Atlanta Georgian., 1912-08-02


had thought her beautiful.
There was grief in this white face
now, framed by it's cloudy hair; latent
tragedy in the dark eyes that met his with
50 direct and challenging look But the
veil of convention was down between them
as it had not been on that night i'll the
shaded room.
Wont you sit DOWN." Even after he
had greeted her and she had responded
to his greeting she made no movement
forward from where she stood.
Face to Face.
"Ah, yes" Mechanically Edith seated
herself in the chair he indicated Her
tongue, now that she was here, face to
face with the man she sought, seemed
tired. 1t was as though the effort it had
cost her to come had exhausted her power
of initiative. Indeed, now that she was
here, the dreadful apathy that had been
upon her since that night when she had
fed before her husbands appraised,
threatening arm settled itself on her once
more. What was the good? Even if now
she could secure the proof as to the
truth of the story she had told him
what would Anthony Darlington care?
The child was dead-the barrier was
in that room where the dead child lay
that no respecting woman could ever
forget.
Only-she was not self-respecting She
possessed nothing it seemed to her now,
but one intense desire-to be taken once
more to the arms of the man she loved,
and held, forgiven, there.
You have come to consult me, Mrs
RarriuptoD % The IOptor brolra tho ei
lence. The woman's eyes We're fixed on
his face with a sombre intensity, and
now-that little cloud on the horizon had
grown great and overshadowing-he could
see the black reflection of it in those in
tent and questioning eyes.
Yes to consult you. to ask your help
in very delicate and difficult matter /"
There was entreaty in Ediths voice.
That night, when the first flash of recog
milton had come to her, her impulse had
been to denounce. Wisdom had come to
er since then-the knowledge that she
must strive to convert this man into an
ally, not an enemy. And surely that
ought not to be so difficult. She had
heard much of his reputation lately-a
man whom children loved and women
trusted. Surely surely such a man could
not be wholly bad. Yet as she looked at
him she was conscious that his face
hardened. The thought unnerved her;
she blundered clumsily into her task
No Recollection.
you don't remember me-" she asked
"Ah," she continued quickly, for he had
interrupted her Our first meeting was
not the other night; | was not a married
woman when we first met"
Indeed, l have no recollection of the
pleasure ~
There was a yelled insolence in his tone
and look. Edith felt that even if he had
not done her that bitter wrong in the
past she would still have hated him in
stinctvely-hated and feared him
My name was Lumsden We met in
such quaint little place-eight years
ago, yet feel you can not possibly forget
it-at Runescot."
Her eyes never left his face She could
have sworn that at the mention Of her
1t; but the mention of Runescot found it
as immovable as mask He settled
himself back in his chair
Eight years ago? I think YOU are
mistaken Mrs. Darlington. Eight years
ago | was in Africa. and. though Runescot
is an adorable little village to which |
frequently recommend my patients. even
so recently as eighteen months ago had
never seen it,"
Il think, if you will be kind enough to
make an effort" Edith said, with a sort
Of desperate polteness, that you will re-
member 1t is impossible that I could be
mistaken; you are not the sort of man
one forgets. Or. Merton. You must know
that-from your birth your eyes must
have made you a marked man. She saw
his hands 20 up and nervously adjust his
glasses that hid the curious parti- -colored
iris. ''Y our voice betrays you. Please
think. ! want you TO remember-yo you can
not imagine how earnestly those days at
Runescot with your friend Edmond Lee
vasseur
Edmond evasseur?' This time there
was no possible doubt that his face had
changed How odd that You should men
tion Levasseur, Poor chap, that was the
man who came TO such an untimely end
the other day I-I'-
He paused, remembering IN what man
ner the man met his death and looked az
the woman before him with "A dawning
horror ln his eyes
"Certanly ] remember Levasseur, whom
] knew an one time abroad, but 1 fall
forgive me. Mrs Darlington 10 connect
him with yourself or with Runescot"
To Be Continued in Next Issue.