The evening world., 1911-05-12

M "a 1919 lAboh was waiting TOT
me in the hall below. The
i lights were not on. and I
" could see only that she was
- wrapped In something long
and dark. her hair gathered into a
loose mot above her head. Perhaps
only the dim light made mo imagine
traces of tears.
Thank you for being so ready" she
began in a quick undertons. Now.
listenl You must
Tell me what's the trouble" I broke
In. lis It burglary. or is somebody
taken suddenly me-"
There isn't any trouble" she re-
peated. You must believe that. and
you must do as | tell you. ] m terribly
sorry. but It's impossible for you to re-
main here any long-r. You must go
away-now. at once. and without know
Ing or asking anything. OF course
there's a good reason. and of course
YOU can be trusted not to talk or in
quire. That's all. It's perfectly simple
there's nothing really surprising about
it."
You mean I'm TO leave this minute
In the middle OF the night?"
Yes; now. Don't wonder or worry.
Think as well OF us as you can-don't
think about us at all. There's nothing
the matter. I ought to have known.
Accept my apologies for all OF us,
and-good-by." She held out her hand
That's oil very we'll" ] said. cot
course I'll go II YOU wish 1t and ask no
questions. only tell mo when / can
see you again, and II there's anything
in the world | can do for you. I'll be
staying at the Inn"
A latch-key clicked behind us. and
tho man l had seen at the gate tiptoed
In. IAN right? ' he whispered,
II think so. hurry" she replied. and
he passed swiftly and quietly upstairs.
She turned to me a drawn face. speak
ing In straiued monotone.
You must never see me again. You
mustn't stay In town, nor try TO do
anything. oh. cam you understand 4?
The only help you can give Is to go-go
away utterly and forget all about It as
II you had never met me. Honestly, I'm
grateful. and | min everything good Of
you. butch go away"
you please" / said. What abou,
my thlngs?'
walt a minute" She ran lightly up
20 the landing and returned with my
suit case. closed and strapped. | took
any hat from the tatle 10y the door.
"Goodby,' she said. Promise mo no,
to try to come back"
What Is there in darkness and the
sense OF night to make even the plainest
woman so lovely? She was close before
me as | turned, the mysterious oval oil
her face wavering upward as thougE
rising through dim water. her hair O
heavier shadow against the gloom. hei
lips a living blossom. and her eye,
luminous out OF undiscoverable depths
The dark wrap she wore lost itself
downward In long, fading lines; and al
the hidden form and the namelcss frag
rance OF her were wonderfully tn
ame one with midnight and mid
summer.
As took her rand I do not know
what agony OF restraint held my arm
from around her; only | kept repeating
over and over to myself. Il have n
right have no rlght'-and because o
that | could not for a moment answe
her In words. Suddenly from abov'
came a sharp shock and tho metalll
splash OF broken glass. TIT voice
broke out In a quick murmur, and sh'
shrank and shook as II cringlns ava,
from a blow.
"oh, go quickly" she cried. THE,
need me-
| opened the door. "Goodby," ! sal
weakly, "and-God bless YOU An
ever as ! turned on the threshold I
lift my hat the latch clicked be
hind me.