The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1911-08-26
chApTGR XVII


Miss Hope Suggests.
No sooner bad Miss Maclairs van
lshed than Ksith's thoughts turned to
yard Hope Waite. She would need
someone In her loneliness TO take her
mind from on her brothers death.
and. besides. much had occurred OF
interest since the funeral, which hs
desired 10 talk over with her. b
yonA even these considerations he wss
becoming aware Of a pleasure In the
giri's company altogether foreign to
0is mystery which they were en-
doavorfng together to solve. He
ysarnsd 70 be with her, to look into
her face. 70 mark how clearly the of.
fsrfng soul changed her from Christie
MAciairs. He could not help but like
tho latter. yet somehow was conscious
q totally different stmospheres sur
rounding the two. With one he could
b hippant, careless. even deceitful.
but the other aroused only the best
thAt vas IN him. her own sincerity
mailing him sincere.
TEE thsre was reluctance In his
steps - he approached the door Of
rs" . laSgardness he could not ex-
plain. but which vanished swiftly
enough ak Hopes greeting. and the
sudden smile with which she recog-
Missed him
Il was sure you would come.- she
declared FRANKLY. and took an early
lunch 80 - TO be certain and be here.
u has seemed . long time since"
And you might have even thought
had forgotten he answered. releasing
her hand reluctantly, III you could
lave looked into the dining-room
onoe. instead OF staring out Of these
vtndcwa-
Whyf How forgottenr" her eyes
cDoa1ng wide In surprise.
had The pleasure Of takins supper
v1th Miss Maciaire"
~ohi" ths exclamation decidedly en-
DgossivA
-Yss. I come at once to you with
- confession However. our meet
1ng was purely accidental. and %
hops for pardon"
Pardon from msf Why, what dff-
fsrsnce can Il possibly make to mef"
Would you have me consort with
he snsmyf' he asked. scarcely daring
- prsss his Deeper meel ing.
ON. no. Of course not What did
you talk ahouti Do you mind tellinsr'
Not IN the least: our conversation
was entirely irnpsrsonal. She was
fslifng mo about Hawiey; what . won
esrfulu goed man he L.. have BE-
san 70 suspect the fellow has fas-
ehaatsd the poor girl-he u q good
bpoking devil. possessed OF Q tongue
dripping with honey"
Surely you do not mean she has
fAuen In love with him." and Hope
sbuddered st tho thought Why
Why that would be impossible for
Sor good woman
~Standards OF morality are not al
vsys the same" he defended gravely.
Miss Maciairc's environment has
been vastly different from yours,
Hope She Is q variety hall singer;
vrooabiy. from her own account, q
srah since childhood: and Hawiey has
some 70 her In the character Of
friend appealing both to her interest
and sympathy. do not know she Ia
N love with him. merely suspect she
may be; certainly she is ready to do
battle on his behalf at the slightest
opportunity. She believes In him. do
tends him. and resents the slightest
fnsinuation directed against him. He
even escorts her back and forth from
her work"
~Ycu know thisY'
certainly do" and he laughed at
ne recollection. "Fairbain met u
coming out of the dining.room-you
know what q delightful. blunt, blunder-
ins fellow no IL! Well. Miss Christie
must have made an impression even
On his bachelor heart, for he actually
requested the privilege of escorting
her TO the Trocadero. and back TO the
nOtsi after tho performance tonight
-oinsed at q lunch. the gay old dog,
and prancsd about like q stagedoor
Johnnie II was q treat TO watch her
face when he blurted II all out. snap
Ping his sentences as II he swung
vhiplash She excused herself on
Ne score Of . previous engagement
But that was not necessarily with
Havley'
I asked her directly. after the doc
tnr bad disappeared
You must have become very famil-
iAr. questioning once again In her
voice
80 Miss Maciaire evidently thought,
Judging from her manner. However
she answered frankly enough. and
even denantly added tho Information
that the gentlemcI. had something TO
tmpaxt 70 her Of me utmost import
ancs ssrcasucally asking mo IL I
didnt wish could be there and over
hsaf. But sit down. Hope. until tell
you ali that has occurred"
He went over the various events In
Apfafl Watching eagerly tha exnrea-