The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1911-11-04
LADY ORBURY'S
CLOSE SECRET

the same crafty assurance that had
been there a moment ago.
lie moved suddenly across the
room to a wall on which was fixed
'telephone. lie called a number, and
began to speak into the instrument,
slanting his head so that he could
watch the woman, who listened with
her forehead resting on her hand
rs that Barton Grange? Is
| Mr.. Manners in? Oh, you're
/ Manners! | won't keep you a
minute Yes, thanks, I'm feel
| ing as iolly--as | can expect l want
| to ask you a question You wrote
! letter to Lady Orbury, which she
/ got by post yesterday evening?
| My mistake. l meant afternoon, of
course. I want to know what it was
/ you wrote about Certainly.
All, thanks" Orbury placed
his hand over the receiver and turned
toward his wife, The expression
about his mouth was not pleasant to
see. Manners is going to give me
the exact words he says he wrote"
/ Listening again, Orbury took up
pencil and began to write on the tel
ephone tablet. When his hand had
ceased to move across the paper, ne
spoke again. THANK you. I'm much
obliged Good by" He hung
up the transmitter with careful de-
liberation, tore the strip from the
pad, and walked across the room until
he stood above his wife, as she sat
quite still in her chair.
''Now," he began, with slow bru-
tally, "listen to this-Manner's let
ter: Dear Lady Orbury-Of course
am giving the prizes for the flower
show as usual, and would have sent
you the tickets before, but they have
only just come back from the print
ers. Yours very. truly, J. Manners. "
For a moment Orbury remained
silent, them
81 will say this" he said, lingering
the paper on the ground at his wife's
feet, ITS far better lie than your
own"
Lady Orbury had risen from her
chair. AS she stood beside her desk
a look of deep pain filled her eyes.
George" she began, in a voice
which gathered strength slowly,
cant you see that this is unbearable
to me-cruel degrading? Don't drive
me too far. l have always loved you,
George; I love you now Let me tell
you what you've done to me, how
you've brought me to a state in
which trivial things I do seem to be-
come vile when have to think about
them as I know you would. You
have lowered me as you have lowered
yourself"
Orbury broke in on her words:
you did not tell the truth"
at was a simple secret wished to
keep from you; but I ought to have
remembered that I am no longer like
other women who have husbands.
You've stripped our married life of
everything but suspicion; l ought not
to have forgotten that
You're getting away from my
point. I want facts explained by you.
Why did Manners concoct that drivel
as he spoke it to me through the tele-
phone? That was a lie between you
both"
His wife had taken a step toward
him, but she shrank back now. A
GOODNESS came over her face for the.
first time
I'm going back to yesterday" Or
bury continued, his legs astraddle and
his hands linked behind him. 81 told
you ! knew a letter had come from
Manners; l asked you to read it out
to me, but when you pretended to no
so you had overlooked one POSSIBLE
ity. Clever as you may think your
self, you weren't sharp enough to
guess I'd already seen it, opened it.,
read every word in it." He laughed.
Orbury moyed across the room and
once more took up his place before
the mantel shelf and drew out a copy
of the letter from his pocket. He
cleared his voice, which had become
husky.
Dear Lady Orbury," he began
loudly, 81 am very sorry I cannot tell
you exactly just this minute, but I
hope to later, Yours sincerely, Jack
Manners" He glanced over the top
of the letter at his wife. Postscript
BE at the telephone at five, if the
grounds clear"
Orbury stopped for a second, doub-
ling the letter across and across, rip
ping his thumb and finger along each
fold, His eyes turned to the clock
on the mantel shelf The telephone
bell rang