Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1909-09-14
CHAPTER x.-coNsEoUENcEs.


Breathing convulsively, wide eyes niue
wildly fixed upon his face in the lamp
urht. the girl stumbled to her feet, and
Tor a moment remained covering against
the wall. terribly shaken. a hand grip
ming a corner OF the packing boN Tor
support. the other pressed against the
bosom OF her dress as IL in attempt torci-
hly TO Qpen the mad hammering OF her
heart.
In her brain. a turmoil Of affrighted
,honebt hut one thing stood out clearly:
now she need look for no mercy. The
frst time il had been different; she had
NOT been a woman had she been unable
then to see that the adventure intrigued
Maitland wiki it's spice OF novelty, new
sensation. fully as much as she, herself,
the pretty woman out of place. interested
and attracted him. he had enjoyed play
ing the part had been amused TO lead her
10 believe him an adventurer or mettle
and caIiber little interior 10 her own-as
he understood her; unscIppulous, impa-
tient OF the bubble OF meam-et-tuum, but
adroit and keen-witted. and distinguished
and set apart from the herd by grace OF
gentle breeding and chivalric instincts
How far he might or might not have
lei this enjoyment carry him, she had no
too Tar. she was inclined TO believe,
strongly as she knew her personality to
have influenced him: not far enough TO
induce him TO trust her out Of sight with
the Jewels. He had demonstrated that, TO
her humiliation.
me flush OF excitement waning, man
Ike soon had he weaTied Of the game
she thought: TO ner mind, in distorted
retrospect. mis- attitude when leaving her
N dawn had been insincere, contenptu-
ous. that Of a man relieved TO be rid OF
her relieved 10 be able TO get away IN
unquestioned possession OF his treasure
True, the suggestion that they lunch To-
refher AT Eugene's had been his. &.
But he had forgotten the engagement, II
ever ne had meant TO keep ii, If the
notion had been more than a within of the
moment with him And O'Hagan had told
her by telephone that Maitland had left
his rooms at o'clock-in ample time 10
meet her at the restaurant.
No. he had never intended 10 come; he
had wearied: yet. patient with her, true
10 the ethics OF a gentleman, he had been
content to let her go. rather than TO send
a detective 10 take his place.
And this was something. by the way. to
cause her 10 revise her theory as to the
manner in. which Anisty had managed to
abroad al one and without intending 10
keep his engagement at Eugene's, then
he must have been despoiled before that
hour. and without his knowledge Sure
IT, II the jewels had been taken from
him with his cOgnizance, the hue and cry
would have been out and Anisty would
not have dared TO linger so long in the
neighborhOodi
To be Just with herself. the girl had
not gone to the restaurant with much
real hope OF finding Maitland there Curl
osity had drawn her--just TO see II.
But II was too prepOsterous TO credit. that
he should have cared enough Quite
too preposterous, IL was her cup, her
bitter cup. TO know that she had learned
70 care enOugh-at sight. And
she recalled with what pangs Of shame
and misery begged expressionO how ner
heart had been stirred when she had
found him (as she thouPhJ true to his
tryst. even as she recalled the agony
and distress OF mind with which she had
moment later fathomed Anisty's imper-
sonatIon-
For. Of course. she had known that
Maitland was Maitland and none other,
from the instant when he told her TO make
good her escape and leave him to brazen
Il out: a task TO daunt even as bold and
resourceful a criminal as Anisty. and
more especially II he were called upon
20 don the enask at a minutes notice, as
Maitland had prtended TO. Or. IL she had
not actually known. she had been led to
suspect: and it had hardly needed what
she had heard him say TO the servants.
when he thought her flying hotfoot over
the lawn to safety. to harden suspicion
into certainty.
And now that he should find her here. d
IL
grate-that he should have caught her
red-handed In this abominably ungrateful
treachery! She could pretend Of
course. that she had returned merely to
restore the jewels and the cigarette case:
and he would believe her. for he was gen.
erous. She could. but-she could
not Not now. Yesterday. the excitement
had buoyed her: she had gained a piq-
uant enjoyment from befooling him,
playing her part OF the amateur cracks
woman in this little comedy Of the stolen
Jewels But therein lay the difference:
yesterday IL had been comedy. but today
an today she could no longer laugh. For
now she cared.
A little lie would clear her-yes. But It
was not TO be cleared that she now so
passionately desired: il was to have him
believe IN her. even against the evidence
OF his senses. even in the face OF the
worlds condemnation: and so prove that
he. too, cared-cared for her as his atti-
tude toward her and taught her to
care
Ever since leaving him in the dawn she
had fed her starved heart with the hope
faint hope though IL were. that he would
come 20 care a little. that he would not
utterly desipse her. that he would under
stand and forgive. when he learned why
she had played out her part, nor believe
that she was the embodiment Of all that
was iguohle. coarse. and crude; that he
would show a little faith In her. little
faith that like a pickering taper might
light the way for Love
But that hope was now dead within her,
and cold. She had but to look at him to
see how erOundless Il had been. how ut
terly unmoved he was by her distress
He waited patientiy-that was sll-seem-
ig 50 very tall. a pillar of righteous
strength distinguished and at ease in his
evening clothes: waiting. patient bu.
cold. dispa ssfonate and disdainful.
Il am waiting. you see. Might I sug-
Eest that we have not all week for our
our mutual differences
HIS tone was altogether changed: she
would hardly have known Il for his voice.
It's accents were like a knife TO her SEN
sitfveness. She summoned the
reserve OF her strength. stood
erect, unsupported. and moved forward