, shining eyes, IN the
doorway of the drawing-room, Whlte,
and scarcely able to control the emo
ton that had swept over her. lie
caught her two little hands in his and
they passed into the room. MISS
Strangways, remaining outside IN the
hall, considerably closed the door
softly on them.
"Hilda! Hilda!"
She was in his arms, held close to
his heart, as so often in the days pc
fore the shadow had fallen across their
happiness, with the masses OF her
dark hair brushing his cheek ana
making his blood Jingle at their soft
CdEGSSJ Inc SI11 was AeI0oAA4AS
crying for very joy on his shoulder.
Jack! You have come back to me,
my poor, wronged love! Ii only II
were not to leave me again!" There
was an infinite tenderness and pity IN
the grey eyes that looked into his face,
dimmed with a rain OF tears, III the
low voice that was sweet as no other
womans could ever be to him. AND
only this afternoon, l was so miser-
able, thinking thinking Oh, am
ashamed now of the wicked doubts
that crept into my mind in spite OF
myself, jack"
His arm drew her closer and closer
to him, as they stood there in the old
fashioned room where the shadows OF
the dusk were already stealing, speak
ing in low, eager whispers; there was
so much to be said-whispered words
and brief-falling silences that were
even more eloquent; the silence that
has many voices for youth and love.
In those moments of supreme Joy 1t
suddenly seemed impossible to him
who for weeks had walked in the
shadow of fear, his feet set in the
path of exile; that Jack Lathom OF
yesterday had been hopeless and de-
spairing, and he was surely the hap
piest man on earth.
Even though their parting must in
evitably come soon, for a little while
he had found his love again; was hold
ing her tight-ah, so tight-in his
arms, with the tender music of her
voice in his ears, the beautiful face
near his; a memory for this hunted
man to carry away into his exile.
Glow can I ever express all feel
after your wonderful kindness?" said
Hilda earnestly to Margaret, when
presently she and Jack had remem-
bered that Miss Strangways had been
left standing in the hall, and Jack had
opened the door and brought her into
the room, mot only for helping Jack
as you have done, but for having faith,
toe, in his innocence" and little
catch of breath broke her voice for a
moment Words are such poor things
for so deep a debt-only I thank you
from the bottom of my heart"
In his study Stephen Ruthen, as
he sat talking to the blind man, was
wondering little about the two Wis
itors, both strangers to him, who had
come to the house by motor-car. He
had heard Miss Strangways speaking
to his sister in the hall; he had seen
her few minutes later returning up
the path with an elderly man learning
on her arm. Evidently they had come
to see Hilda, since the servant had
brought no message to the study.
Five minutes or so later the rector's
visitor rose to take his leave
Stephens interview with Mr.. Grale
tonight had been purely in connection
with matters relating to the church
choir; LathOm's name had never once
been mentioned. Since the blind or.
ganist's appeal to Stephen Ruthen on
the day LathOm was committed for
trial a sense of constraint had existed
between the two men that forbade any
words passing between them except
of a formal nature. But Lathom's
name leapt to Mr.. Grale's lips now
with a sudden unexpectedness that
startled the rector.
AS the latter was opening the study
door for his departing visitor, the
faint murmur of voices reached them
from the drawing-room; and the blind
mand passed abruptly in the middle
of something he was saying, in an in
tent, listening attitude, and he
clutched at Stephen Ruthen's arm.
"ParsoD," he whispered, excitedly
so Jack Lathom's in your house, il
yon room!"
Stephen stared at him in amaze
ment.
The sound of the voice speaking be