The Tupelo journal., 1909-06-25
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they were better off than he who
had no child to die"
Rupert was looking away from the
speaker with the instructive embar-
rassment of a mar who surprises the
deeper feelings of another. He could
see Out of the window the lovely April
garden and Janet Smith amid the al
mond blossoms. Only her shining
black head and her white shoulders
and bodice rose above the pink clus-
tiers. She looked up and nodded, see
ing him; her face was a little pale,
but she was smiling.
81 don't know" he said, "it's hard
enough either way for a man."
Il never lost any children'-Keatch-
ANS tone was dry, still, but it had not
quite the former desiccated quality
"but l was married, for a little while.
If it's as bad to lose your children as
it is to lose the hope of having them,
it-must be hard. You lost your wife,
too?"
Eyes," said Rupert Winter.
At this moment he became con-
scious that Keatcham was avoiding his
gaze in the very name of his avoid
ing of Keatcham's a moment ago; and
it gave him a bewildering sensation.
Il wanted to marry my wife for
seven years before we were married"
Keatcham continued In that carefully
monotonous voice. "She was the
daughter of the superintendent of the
mine where I was working. l was
only IS when l first saw her. l was
Is when We were married. She used
to give me lessons; she was educated
and accomplished. She did more than
is easy telling, for me. OF course, her
parents were opposed at first because
they looked higher for her, but she
brought them round by her patience
and her sweetness and her faith in
me. Six months after We were mar
ried, she had an accident which left
her a helpless invalid in a wheeled
chair, at the best; at the worst, suf-
fering-you've known what it is to
see anybody, whom you care for, in
horrible pain and trying not to show 1t
when you come near"
81 have" said Winter; merry hell,
isn't it?"
81 have seen that expression" said
Keatcham; 81 neve recognized its
peculiar appropriateness before. Yes,
it is that. Yet, Winter, those two
years she lived afterwards were the
happiest of my whole life. She said,
the last night she vas with me, that
they had been the happiest of hers"
II don't wonder you didn't marry
again." said Winter.
you would not wonder If you had
known Helen. She always under
stood. Of course, now, at 81, l could
buy a pretty, innocent, young girl who
would do as her parents babe her, and
cry her eyes out before the wedding,
or a handsome and brilliant society
woman with plenty of matrimonial ex-
perience-but / don't want them. l
should have to explain myself to
them; l don't know how to explain
myself; you see l can't half do it"
II reckon I understand a little"
81 guess you do. You are different,
too. Well, let's get down to business,
think you some way of getting the
women out Of the house; and get your
sleuths after Atkins. It's we get him,
or he gets us!'"
The amateur secretary assented and
prepared to go, for the valet was at
the door, ready to relieve him; but
opposite Keatcham, he paused a Sec
ond, made a p~retense Of hunting for
his hat, picked it up in his left hand
and held out the right hand, saying:
well, take care of yourself"
Keatcham nodded: he shook the
hand with a good firm pressure.
Much obliged, Winter" said he.
well" meditated the soldier as he
went his way, 81 never did think to
take that financial bucaneer by the
hand; butt wasn't the bucaneer,
it was the real Edwin Keatcham."