The searchlight., 1909-01-01

would be made. Stephens thoughtf
slid back from the dead man lying
there to the woman upstairs coming
back to onsciousness-back to mem.
ory.
DIR. Sprent made his early visit He
came downstairs from the sick room
his chubby face radiant.
Splendid" he said-"splendid
Even better than had hoped. All
her faculties quite clear and normal.
The main thing now is to keep our
patient quiet and free from all excite
ment. She's rather Of an excitable
temperament. too-which makes 1t all
the more important she should be kept
quiet BY the way. Ruthen. she's ask.
ing for you. She's very insistent yov
should go up and see her"
Olive was asking for him-Stephen
could guess why, He could picture
the agony OF suspense she must be en-.
during. the shock OF the horror that
must have overtaken his poor Olive
as she found her way back from de-
lirium to the things that were real.
SO you'd better go mp. Ruthen.
now" The doctor was still speaking.
she sheee.s : .e. - .....esiisten. ...esiiste But you mustn't
stay more than a couple of minutes OF
so. And be sure you don't let her
talk much or excite herself
Stephen Ruthen stole into the sick
room. the prey to tumult Of emo
tons.
Olive smiled wanly as he entered:
the nurse went out. leaving them
alone together. How wasted the hand
was. lying on their eiderdown, that
made tired movement towards him!
And her face was thinner and color
less-ivory against the dark glory OF
ker hair: but illness had not dimmed
the old beauty.
An aching passion OF tenderness ant
pity swert him. leaving him in that
first moment dumb. There was SO
much to say. but he could find no
words. so much 10 say-the reas-
surarce that what she had done was
still secret. that she had only to re.
msin silent and no one would ever
know how Philip Hume had died; and,
above all. he wanted TO tell her that
he held her guiltless through 1t all.
that she. TOO. must hold herself guilt.
ess-morally guiltlcss. for an act done
VIXEN her mind had swung so far from
its lalance as to leave her hardly re
sponsible. But the words would not
cone. He touched her hand gently.
Il am glad you have come: | want
cd TO see you so much. Stephen
want to- ask you something" she said.
How faint and frail the voice was!
Her eyes looked up at him feverishly.
Their uplifted light was unclouded by
the fear or horror he had expected to
see reflected there. Il seem to have
ben lying here ages In strange world
OF dreams: I could almost fancy II
was In another existence that crept
10 the yestry door Of the church. and
you brought me home" She paused,
and added: Or that l saw Frank
Carr outside the gate-Philip Hume
you tell me his name Is. II all seems
far away like dream. only suppose
II is real?''
He nodded. He could not speak
There was a queer lump in his throat
Olive paused as II the effort Of speak
ing had made her tired. stephen had
almost expected her first words to
have reference TO the tragedy; she
had said she wanted to ask him some'
thing. only perhaps she could not find
the courage-was waiting for him to
speak. How could he put 1t into
words. and answer the question she
dared not ask. to take the sting out OF
her suspense?
Before he could frame the difficult
words. she spoke again.
stephen" she whispered. and an
intensely eager. wistful look came In
to the dark. burning eyes. "has-has
Frank-Philip Hume-called whilst ]
have been lying here ILL.,"
Ito 6e continued.)