The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1909-03-17

II Is the strangest thing tnau noDody
seems to know where she Is. And all
anybody can get out of Jack is that
she's in a nerve factory or some such
retreat and perfect wreck. She might
as well be dead, you know"
"In that case," observed Lansing, at
might be best to shift the center of
gossip. De mortuis nil nisi bonum,
which is simple enough for any body
to comprehend"
THAT is rude, Mr.. Lansing" flashed
out Rosamund, and to his astonishment
he saw the tears start to her eyes.
II beg your pardon" he said sulkily.
"You do well to. 1 care more for
Alike Ruthven than-than you give me
credit for caring about anybody. Peo-
pie are never wholly worthless, Mr.
Lansing-only the very young think
that"
Boots said respectfully: II am sorry
for what 1 said, Mrs. Fame. I hope
that your friend Mrs. Ruthven will
soon recover"
Rosamund looked at Nina, the tears
still trimming her lids. 81 miss her
frightfully," she said. "If somebody
would only tell me where she is-I-I
know it could do no harm for me to
see her. can be as gentle and loyal
as anybody-when l really care for a
person. Do you know where she might
be. Nina?"
az? No. l do not I'd tell you If l
did, Rosamund."
Don't you knowp
why, no." said Nina, surprised at
her persistence.
Because" continued Rosamund,
"your brother does"
Nina Strengthened up, flushed and
astonished.
"Why do you say that?" she asked.
Because he does know. He sent her
to Clifton. The maid who accompanied
her is in my service now. It's a low
way Of finding out things, but we all
do it."
"He-sent Alike toto Ciifton! re-
peated Nina incredulously. "Your maid
told you that"
Rosamund finished the contents of
her slim glass and rose. Eyes, and II
was brave and generous and loyal
thing for him to do. 1 care for Alike,
and honor your brother for what he
did"
She stood with pretty golden head
bent, absently arranging the sabIes
around her neck and shoulders.
~ have been very horrid to Captain
Selwyn," she said quietly. Tell him
] am sorry, that he has my respect.
And-if he cares to tell me where
Alike is shall be grateful and do no
HARM"
Good night" said Boots to Nina.
Then he took Rosamund down to her
brougham with a silent formality that
touched her present sentimental mood.
She leaned from her carriage win
dow, looking at him where he stood,
hat in hand, in the thickly falling
snow.
"Please-w without ceremony, Mr.. Ian.
sing" and as he covered himself
May 1 not orop you at your dest1na-
tion?'
THANK you," in refusal.
II thank you for being nice to me.
Please believe there is often less malice
than perversity in me. II have a
heart, Mr.. Lansing-such as it is. And
often those l torment most / care for
most 1t was so with Alike. Good
by"
Boots salute was admirably formal.
Then he went ON through the thicken-
ing snow, swung vigorously across the
avenue to the park wall and, turning
south, continued on parallel to 1t under
the naked trees.
Now he began to understand some
thing of the strange effacement of his
friend Selwyn. He began to compre-
hend the curious economies practiced,
the continued absence from club and
coterie, the choice Of the sordid lodg-
ing whittier Boots, one night, seeing
him on the street by chance, had
shamelessly tracked him. with no ex-
cuse for the intrusion save his affec-
ton for this man and his secret doubts
Of the mans ability to take care of
himself and his occult affairs.
Into the doorway of Selwyn's lodg-
ings Lansing turned. When the town
was young Lansing had lived
there in pomp and circumstance-his
own great-grandfather-a he smiled
grimly, amused at the irony of things
terrestrial.
A slattern at the door halted him.
Nobody amt let up them stairs
without my KNOWN why" she mum
bled.
II want to see Captain Selwyn," he
explained.
Hey"
Captain Selwyn"
Hey? I'm little deefw screeched
the old crone. "Is it Cap'n Selwyn
you want?"
Above, Selwyn, hearing his name
screamed through the shadows of the
- ancient house,
,EKNn ca me to the
ENSSG sS stair well and
G.Jlfh looked down in
M A. " to the blackness.
| ii II" NSH NWhat ie a.