The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1909-03-24

her discussing with her pretty mother
the plans made for Gladys and Gerald
on their expected arrival.
Eileen, pale and heavy lldded, looked
In on her way to some afternoon af-
fair, nodding unsmiling at Boots.
"Have you been rifing the pantry,
too?' he whispered. you lack your
usual chromatic symphony"
mo. I'm just very tired. If L
wasn't physically afraid of Drina I'd
get you to run off with me-anywhere.
What is that letter, Nina? For me?"
TITS for Phil. Boots brought it
around. Leave 1t on the library table,
dear, when you go down."
Eileen took the letter and turned
away. A few moments later as she
laid 1t on the library table her eyes
involuntarily noted the superscription
written in the long, angular, fashiona-
BILE writing Of woman.
And slowly the inevitable question
took shape within her.
How long she stood there she did
not know, but the points OF her gloved
fingers were still resting on the table
and her gaze was still concentrated on
the envelope when she felt Selwyn's
presence in the room, near, close, and
looked up into his steady eyes-and
knew he loved her.
And suddenly she broke down, for
with his deep gaze in hers the over
wrought specter had fed.
"What Is itT" he made out to say,
managing also to keep his hands off
her where she sat, bowed and CULVER
ing by the table.
"N-nothing-a-a little crisis-over
now-nearly over. 1t was that letter
other women writing you-and I-out-
lawed-tongue tied. Don't look at me;
don't wait. II am going out"
He went to the window, stood mo-
ment, came back to the table, took his
letter and walked slowly again to the
window.
After awhile he heard the rustic of
her gown as she left the room, and a
little later he Strengthened up. passed
his hand across his tired eyes and,
looking down at the letter in his hand,
broke the seal.
1t was from one of the nurses, Miss
Casson, and shorter than usual:
Mrs. Ruthven is physically in per-
feet health, but yesterday we noted q
rather startling change in her mental
condition. There were during the day
intervals that seemed perfectly lucid.
Once she spoke Of Miss Bond as the
other nurse as though she realized
something of the conditions surround
ing her. Once, too, she seemed aston
ished when 1 brought her a doll and
asked me, is there child here, or is
it for charity bazaar?
Later found her writing a letter
at my desk. She left 1t unfinished
when she went to drive, mere scrap.
] thought it best to inclose 1t, which
do herewith"
The inclosed he opened:
"Phil, dear, though have been very
Ill, 1 know you are my own husband
All the rest was only child's dream
of terror"
And that was all, only this scrap
G firmly written in the easy flowing hant
!. he knew SO we'll He studied it for ,
' moment or two, then resumed Mis-
| Casson's letter:
: "a man stopped our sleigh yester
' day, asking if he was not speaking t.
e Mrs. Ruthven. 1 was a trifle worried
g and replied that any communication
for Mrs. Ruthven could be sent to me
0 'That evening two men-gentlemel
n apparently-came to the house anC
asked for me. I went down to receive
: them. One was a DIR. Madison; tn,
e other said his name was Thomas B
e Hallam, but gave no business address
+ when I found that they had com,
8 without your knowledge and authorit!
] I refused to discuss Mrs. Ruthven'
! condition, and the one who said hi
name was Hallam spoke rather per
emptorily and in way that made m,
think he might be lawyer.
"They got nothing out of me, an(
they left when I made it plain that
had nothing to tell them.
4 II thought 1t best to let you know
about this, though personally canno
guess what 1t might mean."
, Selwyn turned the page:
zone other matter worries Miss
Bond and myself. The revolver yol
, sent US at my request has disappear
ed. We are nearly sure Mrs. Ruthver
has it-you know she once dressed 1
as doll, calling it her army doll-bu
now we can't find 1t. She has hiddeI
1t somewhere-out of doors in thu
shrubbery, we thlnk-and Miss Bone
and expect to secure it the next tim'
: she takes fancy to have all her doll
out for lawn party
CDR. Wesson says there is no DANCE
: of her doing any harm with it, bu
wants us to secure it at the first oppor
tunity."
He turned the last page. On tn
! other side were merely the formula o
leave taking and Miss Casson's sigma
ture.
T, For awhile he stood in the center o
the room, head bent, narrowing eye
fixed; then he folded the letter, pock
! eted 1t and walked to the table wher,
: a directory lay.
| He found the name, Hallam, yer.
easily-Thomas B. Hallam, lawyer
|