The daily morning oasis., 1918-02-17

Il have no doubt of it; and this is
another scandal we have to fear. But
I'll not await it's denouement. To-
morrow this sneak and villain shall leave
my house. l will risk no tragedy here,
much as it might relieve us"
Hepaused, asha med of his own sugges-
ton. His was an impulsive nature,
and he was certainly in a state of great
anguish
Recognizing this, made feint of
not hearing or not needing his final
words.
"This woman" said 1, "showed
some sort of an interest in Coralie last
night. Would she whom you call Ara
bella do that?"
Certainly, if she suspected, or had
been told that he meditated establishing
a claim to her as his child. This
Arabella is a demon, one of the very
worst sort, and quite capable of secret
as well as open revenge. Remember
this, Miss Ladd, and look well after the
dear child. To help you in this, as
well rs to protect you both, / will have
Patrick sleep in the adjoining room.
If you are in any way disturbed, wake
him and he will wake me-"
"You relieve me-" said l. 81 shall
And then, seeing that he was scarcely
in a fit condition to prolong the inter
view, l left him and returned to Cora
lies side
Poor, poor, forsaken child! Was 1
glad or sorry to see that she still slept,
and with an appearance of more natural
repose than at any time since l had
watched over her? Life to her must
mean a constant struggle and the over
shadowing of a nearby disgrace; while
to die so young, and with such thorn
in her heart, was almost equally sad.
Plying her greatly, and pitying my
self, too, a little-for my judgment OF
men, or, at least, of one man, had been
proved worse than worthless that day
l busted myself about the room for
awhile, then sat down to my weary
watch, which gave every prospect OF
lasting till mornin;
Of the hours | sat there, revolving Ill
the events of this day, l need not speak
By midnight the house was still as the
dead, except when my patient threw up
her arms or muttered some painful or
sorrowful excl nation, born of her great
trouble and unfathomable despair.
By two O'Clock my own faculties
became clouded, and almost nodded in
my chair, but some sudden creak or
click rousing me, l opened my heavy
eyes again and took another look at my
patient by the faint light of the heavily
shaded lamp. She was quiet, but
deep line had appeared between her
eyebrows, making the sweet face look
old and tr ,ubled between the masses of
her rich, black hair. Did she dream, or
did she feel the presence Of something
evil disturbing the atmosphere in which
she drew her feeble and laboring
breath? There was nothing out of the
way to be seen in the room, but could
not trust appearances, with the re-
membrance that click in my ears, and,
leaning back again, / reclosed my eyes,
but kept an alert watch for any repe-
tition Of the sound which had alarmed
her.
One leaf of the long French window
stood ajar. This was necessary owing
to the oppressive nature of the air, and
the difficulty Coralie had in breathing.
But subjected as l thus was to sur
prise, l had no great fear, owing to
Patrick's near presence, and my con-
sciousness of the great necessity of
knowing whether or not Coralie was
considered subject Of attack by the
10 nj III of