New Britain herald., 1924-03-12
NOW GO ON WITH THE STORY

NOW GO ON WITH THE STORY Gone with the rest" the doctor i informed him. He left Town for l the North a week ago. aroused to a | sudden sense of his duty as Lord Lieutenant Of York by the fact that 8 French lackey in his household Was stricken with the plague. He'll he safe enough in York, no doubt Acting upon a sudden impuso, Dr. | Beamish left the room, and mounted the stairs again-for all that his time was short and his patients many. Dismissing Mrs. Dallows upon some trivial errand to the kitchen, hc re- | mained closetcd for five minutes with Miss Sylvester. That was the name by which she had chosen to make l herself known to both doctor and nurse.
 Whether ii was Il result Of what he said to her in those five minutes, or whether other influences were at work, within an hour Of the doctors departure, Holes was sought by Mrs. Dallows with message that Miss
 
 speak with him.
 The eyes Of that kindly nurse. sharponed by solicitudc. saw him turn pale and trembe at the summons.
 He was washed and shaven, tolcr- ably dressed, and his long, we'll combed, golden-brown hair hung in long, smooth ringlets to the snowy collar which Mrs. Dallows had foundl time 10 wash and iron for him. 2
 He found Miss Sylvester seated by the open window, where Inc himself had sat throughout the greater part of those five days and six nights when he had so increasingly watched over her to beat hungry death from her pillow. She occupied great chair set for her there by Mrs. Dallows, a rug about her knees. She wore that gown Of ivory white in which she had been carried to this evil house, and her chestnut hair had been dressed with care and was intcrtwincd with a thread of pearls.
 Wistfully sbe looked up at him as he entered, then away through the open window into tho hot sunlight that scorched the almost empty street.
 He closed the door, advanced a pace or two, and halted.
 You sent for me-" he said. "elsn should not have vcntured to in. trudc." And he stood now like a groom waiting orders.
 "1 sent for you, sir, that l might acknowledge the great debt in which you have placed mo: Co thank you for your care Of me. for your disregard of your own peril in tending me: in short. sir, for my life, which had been lest without you"
 She looked at him suddenly as she ceased.
 "ion owe mo no thanks--no thanks al all," he said. and his voice was al. most gruff. T but sought to undo thu evil had done"
 That that was before the plague came to my rescue. In what you did then, you sought at the risk 0f your life to make me the only pos sible amend, and to deliver me from the evil man into whose power you lad brought me. But the plague. now. IL was no fault Of yours that ] took that It was already upon me when you brought me hither."
 No matter for that" said he. Preparation was due. owed it to myseif.'
 'iou did not owe it 10 yourself to risk your life for me-"
 My life, madam. is no great mat ter |. \ life misuscd. misspent. has no great value. IL was tho least that I could offnr1
 "Pcrhaps." sch answered gently. 1btit also it was the most. and. as have said. far more than you owed"
 "I do not think so. But the mat. ter is not worth contending."
 Al least the rcparation you have made is very full one"
 "Gt would comfort mo to hear vou say if. could I believe yon." he au- swcred grimIy. and would have taken his leaNe of her on that but that she stayed him by her intcricction.
 Why should you not believe me? Why should l be other than sincere In my desire 10 thank you?''
 He looked at her at last, and in his eyes she saw some reflection Of inc lain he was suffering.
 C'. bFiltNF you SlHCtff Tn that. You wish 10 thank me. If is natural ] suppose. You thank mo: but you despisc mc. Your gratitude cannot temper your contempt. Ii is not possibie.r
 Are you so sUrc?~ she asked him gently. and her eyes were very pitc- ous.
 sure? What else can I bc? What else is possible? Do ] not loathe and despise myself? Am I so uncou- scious of my own infamy that should befool myself into the thought that any part Of it can escape you ?"
 Don't" she said. "Ah. donf." But in the sorrow in her face he read no more than the confirmation of the very thing she was feebly attempting tO deny.
 He bowed. formally. and turned away.
 Randall" she called to him as he reached the door. He paused. his firm resolve beaten down by that pleading utterance of his name. Han dai. won't you tell me how how yDn came into into the position in which ! found yon here: Won't you tell mc that? Wont you let me