The Washington times., 1918-06-15
Part ons-CContinued)

"ho uAQ come out on TO the airs,
could hear the easy accents Of the
good Samaritan as he addressed the
tootman. Il was luckily able to
help him. With Mrs Borradale-s
permission, 1 will assist him to his
room and attend to him. Ah!" He
glanced up as Esther appeared in
the hall There is nothing to be
alarmed about, ] assure you" He
addressed her with a frank smile.
Mr.. Borradsle had an upset in a
cab. and has cut his head slightly
with the glass. He is feeling a
trifie faint, but II will pass"
Harold had sunk down upon a
hall chair. His eyes Travelled from
face to face, and settled upon
Esther
Esther. I am very sorry" he
muttered.
The footman appeared more con-
eerned than suspicious. He was the
only man servant in the house, the
others having been allowed to take
their holidays
Esther. pale but self-possessed,
gave few quick orders to Lillian.
4 She hardly glanced at Harold. She
could not act a part to him. To
the stranger she spoke.
Il cannot thank you enough" she
said. "You have been most kind
10 my husband and to me- She
thought that she should allow him
90 take his departure now, but
without him she felt Rtifully help
less.
should I send for a DOCTOR she
asked.
"oh, no." he laughed lightly.
There is really no need for such
= course. II you will allow me still
further TO assist you ] will under
take to make Mr.. Borradale quite
comfortable and see to It that he
Is able 10 continue his journey
this evening. ! am a doctor, though
not in regular practice"
"Oh, is Il possible" asked Esther,
gratitude springing to her eyes,
that we may be able to 60 on
tOniEht?- It IS so important that
We should do so, and l have been
wondering what we could say to
account for the delay. You think
Mr.. Borradale will be-weu
enOughT"
Accident sobeFH Harold.
I'm all right" muttered the in
Sured man. His accident-he had
indeed been thrown from a cab
sobered him, and he understood
the position He spoke now as IL
TO disaEm the footmanis sUs-
cionA "A bit OF a shock, cut my
head, you sea wash and q rest,
change my cIothes-we1l take
late train. Don't worry about me-
His articulation was thick and the
sentences jerky. He made an eff
fort TO move, but the stranger re
strained him.
spare room, on the ground floor.
and Il was 20 this that Borradale
vas led. Esther and Lillian with
drew 70 the study and waited.
Then for the first time that day
Lillian attempted to say words Of
consolation
"Ch4er UP. Esther" she said,
cor we shall be having you look
ing i'll, too. If what this doctor
says is true We shall be able TO
get TO Helm without great delay.
II Is luck We lost no time in leav-
ing Menaggio."
based" murmured Esther, great
tears springinE 10 her eyes. land
it Is Harold who has made me
ashamed What shall 1 do What
hope Is there for him and for me?
] love him Lillian-she was argU-
Ing against the resentment which
was in her for the insult TO her
pride, trying TO stihe her disgust
but Harold is not Harold-how
cane II be the same
And Lillian could give sympathy
but no hope. She knew that the
Harold whom Esther loved could
never be restored to her: At best
the present degraded Harold might
-
as his father was, no mate for a
bright girl who, IN spite Of trOu-
bles endured, desired light, laughter
and lOVe-and how shall a woman
give her love when, once accepted,
Il has been thrown back TO her?
Esther was still sobbing softly
when the footman entered with a
note which had evidently been has
lilly penciled in the dining room
upon BorradaIe paper.
Stranger Is SOIicitouA.
Mr. Borradale-so the letter
stated-was resting comfortably:
by the evening he would. in all
probability, be able to travel Moth
ing more could be done at present
The writer would be happy to re-
turn. IL permission was granted
him 10 90 So 10 give TURNER atten-
ton 10 his patient. Perhaps Mrs
Borradale would see him FOR a few
moments before he left? The let
ter was signed Basil FIectW God"
: Certainly Esther would see Mr..
Fleetwood She dried her eyes and
bade the fOotman show Mr. Fleet
wood into the study When the
man had gone she showed the let
ter TO Lillian.
THE name is quite unknown 10
me-" she said. yet there IL some
thing about the man which seems
familiar. ] don't know II IL Is his
eyes. or his voice, or what He
must be like some one I have seen.
for I'm quite certain ! have never
met him before"
Mr.. Fleetwood entered. He had
q brusque manner. but bright
smile which counteracted it, LII
liam took careful stock Of him, for.
though she said nothing, she. too.
had a vague sense OF acquaintance
with this stranger. Yet as with
Esther. the name was wholly I'M
familiar to her. Certainly she was
agFeeably impressed. The man was
undoubtedly . gentleman he held
himself well. and his clothes fitted
him to perfection. His face was
frank and honest His hair was
black and abundant lie may have
been thirt.-five years Of age