The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1902-03-15
49, s. ags 81 Ss ssSSSsssSyS&
The Woman Halter
"a SHORT SroRY.]

| was that she was leaving so soon, and
If she had only met him before!
Captain Tunstall did not forget the
stepping stone. He gave her quite her
| fair share of attention.
| Yes, l can't tell you how I shall
| miss her." she said with reference TO
Miss Certis, in reply to some remark
| Of his. "She is q dear giT9. l would
keep her by force If could. But the
fact is that there is another who has
| better claims. That is the worst of
dear girls. They are always, snapped
| up soonest"
Snapped up?" observed Tunstall,
somewhat bewildered.
Engaged, of course. And she is to
be married next month, so she won't
be available at least for some time"
| His house of cards had fallen about
| his head with such II shock that it
| might have been built of sheets of
| iron. He thought he had found an
| angel. and he had merely taken the
false bait of heartless flirt. On the
| eve of being married she would let the
| most casual stranger make love to her,
| and return it with her eyes and man
ner. If that was the kind that women
We're, the Lord deliver him from them
| for the future! He would go back to
| his first love, the regiment. There was
no fear of treachery there.
The result of this little adventure
was that he became more of a Stone
wall than ever, and that as soon as the
general call to arms was issued for
South Africa, he volunteered for active
duty, and was. given it gladly by a war
office which was beginning to feel the
need Of earnest officers. There he man.
aged to distinguish himself, earned
official approval and mention in dis
patches, and returned invalided at the
end of year and a half or so--but
with fixed determination to go out
again as soon as possible.
AS he was advised not to spend the
winter in England, mid-autumn found
him in the south of France. One day,
as he was slowly descending the stair
case of the hotel, he encountered sud-
denly face that made his heart bound
even after what had happened and the
lapse of time. 1t seemed perfectly un-
changed since the day when he first
saw it on the polo ground in distant
Datchet. And yet, stay, was it quite
the same? A little difference. perhaps
due to the lapse of time itself and
natural development of course. But it's
beauty was unchanged, the glorious
eyes We're lustrous as every, the Witch
cry of their glance seemed to draw his
soul out as it had. Was it only an
effect of shadows, or was the express
sion trfe harder? He must have
stared unduly, for the lady drew back
n1oyiprc1V IN nd
and without recognition.
Il beg your pardon" said Tunstall
with haste and contrition. "But are
you not-perhaps 1 should say We're
you not, Miss Certis?"
"That certainly was my maiden
name," returned the lady doubtfully.
But I don't think we have met be-
fore"
Il am Captain Tunstall. dare say
you won't remember the name, but l
met you when you were staying at
Lady Philiston's, just before you were
married-at least 1 was told that you
We're going to be married shortly"
The lady glanced at him with keen,
inquisitorial glance. Certainly she
had developed in self-confidence since
marriage.
"Oh," she said. Lady Philiston. At
Dropless, of course. Yes-I see. Now
that was about two years and a half
ago, or thereabouts, wasn't it? And
you have remembered me all that
time? Very complimentary, I am
sure"
Captain Tunstall was slightly be-
wildered at the thin acidity which ran
through this speech, also at the affec-
tation of obliviousness with which she
spoke of the date of her marriage
Certainly matrimony had altered her.
He remained silent, at a loss what to
say.
Have you seen Lady Philiston late
ly?" she continued easily.
NO not since then" he replied bit
terly. Il mean," he added, in explana-
ton, II have been out at the front
since them
The lady made hasty mental call
culation that some six months must
have elapsed between the date of that
visit and the outbreak of the war.
Then her eyes softened somewhat to-
wards him.
You have been wounded?" she said,
sympathetically. He carried the out
ward and visible signs about him.
''Yes. That is why 1 am here; other
wise l should be still at the front. But
I hope to go back SOON"
She gazed at him with enigmatic,
inqulrirg eyes, and there was a mo-
mentary silence. She was the first to
break it,
"As 1t seems that we are old friends
and are staying at the same hotel"
c q Gli ntTn1Nr
something of you. 1 should like to in
troduce you to my husband, Sir Henry
Verdright. | am Lady Verdright now"
Captain Tunstall murmured some
suitable inanities. He did not feel the
slightest desire to renew the acquaint-
ance which had already cost him so
dear. Still less did he desire it in view
of the change in her which had become
so apparent. Then at least she seemed
sweet, fresh, adorable. Now she
seemed openly hard, cool, sarcastic
a thorough woman of the world No
doubt she wished to amuse herself by
dissectng his feeling, or perhaps in
other ways that he knew of and hated |
Several times the idea occurred to
him-Why not remove TO another hotel?
But he always decided that that would |
be cowardice. Better remain, trouble |
not at all about her, and show her that |
her influence was completely broken.
At the end of week he was disgust |
ed TO realize that he had not quite car |
ried out his programme. He had in |
drifted into an intimacy with |
Lady Nerdright instead of keeping her |
at a distance. 1t was a queer kind of |
friendship, however. She exercised an
attraction over him which in his cool