Charlevoix county herald., 1913-03-08

through the door at tho opposite end
OF the ward. while the house surgeon
looked after him In wonder, scentiug
tragedy. But Hamlin FASTENED down
the stairs. needless of the impression
he gave. What an irony, that he should
have been the means of saving her
child-Miriam's child!
Yet the next morning he found
letter upon his table which set the
blood hurrying through his veins.
Too well he knew that writing. He
opened it slowly. fighting down the
impulse to fling it into the fire un-
read
Dear DR.. Hamlin," 1t began. Il
want to see you. to thank you for saw.
ing Ronald's life. Will you forget and
forgive everything that has passed?
giveness. Now all my views have
| changed. MIRIAM"
The house of the Keiths was oppo.
site the park-four miles away from
the dingy, old-fashioned quarter in
which st. Marks was set. Hamlin
had not been near the place for
years. Yet that afternoon, being free.
he did tramp into the park, and, so
| trampng through the cool groves that
eased the oppression of that fiery July
day, he found his footsteps inevitably
trending toward the place which had
been forbidden him.
And at last, toward the cool OF the
| afternoon, he found himself seated
upon bench facing the Keith man
sion, dreaming vain dreams. He re-
membered that spot well; there Mi
Ram and he had sat together when
sion, dreaming vain dreams.
He had been dreaming for half an
hour when he was suddenly recalled
to himself. A quiet, elderly man was
standing In front of him. The face
seemed familiar. The man stretched
out his hand.
Are you not DR.. Hamlin, sir?" he
asked. YES, was sure knew your
face. My name is Abel Keith. Surely
you remember me?'
Indeed l do, Mr.. Keith" said Ham,
lin, springing to his feet courteously.
! So this was Miriam's husband. He
could well imagine how the disparity
in tastes and years must have weigh
| ed on her.
day." said Mr.. Keith, taking a place
beside him. 1--WE hoped that you
would call. My wife and her sister
will be passing this way in a few
moments on their return from the
hospital; they always walk through
the park. Now, you must stay and
meet them-indeed you must, doctor.
cannot. of myself, thank you suf-
ficiently for having given us back our
child. 1t is our only one," he added
wistfully.
q can't" Hamlin stammered. Il
have an engagement. I"
NOW, my dear fellow" answered
the other. smiling, pray don't be SO
foolish. | know all about that misun-
derstanding OF yours with Miriam, and
/ don't say | regret it now, for it gave
me a wife. But old friends must not
be unforgiving. Stay a while, doctor!"
Hamlin looked at him in disgust
The old dotard! Did he, then, know
nothing, immersed as he was in his
books-did he know nothing of the in
| tensity of his love for Miriam, that
| he should seek thus to revive it?
Mr. Keith was prattling beside him,
| telling of hundred little things that
narrowed Hamlin's heart. He would
] find that Miriam had not changed in
the least, he said.
Il won't deny" continued the
scholar, that when Miriam told me
she had changed her views and re-
pented having broken the engagement
| between you'll won't deny that / did
have hopes that things might be adj
| justed."
Now Hamlin was sure that he was
dreaming. The old man babbled on.
I'm going to tell you about my lit
tie romance, my boy-for you are
| boy in years, compared with me, and
feel that l have you to thank for
| having given me the most charming
wife in the world. You know / was
engaged to Miriam, but l always felt
she didn't love me. And / offered her
her freedom three times, but she re-
fused to accept it. And so things
went on until the very day before our
| marriage. And then II WEIGHED"
"You what, sir?" exclaimed the
other.
WEIGHED! Made myself scarce.
| Rejected her. Yes, my boy, / was
absent in Europe year, and when
| came back Miriam saw things the
same way that did. And you know 1t
| always had been Evelyn whom really
| loved. She is older and our tastes are
| more alike. So that is how | came to
marry Evelyn"
"You married-Evelyn?" said Ham
lin, choking.
Indeed / did, and very happily, too"
answered the old scholar. Don't
you think Ronald looks like her lit
tie? Why, what ails you, my boy?
The heat must be too much for you.
Dear me-lets come into the house.