The Washington herald., 1919-07-23

world; Maud was growing staid. AL
ready prominent in public affairs.
John declined to stand for Parlia-
ment because, 10 some degree. the
heart had gone out OF INN. There
was no outward change beyond more
gray in the hair and more gravity In
the expression, but pain borne in
secret was beginning to tell on him.
The knowledge that Guy was so far
away and Maud not happy had its
effect on Ursula. Growing old my
self, l was obliged TO stand by and
watch the two / loved best on earth
growing old even more rapidly.
There came a day when there was no
more news from Guy. Our fears in
creased with the weeks. Then we
received a letter saying that he and
and his partner were to sail in few
days time from Boston. For some
reason not explained the letter was
already two months old. Had they
really taken the ship Guy named
they should have been in England
some weeks ago. Inquiry at Lloyd's
revealed no such ship as having
crossed the Atlantic. though a small
vessel OF that name had foundered in
the West Indies. Had Guy and his
partner sailed for England by this
roundabout route. it was still posi-
BILE that they had been rescued and
might be on the way home.
So for more months we waited in a
hope that gradually became no hope.
For the first time in my knowledge
of her the strong. competent Ursula
began to have days OF not coming
downstairs She never complained;
she never spoke of Guy; she was only
tired. John with his secret and she
with hers seemed to withdraw each
into a still place where they were
alone with God. 1t was quiet time.
even If a sad time: but TO me it was
the end.
Then one day a stranger appeared.
tall, bearded, tanned. 1t was Maud
who saw him first. Begging him to
be seated, she told him she would
send her father. "But Maud don't
you know me? I'm Guy"
He had come back with his partner.
who was now known as William Ra-
venel. For John and Ursula II was
the joy which let's the servant depart
in peace. Guy. having ou;lived his
boyish passion for Louise d'Argent.
he and Edwin met as friends. Maud
and William Ravenel found each 9TH
er in that happiness in which DIFF
ference OF twenty years does not
count.
We went one day into TIE old
beech woods at Enderley. where g
years earlier John and Ursula had
vowed themselves to each other. John
had come with US. Ursula kept her
room. Not even the bliss of Guys
return gave her back her strength. II
was a pleasant afternoon with the
young people all about us. John lay
down upon the grass, his hat pulled
over his eyes. How cold it has
grown" Maud said, toward sunset.
Il think We ought TO wake father"
But John did not wake. While
sleeping he had been called. l went
home to tell his wife
We carried him into the old farm
house where he and Ursula had met.
There at 10 at night she came to him.
How she came I do not know. How
she who had not walked for weeks
had found her way hither. what
strength helped her to stand there as
she did stand, upright and calm.
do not know. All 1 can say is that
she came. that she talked to her
children. bade them never TO forget
their father, and then asked them to
leave her for a little while alone
! with him.
We closed the door. sitting on the
| stairs outside. 1t might have been
for hours. 1t was Guy who at last
went in.
She was still in the same place by
the bedside. but half lying on the
bed. Her arm was round her hus.
bands neck. her face nestled close tc
his hair. They might have been
asleep. One of her children called
her. but she neither stirred nor
answered. Guy lifted her up very
tenderly-his mother-a widow
But she was not a widow now.
Copyright. 1879. by Post Publishing Co. CThs
Boston POST. Published by s7ecial arrangement
with the Mcclure Newspaper Syndicate. AL
rights reserved.
Jane Eyre" by Charlotte Bronte,
as condensed by T. L. Hood. Of Har-
ward University. will be printed 20.
morrow.