El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1911-12-15

HRS. RUTGER DE PEYSTER was
M sitting in her deck chair look
49, ing at the passengers saunter-
ing back and forth on the promenade
deck and a CLEAN Of interest came into
her eyes when young Mr. Oswald came
I'D to her. bidding her good morning
in his pleasant voice, and asked per
mission to sit down In cotoaeI os Feg-
ster's chair until he came on deck
The Jealous glances Of his fellow pas
sengers had told Oswald that II was
an unusual honor when Mrs de ReysteE
a couple OF days before had asked MN
to walk a couple Of turns around tne
deck with her. She really felt more
than a mere passing interest IN him.
and she had meant what she said, when
she told him It would be a pleasure TO
her if she could De OF any service u
It vas characteristic of Mrs. de Pey-
ster that. while nobody could boast OF
ever having penetrated her shell OF re-
serve she understood how 10 inspire
others to tell her everything about
themselves A lady friend had once
said of her: Mrs. de Peyster knows
nv inmOst soul, but know absolutely
no more about her than anybody else
does hut I know that-that any secret
YOU tell her is absolutely safe.
After a while Oswald said:
do you know, Mrs. de Peyster, that
ever since yesterday have felt that
there is something 1 must tell you ana
last night when I saw the ring OF splen-
did sapphires you were wearing az DIN
ner, felt it to be an omen that may
open my heart to you May tell you a
siIf you are sure you won't regret It
afterwards and If 1T is not lC5 long,
you may" she replied with smile
After a moments hesitation ne be-
You have been so exceedingly kind
to me- Mrs. de Peyster. that / am con-
H.. r~eHr 9 p
care to know a little more about me
NV mother married twice and am the
son of her second marriage Ny step
brOthe r, Jack, was 19 years cider 1hen
7 and as he left home as soon as he
was q to manage his fathers estate, I
we did not see much OF one another,
but he always came home twice a year
and I looked forward to his visits with
great pleasure.
A strange expression nad come into
Mrs de Peyster's face and suddenly she I
asked: 'Is your name TOM "
Yes" he exclaimed But now ola
4 don't know" she replied. q just I
thought the name suited you.
He went on:
LACK was a splendid fellow. You |
would have liked him, Mrs. de Peyster. 1
I do not know if you would have /
thought him handsome, but 1t was i'm /
possible not to feel his strength when /
together with him. You always IelL i
that someone was near who cared for /
you. His mind was so perfectly pal |
anced and he had a host Of friends,
ct once tried to lie to Jack, but ne /
looked straight into my eyes ana 4
felt like a wet dog. When my mother |
died 10 years ago, was sent TO school !
in Vevey. Jack came twice year to |
see me and, as he thought had some |
talent in painting, we agreed that 1 /
should go to Paris to study.
This year in March Jack cabled me /
to meet him at Cherbourg Usually be !
did not come across al. that time OF the
year, so I knew something unusual !
must have happened. I met him and /
we went together to Mentone. You I'M /
derstand what had happened: the Chi /
cago climate mad been 100 nucn Tor /
him and his lungs were in bad con- /
dition-
During the first week we drove out /
quite often and a good many friends 1
came to see us, but later we Iound II /
much more pleasant to spend our Gays i
on our balcony all alone.
when Jack saw that I would not j
leave him to go out with other young 1
people, he did everything tnaI snouId
not miss their company. can see
plainly now how really he did much 4
more than his strength permitted him 4
to. I wish you could have heard him /
telling stories One morning Jacks ]
valet came to me and said: Mr.. Man
chester asks you to come to his room
Until that day he had felt so sure that
he would recover, but after sleepless
]
asked him to tell him the truth. |
think he had kept up his spirits for
nv sake for sometimes in the evening
his mind would wander and once
heard him murmur, Fourteen years, !
and Jacob served only seven years for /
Rachel" Another time he said: How
charming you are The day will surely |
come when we two viii cross the At
lantic together How I wish she might |
know this, Mrs. de Peyster but 7 have /
not the slightest idea VINO she is, or
where to find her.
"One afternoon in April, when the 4
fragrance Of the flowers was almost !
intoxicating, he called me and sent his
valet away. When Crawford had left, |
he asked for a tin box and his keys /
He opened the box, which was filled !
with letters and papers and thinking ]
that he wanted TO be alone, 7 started
TO leave the room. but he called me
back and I saw him reading a letter
and heard him whisper. Darling as
he placed a portrait among the letters.
There was fire in the fireplace and