Page 118 (1/1)

As the clocks were striking ten on the followingday, Anstice caate

It was a glorious Septeolden sunshine, and the soft, warm air was heavy with the scent of sweet-peas, of stocks, of the hundred and one fragrant flohich deck the late su blue haze which proreater heat when it too should have dissolved before the mellow rays of the sun; and if there be any truth in the old saw that happy is the portion of the bride on whom the sun shall shine, then truly the lot of Iris Wayne should be a happy one

But in Anstice's face there was no reflected sunshine on this auspicious ard and worn, and his colourless lips and purple-shadowed eyes were in strangest contrast to the s effort of will that Anstice had driven hiht through which he had passed had left traces on both body and soul; and the thought of that which was to happen to-day, the thought of the cereirl he adored would be given as wife to anothershort of torture to this iven half he possessed to be able to blot out this day from his calendar--to pass the whole of it in a state of oblivion, of forgetfulness, to cheat life of its fiercest suffering for a few hours at least; but Iris herself blocked the way to that last indulgence She had bidden him remember--for her sake--that the way he had taken was not in truth the way out; and although every nerve in his body cried out for relief, nothing in the world could have persuaded hi-day by an act whose corieved her had she known of it

And since to sit at ho night, would be fatal, there was nothing for it but to go out and strive to forget his ownof those who trusted him to relieve their bodily woes at least

He was about to enter his car when he heard the hoot of around, one foot on the step, saw his friendly rival, Dr Willows, driving up to intercept him