The Washington times., 1918-08-10
CHAPTER CXVII.
BasiT,s Sudden Call,

BasiPs Sudden Call
And so, Esther, nothing I can
say, nothing can do. will induce
you to change your mind?" Basil
spoke very sadly. He was stand
ing upon the terrace, and his hand
rested upon the saddle of his BIZ
cycle.
Esther sighed a negative. "T
must do what 1 feel to be my duty.
Basil. / can never forget that
married Harold because I loved him
with all my heart-and that was
barely a year ago. He has suffered
very terribly. and he has given way
to strange and subtle temptations.
But II may not be all his fault.
must make every allowance for him.
Ny place is by his side"
you are an angel" said Basil,
for there isn't q woman in a mil
lion who would live with a man in
Harold Borradale's condition. or
who would forgive all these
months OF neglect-to say nothing
of the other circumstances. But it
is hard upon me-very hard. And
may neither see you nor write
to you"
@As long as I am with Harold"
she INTERCEPTED, softly. you know
that Mrs. Willoughby has promised
to write to you and keep you reg
ularly informed as to my doings."
YES" he said anxiously, but
do you suppose 1 can be content
with that when believe that you
are not safe with your husband?"
"If find that Harold is not sin
cere," said Esther, decidedly, 'T
shall leave him. I give you my
word as to that. Lillian is going to
be with me, so do not feel afraid.
And you shall be told at once IL
anything serious happens."
Il suppose must submit"
BasiPs eyes were heavy and trou-
bled, his brow overcast His leave
taking had lasted long. for it was
now well after o'clock. and any
further delay was impossible. Lii
lian had considerably left the two
young people together while she
went upstairs to pack.
81 hate it." he said. al cannot
bear to go away like this. shall
fancy all sorts Of evils menacinG
you was so happy this morning
when / thought you were going to
make your escape-and now things
are worse than ever. Oh, Esther"
-he clasped her hand in his-"prom-
Use me-promise me that you will
take care Of yourself. / am afraid
of so many things. There Is that
horrible, insidious drug. which you
yourself admit might have had a
fascination for you II you were
forced 20 take It. Supposins-'
Harold has promised me-" cried
Esther that he will not persuade
me to the use Of 1t. He would not
oh. am sure he would not. tnd
I''--she clasped her hands together
-"if I could warn him from It,
II could see him again rs he used
TO be! He is young. Basil. scarcely
thirty-do you not think that there
is a chance for him? You are a
doctor; can you not tell me that he
NAV be saved?'
you loved him. Esther" said the
younz man, sadly. "and hard though
IL hits me, admire you all the more
for the constancF of your love. 1t
has been put to severe proof" He
paused and hdgeted with his BIZ
cycle, as II to conceal his emotion
from her. When he looked up aagin
his face was clear. You ask me
he said. "if there is any hope for
him. You wish me TO speak the
truth, Esther. do you not?"
Yes" she said, softly.
az cannot see any hope-but, then,
do not know what this drug may
be that he is evidently using. l do
not recognize its effects. and from
what you have told me os your Ieel-
fngs cannot diagnose 1t. I should
think It must be some little-known
poison that we doctors in this coun-
try do not recognize. But IL is
very evident TO me that any opiat4
as this evidently does, must be fatal
TO his life in the end. All the
nerves Of the face, as you can see
for yourself. are involved in a pc
culiar paralysis, a paralysis which
accounts, too, for the wasting OF
the flesh. He says himself that he
has but a few weeks to live. and
do not doubt that he is right
THE WOLVES OF NEW YORK CON
Big tears stood in Esther's eyes.
She had not shown much emotion
when speaking TO Harold of him
self.
they had been walking slowly
down the drive. For a few mo-
nents they pursued their way in si-
lence, then, as the lodge came in
sight, Esther halted.
AT must go back now" she said.
"Good bye, Basil, and God bless
you"
'aGod bless and keep you" he an
svered fervently, "for, Esther, you
are my very life to me. And to
love you as do is no sin-that is
nv one consolation. ! shall think
~ YOU always-I shall have no rest
tIII have heard from Mrs Will
Iouphby that all Is well with you.
she will write to me tomorrow"
Yes-I will ask her to write to-
morrow"
- mounting his bicycle sped off in
,hs direction Of the lodge
ssT don't trust him." he muttered
hstween his teeth. ''She is in dan
Ter-I know it-and can do
Esther returned slowly to the
houEe. where she found Lillian
awaiting her.
The lodge passed. the gate being