The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1910-01-13

Since that day-five years ago, isn't it ?
I've never looked at a home paper.
cut myself off from the world altogether.
But I'll make a clean breast of it since
Standish is dead.
You remember the night of the big
affair at Lady Eglintons? Well. it was
that night that young Standish came
to my rooms.
"'Collins,' he said, pm in deuce of a
mess. [ got dunned by the Jews for
that big money I owed, and II wrote
Frisinghals name on big check What
am [ going to do?'
T'You could have knocked me down
with breath. The poor youngster was
sitting there all broken, his poor white
! face was stained with tears; and he was
the dead image of his sister-Ethel
| Standish. 1t was that that made me do
what [ did.
Its a good lot" said in answer, and
| felt the lameness of my remark.
But now" l went on, as he made no
| answer, "what do you intend to do?
The lads dead, and your names as clear
as ever it was. You'll cut this business,
of course, and come along home with
me?''
Mo- he said; mo, I think I won't
go home. You see, old chap, there are
some things that are hard to stand. You
say Ethel's married to Wycroft? Well,
that in itself's enough to keep me away
from home. loved that girl ever since
[ met her-you know her, so you can
| tell what sort OF love she bred in my
heart"
"What shall l tell Ethel Wycroft %
1 said suddenly; and 1 saw him vince.
Tell her? Why, nothing. Is she
happy?"
Didn't you hear?" he repeated. rs
she happy?''
Then l told lie; a good one, with
out tremor.
"She's as happy as the day is long,
| said
1t took me year to get home again.
I'd been away eighteen months, and |
found changes.
Lying on the table in my room was
letter from Lady Kilbride; it was an
invitation to a crush that very night.
So 1 dressed and went. On the way
got an evening paper and, looking
through the shipping news, l saw that
the Prometheus had locked in the East
India. But I was too excited to notice
it much.
The first person I saw at Lady Kill
brides was Ethel Wycroft. She was
looking exquisitely beautiful, but her
dress seemed strange somehow. Then
saw it was slight mourning
Flows Wycroft?" asked as I shook
hands. She started bit and flushed.
Didn't you kpow?" she said. "He
died last year,
ner by this. And then. while l was
talking, a sudden flash of light came to
me- / remembered the notice in the
paper about the Prometheus, and the
path opened out with glaring clearness.
Look here,'' 1 said swiftly, 'this is
pretty sickening. Will you 90 for a
jaunt? 1t isn't late"
She hesitated little and looked about
her rather shyly. But [ got her per-
suaded at last and we went out. Then
as she started to ask where we were
bound, / broke solemn oath.
do you ever think anything of Ar
thur Collins now?" 1 asked her. BE
cause,'' L said slowly, II met him out
abroad"
linen he isn't dead u
''He was very much alive when 1 saw
him last,' / said. Then I started in to
tell her of what I'd seen and done dur
ing the last eighteen months. 1t was
not until we clattered through the dock
gates that she began to get uneasy.
Where are we going?" she said
quickly.
told her she'd see soon enough. But
she drew back when 1 handed her out
alongside the old rusty Prometheus. I
got the Waterman, and asked him if
James Jones were aboard. and he led
us to a cabin aft. | looked in. Collins
was sitting there-he was second mate
and his face changed when he saw
me. Then l reached back and pushed
Ethel through the door.
[ waited for moment, Just long
enough to hear two words spoken in
most incredulous tones-"Arthuri and
"Ethel!" And then I shut the door and
went to the wharf, for I knew from
what I'd heard that everything would
be well.-Ernest Winchfeld in Cassell's'
Saturday Journal.