Evening star., 1911-06-08
CHAPTER XIV-Continued.

to protect and guard he- from all misfor-
tune was the one strong link that held
him in the world. Life as life had disap-
pointed him, not because he had made a
failure out of it, but because success was
not what he had supposed it to be. 1t is very
| likely that his subsequent Indifference to
| existence, coupled with far from robust
constitution, would have long since cut
short his earthly career had it not been
for Lois. She held him fast. He fiat
| tered himself-as what loving soul does
| not?-that he was necessary to her.. that
| only his old hand could keep her path
| clear from thorns and pitfalls 1t was
| the last duty which life had given him to
| perform. ard he clung to it gratefully.
never realizing the pathetic truth-the
| saddest truth of all-that with all our
love. all our heartfelt devotion and self
sacrifice, we can no more shield our dear
ones from the hand of fate than we can
| shield ourselves, and that their salvation,
| if salvation there be for Them can only
| come from their own strength.
What grave face.'' he said, with a
| lightness he was not feeling. why so
serious, dear? Has anything gone
Wrong?"
| She shook her head.
mo, nothing whatever; on the con-
trary, l was thinking how grateful for all
my happiness l ought to iceland do feel
NOulu you Cali me all uiSCoh-
tented person. uncle?"
You? No, What makes you ask?"
Il think l am ungrateful only you don't
notice it. because / am not more so than
most and perhaps less than good many.
Everybody has flashes of Self-revelatlOn
don't you think, when one sees oneself
and the whole world in the true proper
tions and not as in everyday life.
have just had such revelation l was
feeling rather annoyed that Capt. Stat
ford fnronffpn f0llrna-
ment ard so make me late; and then you
said something about him-you spoke as
though he were iIl-and the sickening
thought flashed through my mind: Sup
taken from NEEDED? Then things slip
ped into their right size. The petty. woes
and grievances which so constantly 1r-
ritate me became petty. l didn't care in
the least about the tennis~I thanked God
| for you and for your love-"
He saw that she was strangely moved
| Her voice had a rough, dry sound which
| he had not heard before. and her brows
were knitted in a plucky effort to keep
back the tears that some inward pain
| had driven to her eyes
Il didn't mean to frighten you. Lois" :"
| he said, remorsefully. How was l to
know that you were so easily alarmed?'
| She pressed his arm with warm affec-
| ton.
There is nothing to be regretted she
| said. Il ought to be glad that a little
| thing can stir me-some people need
catastrophe. If it had not been for that
sudden fear might have been bad
and every one"
And then you would have had to add
| it to the long list of days which haunt
us in later life he added. almost to him.
self. 'one of the occasions for happiness
which we have wilfully defaced But
there, / think I hear some one coming.
1t is probably Stafford. Won't you run
and meet him.
She drew her hand quickly from his
arm, as though In answer to his sugses-
| ton. then hesitated and shook her head.
II think l will wait here with YOU" she
said. looking up at him.
He nodded. and they stood side by side
| watching the pathway which led around
| to the high road beyond the compound.
| Col. Carmichael was smiling to himself.
| His wife's sure conviction that the hour
| of Lois union with Stafford was not far
| off had at last overcome his own mex
plicable doubts and objections, and he
| even considered the possibility with a
kind of satisfaction not unmingled with
pain. ut is we'll that she should have a
good. strong man to protect her." he
| thought. conscious of age and growing
infirmity. Then he looked down at the
| happy face beside him and his smile lost
all trace of bitterness. 'She loves him. "
was the concluding thought that flashed
| through his mind as Stafford appeared
| around the corner. He meant to say
| something in tender jest to her, but the
| words died on his lips and he felt that
the hand upon his arm had frightened. II
| was the only sign which Lois made that
| a sudden change had come over her
| horizon. She said nothing, but in the
rested on her in half tender half teasing
| query, she knew instinctively that her
| happiness had shattered against a rock
which. hidden beneath a treacherously
| calm sea. had struck suddenly at the very
| foundations of her world.
| Stafford was coming toward them slow
| ly, his head bent. 1t was not his face
| which. like a bitter frost froZe the over
flow of her happy heart to icy fear-for
| she could not see it, 1t was his attitude,
| his movements. above all a terrible re-
| turn of that presentment which already
once that day had darkened her hopeful.
| CHEEKY mood. Do what she would, she
could not move to meet him. She could
only stand there. clingjng to her guard
| ians arm, the smile of welcome stiffen-
ing on her pale lips The colonel was the
| first to speak. He held out his disen-
| gagged hand with a frank movement OF
pleasure.
Glad to see you, Stafford" he said. II
| was beginning to think the fever had
lreally got hold Of YOU What has caused
the delay?"
"Delay?" Stafford repeated DULY, look
| ing from one to the other.
| Travers. who had joined them mo-
ment before, laughed with sincerity.
MY good fellow-surely you have not
| forgotten?" he said. You promised To
fetch Miss Caruthers for the tourna-
ment.'
/ "Ah, the tournament" Stafford passed
his hand quickly across his forehead like
| man who has been awakened roughly
| from a dream. "Of course-the tourna-
ment. l am awfully sorry He turned
to Lois with a curious, awkward gesture
| I'm afraid l can't come. II am not
| very tit-in fact He hesitated and
then stopped altogether. looking past her
with his brows knitted. his lips COM
pressed as though in an effort to keep
back an exclamati ton Of pain.
| You look out of sorts" Travers agreed
sympathetically. Come and take my
chair. I'll look after Miss Caruthers-ii
she will let me-
Lois shook her head. She was watch
ing Stafford's ashy face, and there was a
pity in her eyes which was deepening
every instant to tenderness. All suffering
awoke in her an instant response. and
| this man was dear to her-how dear she
only realized now that the lines of pain
were on his forehead.
| You are not to bother" she said
| gently but with an unmistakable deci-
sion. Il can manage quite we'll by my
| self l shall start as soon as / have
given Capt. Stafford cup OF tea. Sit
down-it will do you good"
| Stafford made an abrupt gesture Of re-
| fusal. The movement was almost vio-
| lent, as though for an instant he had lost
| hold over himself. Then he pulled him.
| self together. looking her full and stead
| lily in the face.
1T is very good of you,' he said. "but.
| to break a piece of news to you. As
nv best friends here l thOuCht IL only