The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1912-07-25


arms. In his eyes was the tired, wist-
full expression peculiar to fever con-
valescents She felt in them still an
other quality. deep sadness bred of
no mere physical weakness
He felt her gaze. His head turned
slowly to face her. He looked at her
wonderingy. without speaking. His
hand brushed across his forehead in
troubled gesture. as one would brush
aside a dream that fingers overlong
She strove to give her words a con-
ventional tone.
'T'm glad you are recovering so rap
idly, Mr.. McAdoo"
His face lighted up in an incredu-
lous eagerness.
Are you-really2 | was just think
ing of you. And sometimes my fancies
get the better of me nowadays"
He got to his feet uncertainty. She
saw the effort It cost him in his weak
ness She put her gloved hand in his:
he caught II in strong clasp.
"You mustn't stand" she said anx-
iously. you aren't strong yet"
He sank back into his chair. AS he
did so the shawl fell from his shoul-
ders. Trembllngly he stopped to re-
cover It. But she was swifter than he.
She threw II around him again. AS
she drew her arm away II brushed
against him. For the first time their
eyes looked away
She took the chair where Kathleen
had been. II was he who at last broke
the silence. The words fell haltingly.
uncertainty
81 can't quite realize It Often have
thought of you being here there are
so many things | wanted to say to
you. Now-seeing you therein that
chair
She turned TO aim eagerly. her eyes
pleading with him not to misunder-
stand. 81 had to come-to acknowl-
edge my fault"
"Your fault2 But
Eyes. My shameful fault! Don't you
wee, owed 1t to myself TO come"
"You p.ean-Paul Remington? But
that is not your fault. IL only-am
responsible for that. I tried to shape
his life after mine--a poor model, Mrs.
Gilbert. ] tried to cut him of from
his happiness. Being what he was. he
had to leave me. And there were
others-who were tempting him. We
were too much for him.
"Ah, but | made II easy for him to
yield by making him discontented"-
ut began before that. But that was
your right too | tried to cut you of
from your happiness"
"But-it makes what | did the more
shameful-my happiness was not in.
volved. Mr.. McAdoo."
He shook his head gravely. "It
might have been. He was very Low.
able" He used the past tense In which
we speak of the dead.
Again their eyes fell apart and there
was silence. She forced herself to
speak.
"You have learned the lesson OF
generosity well. Mr.. McAdoo."
II have TO earn the charity that has
been given me-from every one-now
from you. was cruel. brutal. to you
yet you could come here. Doesn't
that prove that you, too, have forgiven
much-far more than IL"
mo! For what you said was true.
And ] was afraid to come-afraid OF
your judgment. You make me the
more ashamed
Don't" he cried sharply, as If In
pain. ut hurts to see you abase your.
self before me-"
Again a silence. while his eyes held
hers. The quality of his gaze frlghten.
ed her. 1t was saying too mach
breaking down her self command. |
drawing her to him. She spoke hastily |
"Mr. McAdoo. do you know that he
has disappeared
She saw then the hurt that had been |
put upon him. "Yes have tried to |
have him found. but they can discover
no trace of him. But | will not give
up until he is found-and our fault
repaired" He used the plural uncon
sciously.
when you find him will you let me
know? | shall send an address to
the Dunmeades."
"You are going awayT
"Yes; tomorrow"
"And you will not come back" He
did not ask a question.
He turned once more to look out into
the street. But he saw nothing there.
He was measuring the meaning of the
moment. She had changed, as had he;
he felt II In her every word. in her
presence. Yet her humility hurt him
strangely. He had many things to
make up to her"-and he would never
have the chance; she was going away.
out of his life, as suddenly as she had
come. Both feared the next meeting
OF eyes. Each had secret that must
be withheld Yet by that telepathy
which informs hearts even across the
distances each guessed the others Sc
cret, knew that the frank intimacy of
the moment sprang from more than a
regret. was more than the