The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1911-05-09
(Continued.)

ed unsteahily. that you do not un-
mask me here?, Spare me until
have left this house. II have no
strength for scenes"
He took the card, dropping into
chair as though suddenly his LIMOS
refused their office. The horror Oh
the moment revealed itself to MIN IN
simultaneously like a. fiash-light pno-
tograph. That he had loved ana
caressed this painted elaborate Wom-
an seemed so horrible that he reared
he might give way to the repuisioh
that made his very flesh crepltate Fl
her presence Good Cod" he eJac-
ulated.
she paused a moment. qulverlng-
listening for the sound of approach
ing steps? She could hear nothing
How did you come here?" she ask
ed in haste.
Il came to see Miss W1lmot. L
manage her Vancouver property.
she gave a broken, dreadful laugh
"Oh. Fate, Fate," she said. some
have entertained angels unawares:
He stared, DULY. What do you
mean2"
Never mind. Some one is COM
ing. You promise. The one mercy,
the only favor, shall ever ask
for the sake of what was once
stop. None of that. promise! :.
Mrs Bardsley came in.
"oh. L beg pardon. Mrs. Trent,
said she. not very cordially. "My par
lor maid did not know that there was
anybody using this room. Mr.. Glad
wyn-Mrs. Trent. I was in the gar
den looking at the roses
She sat down beside Laura and
consciously began the usual formu-
In. "And how have you been?"
Lionel. after a moments hesitation
turned on his heel and walked out OF
the room.
II have not been at all well late
ly," said Laura "I have been suffer-
ing terribly from insomnia
Mrs Bardsley was sympathetic.
That was terrible thing.
You have no idea how unnerv-
ing it is" replied Laura. Il some
times feel as if, merely to lose con-
seriousness, I would take anything at
the risk of never waking up again. I
have tried all the drugs they pre-
scribe for these things-suphonal
and bromide, and the rest. These hot
nights make it worse
Mrs. Bardsley began enumerating
some very simple household RENE
dies-a drink of milk and biscuit,
the practice of reading in bed, the
control of the mind, the recitation f
psalms, and other things, to all Of
which Laura listened with an air #
she meant to try some. if not all IF
them, that night. She would not stay
to tea, saying that she had to go all
the way to Yeominster and back be-
fore dinner-she was trying what
long drives in the op IN air would do
for her She was Sorry not to see
Miss Wilmot-would Mrs. Bardsley
give her her very kind regards?
Then, as she was shaking hands, she
added, half laughing: us the gentle
man who just went out a sutton of
Miss Wilmot's?'
Mrs Bardsley hesitated. 81 hardly
think I ought to say anything upon
that topic, Mrs. Trent. Mr.. Glad
wyn only arrived this morning
Indeed? Is he making some
stay with your"
Not very long, I believe. But
nothing is yet arranged"
II hope you don't think my ques-
tons impertinent. I am always in
terested in a love affair."
1T is very kind of you," said Mrs.
BardsIey stolidly, as she rang the
bell.
Slowly Laura Gladwin turned from
the pretty room. She let her eyes
roam to the table where he had sat.
He was very handsome still. Her
own sensations at the meeting were
pftifuIIy unlike his. What good times
they had had together, she and he,
before his reverse of Fortune made
him seriousi ( Oh. what a fool, what
n fool she had been to trust herself
to- the tender mercies of Harold Mar
tin, Ought she not to have known
what is the way of man with a
woman whom he cannot respect? 2
Why does every woman think that
such things will not happen in her
case though they do happen to ev-
cry one else? The sight of Lionel
had shaken every nerve she had. She
could scarcely see as she went down
the steps into her waiting car. Lio-
mel from his bedroom window above
watched her go.
Her husband, her jewels, her
wealth. her motor-car, That was
the woman whom the narrow-mind-
ed priest up yonder told Vernon it
was his duty to help and save! AT
mat moment he hated her so that his
thought was almost a prayer. Why
could she not die-die and be out of
his way, If she were dead, he told
himself feverishly, frantically. that
Vernon could never hold out.