The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1911-01-21

| to reassure herself. There was a
gentle humility in the question. Fer
| mans eyes sought hers through the
haze Of smoke, and a deep light shone
| in them The smoke hid it from mis-
wife.
Rest assured whichever way you de-
eide / shall spare no pains to see
that you are protected. Whichever
way it is you will not interfere with
my plans. 1t makes no difference
A sharp pain shot through the
girls heart. If he had only left the
latter part unsaid.
Then I should like to stay" she
becomes alarming I will go and stay
with Emily She will be glad to
have me, think"
Her heart cried out, but her ton
quo was powerless to voice her pain.
She could not tell him, and he would
not understand. She had never val
ued the love that had once been hers,
and now-now it was no longer hers
to value. Had he loved her he would
not have remained indifferent to her
decision. A! reaction of dull misery
swept over her, and she shivered as
he rose from the table.
''As you please" he said, and the
evenness of his tone told her moth
ing.
There was nothing left her but to
begin clearing away, so she, too, rose
from her seat. But before she had
time to remove anything he turned
back from the open window.
"a visitor" he said. And the girl
became aware of the clatter of horses
hoofs outside.
Who could be visiting them now.
she wondered. It was annoying. She
wanted this evening with her hus-
band. In spite of all, she wanted ev-
cry moment she could have with
him. Perhaps it was one of the many
Kaffirs who came and went when
| Il
Kaffirs whom she never understood,
and who were so full of Importance.
Her doubts were quickly replaced by
a feeling of alarm. A moment la
ter Guy Chalmers voice came from
the stoep.
Mary felt herself pale. Her eyes
were fixed on her husband, who was
still standing at the window. She
watched him without knowing why
or what she expected. He was per-
fectly undisturbed, meeting the other
as he would have met any acquain-
lance in the district. All that lay
hidden behind his inscrutable eyes
was under perfect control.
Come in, Chalmer," he said. "Just
in time for some food. I see you've
had a long ride he went on, glanc-
ing at the dusty condition of the Wis
itor's clothes. Mary, here's Chal-
mer. Tell Tanta to do her best for
his inner man. He must be hungry
after his ride"
He did not offer to shake hands,
but his manner had no lack of cor
diality as the other stepped into the
room.
How do, Mrs. Elwood," Guy ex-
claimed. "Jove! I'm lucky. Yes, am
hungry"
The black eyes were shining. He
was smiling in his bold fashion at
the shrinking form beyond the table.
Just for a moment the husband
glanced quickly from one to the 9TH
er, and his eyes remained longest on
his wife. Something in her grey
eyes arrested and held his attention.
Their expression might have been re-
sentiment, dislike, even fear. There
was no warmth in them, simply q
hard light that might have been any
thing except love. He turned back
to Guy, and there suspicion of irony
in his smile.
you'll excuse me, Chalmer. The
mails in, and 7 must run down 30
Kellerman's for letters. Mary will see
that Tanta does you right Be back
later
The next moment he was gone, and
Mary found herself alone with the
man, who for months she had refused
to meet. She was suddenly over
whelmed with a feeling of utter help
lessness.