Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1913-12-03

the matter. HUBERT
Nothing" returned Brancaster.
won't you sit down."
She obeyed his hand gesture and sat
down.
well. now" she continued, tell me
how you are"
His manner was cold as he replied:
"Pra ctically quite we'll again-at
least shall soon be-Sir Andrew has
gone"
While his manner was cold. and the
woman must have seen plainly that he
wished to break with her. there was
no consciousness of such knowledge in
her voice and manner as she ex-
claimed:
Poor darling! I'm so glad. Doctors
are sweet persons, but a hateful nui-
sance.'
81 owe my life TO them-and er-to
my nurses" he said warmly.
Dear things" she said. "but I
should have nursed you better. You
doQ't know what misery it was to
think of you lying there between life
and death among strangers"
They cared for me like the best OF
friends" said Brancaster warmly.
quite sweet of Them went on the
woman. but it was l who should have
been with you. 1t was my right. my
duty. given me by our love. What
should l have done If anything had
happened-if I had been left alone?"
She touched his shoulder with the
lightest of pressure. yet it was exceed
ingly repugnant to him. and he squirm-
ed in his seat. finally arising.
Nonsense, You've plenty of friends,
Nora" he exclaimed. annoyed.
"Friends:" she responded in a pecul-
lar infection.
Yes" he went on hurriedly, but still
firmly, you always had before we
met and will again after Even he
could not yet finish the sentence.
After what?" she asked, leaning far
over toward him.
Brancaster took a deep breath and
nerved himself.
After you've forgotten my exist |
ence,'' he said; friends who'll amuse |
you for the day, entertain you, invite |
you here and there. for this race week |
or that season, as did"
"Did?" she asked, repeating the past |
tense meaningly.
Yes" went on Brancaster. affecting |
not to notice. When you We're tired
with town and wanted rest and quiet |
In the country"
The woman's voice now became low,
intense and full OF sinister threat.
WAS that quite the spirit of your
Invitations, your letters. your protesta-
tions?" she asked quietly.
Brancaster shrugged his shoulders.
"Oh. well. surely no midsummer mad
ness is expected to live through an
autumn" he said firmly.
The woman was now on her feet and
quite close TO him. while her eyes fair
Y blazed into his.
"What are you trying to tell N HUI
1ert:" she demanded.
'That-that when a man has been as
lear to death as have" he continued,
he learns to look at life differently,
more clearly and
She broke in with:
stuff. When the devil was sick
he devil a saint would be- You've a
1t of the dismals. and 1 don't wonder
Ifter a month OF prunes and prisms in
place like this. Come back to the
2ievers. Wen ask some CHEEKY peo-
lie down to stay. You'll be yourself
gain"
81 am not coming back TO the RE
'ers," he said shortly.
"Eh? Well, it is gloomy. Much jol-
Ter to meet again IN town"
NO" he said.
Then wheref"
Nowhere" he replied. 1--WE can't
meet again at ALL
Cant? Why?" she asked. ready for
he clash.
"All that's over. Nora" he said. I'm
orry, but it's best TO say 1t out. I've
determined between us this today is
yoodby.'"
do you forget that you asked me to
e your wife?" she said.
That was before he began and
aused.
Before pack Of lies were published
i the papers" she finished for him;
neutrality-suspicious. that I was
ever called to answer-that were only
ali believed because-because-