The Washington herald., 1909-06-27
DIDN'T HE SEND ME ANY MEssAeE-NOr EVEN A woRpl,

dark syes-all, in spite OF her paIlor. Of
her evident suffering. had the fresh and
exquisite Charm of youth.
Richard Travis barely saw her. but her
/ presence there somehow hurt him. He
turned away abruptly and went out OF
the room In the hall Mrs. Sprague was
awaiting him. She showed him his bed
room, and said that supper would be
ready in half an hour.
And I do hope. sir, that YOU can get
that poor young thing 20 take some food
and look after herself little" she added.
I There she stays in that ice cold room.
and ! have been hardly able 10 get her
out Of IL these three days. and she hardly
eats a mouthful. And she isn't strong.
you know-she can't go on so. It's pitiful
TO see her
Mrs. Sprague's eyes were full OF tears.
Richard Travis said curtly:
Yes. I want 10 talk 10 her. VIII you
ask her TO come down stairs?'
He was conscious OF the woman's look
OF surprise, and change in her tone as
she said:
Fne. Hr Travis, 1 really think she ought
station. but she wouldn't talk 10 him or
anybody, after her husband died"
"A doctor? Why. is she ill?" Travis
asked rather impatlently.
why she-the shock and grief and all
surely you krOw. Mr.. Travis, she is GO
ing to have a chiId?"
OH Well. send for the doctor, by
all means. II you think she needs atten-
ton. I shall be glad TO see her as soon
as she is able 10 come down. Thank you"
With this dismissal Travis closed his
door
He was aware that his tone and manner
had been cold and brusque. and that he
had shown no more feeling than was
IN him, which was none at all His feel
ing, all of II. was for the dead boy lying
In that bleak room. Besides George. he
had for years loved no living being. and
now he cared for nobody. not even him
self.
This girl whom George had married
was nothing to him. He could scarcely
see her as Georges wife That title had
always seemed TO him a proud one, and
he had pictured to himself some charming
woman, OF whom he could be proud, as
bearing H. She was tc have been a girl
o. family. OF position and breeding, and
Georges marriage an affair OF state and
ceremony. befitting its Importance. And
then he, Richard Travis. would have had
a daughter. and she and her children
would have comforted his age and made
his stately house gay and warm So he
had often fancied
But-George had married by the way
side, picking up his wife apparently on
the impulse OF a moment, without warn
ing. even. 10 his father. He had written
simply, that he was married; that he had
fallen very much in love, but that ne
would not have married 50 hastily except
that Ysabel was very unhappy at home:
that he was going to bring his wife East
and hoped his father would feel kindly
toward her and would come TO love her.
Richard Travis had had no intention OF
loving her. He did not Ike the spelling
% her name, nor the fact that she had q
streak Of Spanish blood. nor anything
else that he knew OF her, which was
little besides. He disliked her for marry
ing George. There was no tie between
her and himself. and 1t was plain TO him
that she must so back TO her own people.
or course. he would see that she was
handsomely provided for. The thought
occurred to him that she might have mar
ried for this provision; she must have
known that George could not live long.
His face was set and not pleasant to see
as he went down 70 await her in the
parlor.
He had some little time to wait Then
Mrs. Sprague came down. and said:
Mrs. Travis VIII be here directly-and
supper is ready when you want it,"
A faint color rose to the old mans
cheeks. Mrs. Travis Yes, OF course II
was her name. She had right to that
name; and she had her legal rights. too.
as Georges wife All her claims should