The evening world., 1911-05-11

thanks she was silent. SO
- without q word I turned and
helped tho other woman to her feet,
and still In silence the three Of us
walked along until we came to An easy
rise where / helped them both to the
track. We were just In time. for as we
gained tho track our trolley rounded tho
curve and took us aboard.
70 for a mile or 30 Miss Tabor and I
sat In intimate aloofness. while the car
bore us through the beauty OF the fad
ing summer day. Everywhere birds
were chanting the evening, and ever
and again with growing insistence the
vivid breath OF the nearest sea blew
past us. All my life this FIRST summe
tang OF salt air had never failed to stir
ma. 1t had meant vacation and the
agu trumpet call of the unkno wn.
But now I sat unheeding. burning with
an unreasoning and sullen resentment.
! I knew that I vas a Tool. What pos
sible difference could II make 20 me
* the acquaintance Of . merry week
and q few more intimate hours chose
to hide a wedding ring in her breast?
1t certainly was no business of mine
nor could she owe me any explanation.
Yet l wanted explanation more than
anything else In the world. II certainly
could not be her own and yet--whose
was It. anyway Certainly not her
mothers, for her mother I knew was
alive. But then, whose could II be-
And why did It matter 20 muchf Why
should such a patent terror Nil her at
the thought OF Its loss7 Why was Il
again so finally and so quickly hidden
away7 II was even strange. I thought.
that she should let the emotion that che
must know l had seen pass with no
effort of explanation.
i plancpl nj her ShA Wan s,tttou
looking YEARLY ahead. distress was in
her eyes. and every little line of her
body spoke fatigue without hope: Only
her hands. tightly clasped in her lap.
showed the determination Of some hid
den thought. The blue OF a little brutse
had begun TO show near her temple. A
wave OF tenderness swept over me. the
pity OF a man for n woman tired and
IN unvolced distress.
Who was l that I should question
herr What possible claim had I upon
even the least OF her thoughts7 Shc
was pathetlcally weary and disturbed.
and | vas a sullen brute.
spoke 10 her as II conversation had
been u~nbroken. o course I am to
take you home"
She shook her head.
That's perfectly absurd" aid.
There must be some inn or other near
you. ! car put up there for the night
n go on in the morning. In fact. I
am pretty tired myself: the neArert
place that l car get supper and q bed
Is the best place for me"
She considered for a long moment.
Very we'll" she said at last. II am
tired and still . little dizzy; II would
be nice to be taken all tho way home.
I don't generally mind the dark. but
! suppose that we were q good deal
shaker up. There Is an inn. too. but
It would be very silly Of you TO 80
there. unless-unless for some reason
we could not put you up"
"Oh, come" ] said. you probably
have a houseful at the present mo-
ment. and you know IL. Nothing is
more upsetting in tho world than the
unexpected guest.
well, we shall See" she answered
II am pretty sure that nobody but the
family Is at home. and father will
want to see you and thank you.
Knight rrant appeals to him. We
viii leave the asking to mother. II
she can she viii want you to stay. II