Evening journal. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1907-1913, 1912-09-12

the villainous slant-eyed camp into
confusion, and l rejoiced at my friends
intrepidity.
And so, 3" said to Miss Clement,
you wish me to wait another day."
q think it would be worth while"
She answered
And ] do, too" I told her. 81 don't
suppose you've seen an afternoon pa
per, have you?" went on. We'll, they
contain some news OF interest. They
say that Mr. Cameron came home last
night, and for once, at least, they tell
what is very nearly the truth"
If sincerity ever carried over wire
it carried then in Miss Clements con-
gratulations, and there was something
almost divine in her forbearance to
ask for particulars. She congratulated
Evelyn, too, and promised to come to
see her, soon; and then once more she
assured me that she would yet learn
everything We could possibly care to
know.
"The Chinese" she added, "are a de-
liberate race, Mr.. Clyde. They refuse
TO be hurried. But eventually we shall
have our answers"
With Evelyn beside me the hours no
longer dragged. We talked unceasing-
ly; reviewing everything from the re-
ceipt of the first letter; conjecturing
on each of the score of little problems
making up the one great mystery, but
arriving at nothing definite; adding, il
changing conditions at all, to our own
confusion.
And if, in passing, at intervals,
where opportunity offered, spoke ten
der words and pleaded for definite,
or at least closer, more intimate I'm.
Outstanding between us. who shall say
that-I was to blame? She was never
more lovely, never more appealing
than she was that morning; and
begged for an admission of senti-
ment above and beyond the mere sis
terly regard to which hitherto she had
persisted in limiting her expressed af.
lection for me.
More than once I had read in her
eyes-without unseemly conceit,
trust l may be permitted this asser.
tion-what | now asked in lip avowal.
But there seemed to be with her no
ton that the occasion was ill-suited to
my plea.
Philip" she said, dear Philip,
care for you very much; almost as
much as I care for Uncle Robert. You
have been very good to me, and very
good to him, and if l could tell you
that l love you in the way you ask
l." And there she hesitated a shade
OF a second. Gwen if l could tell you,'
she corrected. Il wouldn't tell you
now. 1t is not stubbornness, Philip
1t is just woman's way. Ask me
again, when Uncle Robert IS well, and
all this horrible nightmare has passed
Promise me that you will ask me
again!"
Never fear" I returned, 'In ash
you"
And promise me, too" she added
chat until all the skies are clear once
more, you viii not mention the sub.
ject.''
| was on the verge of promising;
not because it would be an easy prom
Use to keep, for l knew it would be
very difficult; but because | could
deny her nothing, l was on the verge,
| say, when the library door opened,
and Louis, pale and excited, and so in
haste that he mad not paused to knock,
was exclaiming:
Monsieur Cameron, Pardon! Mails,
enfin, etesYous prete?"
A score of fears springine instantly
to birth within us, Evelyn and | were
on our feet before the speech, rapid
" delivered as it was, was finished.
We're we ready! We evidenced our
readiness in no such yoiceless thing
as words.
Louis stood aside for us to pass, and
as l went by him. asked, under my
breath;
what is it, LOUISE"
"Ah!" he whispered. Monsieur
Cameron is talking in the strange
tongue which neither Monster Bryan
nor myself can understand"