The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1909-05-27

BOND and feel little safer knowing
that In case of necessity we have some
thing to frighten away any roaming In
truder who might take II into his head
to visit us.
zone thing we must be careful about,
Yesterday Mrs. Ruthven had q doll on
my bed. and I sat sewing by the win
dow. not noticing what she was doing
until I 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 and
was using It as doll
IL got IL away with a little persua.
sion, but at times she still asks for her
army doll, saying that boy she
knew named Philip had sent II 10 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 a 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 he was ven.
turing to give himself holiday unless
wanted at Edgewater.
He had seen Eileen seldom that win.
ter When he had seen her their rela.
tiOns 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
Resides, her days were fun days.
consequent upon Nina's goading and
lndefatigable activity. Selwyn, unable
longer TO fulfil 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 II had as
sumed the proportions of an affair had
shyly come TO Selwyn, not for confes-
sion. hut with the crafty purpose OF
introducing her name into the conver.
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 quiZZed
him Gerald continued his elaborate
system Of subterfuges TO make her
personality and doings a topic for him
10 expand upon and Selwyn to listen
TO.
II had amused Selwyn. He thought
Of II 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 10
hazard II with chance and fate. Sci
wyn's dull eyes rested upon the ashes
OF the fire, and he saw his dead youth
among them and in the flames his
maturity burning to embers.
II he outlived Alike his life would lie
as the ashes lay at his feet. If she out
lived him-and they had told him
there was every chance of it-at least
he would have something TO busy him
self with in life II he was TO leave her
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, and
he rose and unlocked the receiver.
Drina's voice sounded afar, and
"Hello, sweetheart" he said gayly. "Is
there anything | can do for your
youthful highness"
"I've been talking over the phone to
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 houseT
Looking at the fire, Drina, and lis
tening to the purring Of three fat tabby
cats"
| ION, mother and Eileen have gone
somewhere. haven't anything to do
for an hour. Can't you come around"
"Why, yes, II you want me-"
"Yes, ! do OF course ! can't have
TNots, and prefer you next"
The child was glad TO see him and
expressed herself so, coming across to
the chair where he sat and leaning
against him, one arm on his shoulder.
"Do you know" she said, that |
miss you ever so much? Do you know
also that / am nearly fourteen and
that there is nobody In this house near
enough my age to be very companion
ablef Uncle Philip mother has for
hidden me, and I'll tell her and take
my punishment but would you mind
telling me how you first met my Aunt