The Kendrick gazette. [volume] (Kendrick, Idaho) 1892-1968, 1914-01-02

Il
he said.
"You make too much of it" she dis
claimed. Couldn't you in the fu-
ture"-
A wild. new hope pervaded the
whole being Of Brancaster. He rose
and stepped toward her.
"Is that your wish?" he asked
breathessly.
'Tndeed-from my heart" said this
young girl. looking him straight in the
eyes.
Then the past does not make yon
utterly despise me?" he continued
eagerly.
"Of course not she said. ut only
makes me sad. 1t all seems pity"
Gould your pity ever be akin to-
ITO hope? 1t is that now"
The fearless gaze Of the "cleanest
sportswoman in all England inspired
Brancaster. A moment he drew closer
to her-closer than either realized.
Their hands touched. He felt her
warm breath on his eyes and hair.
Hurriedly and hopefully, yet fearfully,
he went on:
"And If hope were justifed-if you
saw that man could shake Off the
past - retrieve repair = hold up his
head and come to you with clean hands
and clean heart-would you let him
say to you
The sudden entrance of servant
put an end to what was in his heart
and mind.
Mrs. D'Aquila." announced the me-
NAL.
Brancaster shrugged angry Shout
ders.
You'd rather be alone" suggested
Lady Diana.
"Yes. and I shall be in few mo-
ments," answered Brancaster.
"I'l come to you when you are"
said Lady Diana and was gone.
A moment later Mrs. D'Aquila was
advancing toward him with outstretch-
ed hands.
"Ah, dear Hubert" she exclaimed
and then stopped short as she saw that
he took almost involuntarily a few
backward steps from her. what is
the matter. Hubert?'
Nothing returned Brancaster.
wont 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:
"Practically 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
l 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 hateful nui
sance."
II owe my life to them-and er-to
Il my nurses" he said warmly.
n Dear things" she said, "but
i should have nursed you better. You
It don't know what misery it was tc
e think Of you lying there between life
U and death among strangers"
:. "They cared for me like the best Of
IS friends" said Brancaster warmly.
Il "Quite sweet of them!' went on the
n woman. but it was l who should have
been with you. 1t was my right, my
e duty. given ME by our love. What
should l have done If anything hat
!. happened-if l had been left alone?"
o She touched his shoulder with the
/. lightest of pressure. yet it was exceed
k ingly repugnant to him. and he squirm
o ed in his seat. finally arising.
Nonsense! You've plenty Of friends
a Noraw he exclaimed, annoyed.
"Friends?' she responded in pecul
o lar infection.
e YES" he went on hurriedly. but still
:. firmly. "you always had before VIZ
II met and will again after Even ht
could not yet finish the sentence.
h After what?" she asked, leaning fal
v over toward him.
= Brancaster took a deep breath ant
= nerved himself
10 AFTER you've forgotten my exist
\ ence," he said; friends who'll anus,
you for the day, entertain you, Invite
r you here and there. for this race weel
% or that season. AS did"
"Did?" she asked. repeating the pas
tense meaningly.
"Yes." went on Brancaster. affectin,
r not to notice. when you were tiret
with town and wanted rest and quie
7 in the country"
The woman's voice now became low
= intense and full Of sinister threat.
: WAS that quite the spirit of you
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 al
autumn" he said firmly.
!, The woman was now on her feet an,
quite close to him. while her eyes fair
>, ~ blazed into his.
q "What are you trying to tell me. Hu
a bert?" she demanded.
>. ''That-that when a man has been Al
, near to death as | have" he continued
% "he learns to look at life differently
% more clearly and
She broke In with: