South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1916-11-18

the old man who had brought him up from
infancy. and with whom he had quarrelled on
his wifes account. He mad written, three
months since news of Hilda's expectations,
and had hoped against hope for a kind word
in reply. He turned the bag upside down and
scattered the contents on the mat-strewn floor,
but though ii was full mail-Hilda's budget
being especially voluminous-it did not bring
what he sought. and it was with feeling of
grieved disappointment that he found instead
first one and then a second letter addressed in
the writing of the old family lawyer through
whom Che was a good friend, Hearn knew
all his uncle's brief communications to him had
been made since he had disobeyed the stub
born old man and taken Hilda to wife
The lawyers letters were dated within few
days of each other, and being a man of orderly
Lind, Hearn opened first the earlier one.
1t was almost with resentful Indifference
that he broke the seal. Surely the old man
his earliest friend-the only father he had
known, might have unbent little in view of
the occasion.
But with the first few lines he read his
thoughts were changed. The letter was long,
but the purport may be rendered briefly. His
uncle had not, indeed, forgiven him, but he
was loath to visit the sin of the father on his
child. He had, therefore, made new will be-
queathing the property to the first child born
to Godfrey and Hida-
Godfrey was to administer the estate as
guardian to his child, and 1t was the old mans
wish-the letter added-that he should as soon
as possible resign his appointment and return
to England to reside on the estate to which
the child would be heir.
"A complete reconciliation, my dear Geof-
frey" wrote the old lawyer "safeguarded just
for pride's sake by a few formalities."
Hearn sat for moment quite still. his heart
gripped as in a vice by the poignancy Of the
announcement
Then he took up the second letter II was a
brief statement that his uncle had died, and set
forth that the writer's earlier communication
TO the disposition Of the property held good
I'm every important particular and urged on
Hearn the advisabity OF returning to England
to set his house in order as soon as he could
obtain permission from his chiefs to do so.
Hearn rose and crossed the tent and stood
in the doorway gazing out with all unseeing
eyes across the sunlit plain
No, his thoughts were far away, centred In
the old rambling red brick house, whose every
nook he knew; set amid sunken lawns with
high yew edges, quantity trimmed with long
drive between banks Of ThodOdendrOns backed
by tall trees-he had been caned for stoning
squirrels in those trees.
And now he could go back to IL all No.
he reflected quietly, that would be wrong, and
in a way dishonest to himself. He would not
lightly abandon this new career on which he
had entered. But he could obtain leave and
take Hilda home and leave her safely estab-
lished amid the surroundings she craved and
among the friends and the interests that
seemed to be so essential to her happiness.
That done, he would return 10 MS WOrh Nnls
uncle he felt, would have approved HIM and
he would trust to time-time and the new con-
ditions. to heal the breach that had arisen be-
tween his wife and himself. In year maybe
it might indeed be longer-Hilda would wish
him back again in her life and at any rate he
might hope in that time TO be transferred to
a post where the conditions of existence would
be more congenial to a woman of her tempera-
ment.
He smiled, little drearily, at the thought
Poor Hilda! These years of exile had indeed
been misery to her.
His reflections were interrupted by a sud-
den and arresting commotion From the far
boat tent emerged a commanding figure, and
Immediately the quiet of the camp was broken
by strident cries and loud clappng Of hands
The newcomer, whose appearance revealed an
attempt doubtless made for purposes of con-
venience, to marry he utilitarian and decora-
tive extremes OF eastern and western cos
tune, lady of mature years, extremely
tall and bulky beyond the dreams Of opulence.
"Heh. la bas," she cried shrilly. ''Mouk
tar. Avoids. Marionka- Mais venez done
fenantsl" and at the noise The camp seemed
to spring to life, and several men and native
woman came running from the servants
quarters. The lady greeted them abruptly, and
fired on a rapid volley Of orders.
ITEMS vous VOLTA, brigands." Then TO the
native woman: Go take my place beside the
bed of madam Make not sound; do not
even breathe"
Avoids. seek me the major quickly This
was said 10 one Of the men
HE is gone to visit the sheikh Of the Morgue.
Say pray him 70 press himself" she shouted
after the man. as he ran on. His pituite can
well wait till Tomorrow of that old bonhomme-"