Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1909-03-19

J
Yesterday" said Miss Cassoh' one
of the nurses, in a letter to SelWyh'
"there was consultation here between
! Drs. Vail. WessOn and Morrison, as you
reuuested. They have not chahgeu
their opinions-indeed, they are con-
WINGED that there is no possible chance
OF the recovery you hoped for when
Won talked with DR.. Morrison. Ihey
all agree that Mrs. Ruthven is in excel
| lent physical condition-young. strong.
vig0rous-and may live for years, may
outlive us all, but there is nothing else
to expect"
The letter ran on:
81 am inclosing the bills you desired
to have sent you. Fuel is very eXpen-
siye. as YOU will see. The items for
fruits. too, seem unreasonably large,
but grapes are So a pound and fresh
vegetables dreadfully expensive.
81 meant to thank you for sending
me the revolver and cartridges. 1t
seemed silly request, but we are In
a rather lonely place, and think MISS
Bond and | feel little safer knowing
that in case Of necessity we have some
thing to brighten away any roaming IN
truder who might take it into his head
to visit us.
zone thing we must be careful about.
Yesterday Mrs. Ruthven had Coll on
my bed, and sat sewing by the win
dow, not noticing what she was doing
until | heard her pretty, pathetic little
laugh.
"And what do you think she had
done? She had discovered your re-
volver under my pillow, and she had
tied her handkerchief around it ana
was using it as a doll!
Il got it away with little persua-
sion, but at times she still asks for her
army doll, saying that a boy she
knew named Philip had sent it to her
from Manila, where he was living"
Selwyn read this letter sitting before
the fire in the living room, feet on the
fender, pipe between his teeth. 1t was
the first day of absolute rest he had
had in long while.
The day before he had been at the
| Hook until almost dark, watching the
firing of big gun, and the results had
been so satisfactory that be was ven
turing to give himself holiday unless
wanted at Edgewater.
He had seen Eileen seldom that win
ter. When be had seen her their rela-
tons appeared to be as happy. as
friendly as before. There was no ap-
parent constraint, nothing from her to
indicate that she noticed an absence
for which his continual business with
the government seemed sufficient ex-
! cuse.
Besides, her days were full days,
consequent upon Nina's goading and
indefatigabe activity. Selwyn, unable
longer to fulfill his social obligations,
was being quietly eliminated from the
social scheme Of things.
Gerald in the early days of an affair
with Gladys and before even it had as
sumcd the proportions OF an affair had
.shyly come to Selwyn, not for confess
sion, but with the crafty purpose OF
introducing her name into the CONVEX
sation so that he might have the lux
ury of talking about her to somebody
who would neither quiz him nor sus-
pect him.
Selwyn, Of course, ultimately sus
pected him, but as he never quizZe6
him Gerald continued his elaborate
system of subterfuges to make her
personality and doings a topic for him
to expand upon and Selwyn to listen
! to.
It had amused Selwyn. He thought
Of it nova gay memory like ray OF
light flung for a moment across the
somber background of his own sad
ness. Fortunate or unfortunate, Ger
aid was still lucky in his freedom to
hazard It with chance and fate. Sell
wyn's dull eyes rested upon the ashes
of the fire, and he saw his dead youth
among them and in the flames NJ
maturity burning to embers.
If he outlived Alike his life would lie
rs the ashes lay at his feet. If she out
lived him-and they had told him
there was every chance of it-at leas,
| he would have something to busy him
self with in life if he was to leave hel
provided for when he was no longer
there to stand between her and chart
ty. AS he lay there in his chair. the
unlighted pipe dropping in his hands,
| the telephone on the desk rang ana
| he rose and unlocked the receiver
Drina's voice sounded afar. and
"Hello, sweetheart" he said gayly rs
there anything | can do for your
youthful highness"
give been talking over the phone 70
Boots" she said. You know, when
ever | have nothing to do ] call up
Boots at his office and talk to him"
"That must please him. suggested
Selwyn gravely.
at does. Boots says you are not
going to business today, so thought
I'd call you up"
THANK you" said Selwyn
"You are welcome What are you
doing over there in Boots house,
Looking at the fire, Drina, and lis
tening to the purring of three fat taDby
cats"
ooh. mother and Eileen have gone
somewhere. | haven't anything to do
for an hour. Can't you come around"
"Why. yes, if you want me-
"Yes, l do. OF course can't have
Boots. and I prefer You next"
The child was glad to see him and
avnrassed herself so. coming across to