Atlanta Georgian., 1912-07-04

"Slnee | must tell you my name-wilI
you promise? No, | do not think | need
ask you to do that. | trust to your honor.
My name Is Edmond LeVasseur."
Edmond Levasseur!"
Betty stopped short staring at the
man with a frozen horror.
"MoVe on" he said beneath his breath.
"Fcr heavens sake, don't stand there,
staring at me. Don't you know there's
price on my head7"
Mechanically she obeyed, and he pilot
ed her along an unfrequented path under
the dripping trees The distance before
them stretched gray and desolate For
the moment for Betty Lumsden this was
not London; instead before her stretch
ed the desolate sand fats of Whitecross.
the little Kentish village where Edith s
| short-lived romance with this@man had
begun and ended.
Face to Face.
I'VE are free from eavesdroppers
here" he said, and paused They faced
each other-a man and maid engaged
in the eternal quest, an onlooker com
ing upon them in this secluded spot might
have labeled them. "A surprise meeting
for you. Why. how you've grown, little
girl, and pretty, too-though trife peak
Betty recovered her self possession
with an effort
What do you want?" she demanded,
Indignantly, ignoring his offensive famil-
iarity, Are you mad? To speak to me
of all people-have you no shame-no-'
The man gave a short laugh
Il have nothing in the world but the
clothes in which I stand upright That,
! think, quite comprehensively answers
your question. And, to be further ex-
plfoit, l am here because l am home
less hunted and penniless humiliat-
ing thing to have to confess, my dear
Miss Betty-or Betty was it. in the old
days."
The girl quivered You are insolent.
she said rs this time to be insoent
when it lies in my power to give you
over to the first constable we meet"
Levasseur made a gesture of his hands,
and it occurred to the girl that they
were curiously out of character. those
beautiful, olive skinned hands They
would have betrayed him, as not being
the park lcafer he purported to be, to
any shrewd observer
Not so fast. my dear girl think of
Edith he said and Edith apart. you
are too just, Miss Betty, feel sure, to
cused."
Insoent Words.
IAN innocent man"
Most innocent he repeated, with
mocking emphasis You women are so
apt to jump to conclusions, and label
a man guilty because his particular code
of ethics or the color of his hair dis
pleases YOU. Now the evidence against
your friend, Mr. Rimingtcn is, in my
opinion. COnClusiVe-yet I'll warrant YOU
display a sublime faith in him. All you
are grand. you women
Betty flushed furiously.
" You win not ind that attitude serve
anxious to avoid any scandal regarding
my sister, but there is limit to my pa
tience I do not intend to denounce
you -
What generosity he interrupted.
Yet is it altogether charitable to leave
me at large? on reflection. how it would
the pretty and diverting story | should
disclose in the witness box Pom my
word, l feel it's wrong on moral grounds.
TO have drawn back. Imagine the i'm
would do your estimable brother-in in law.
The collector of chair-to tolls IS very
near us, Betty said, quietly.
half mockingly 'FYet, believe me, am
not such a rascal as you think. My af-
frontery, as you call it, is but the mask
of despair lima gine the life ! have lived
since the day torsook the hospitality of
His most gracious Majesty. 1t is not
pleasant to feel every man your enemy
to be afraid to sleep lest you hetray your
self in your dreams TO fear to eat lest
scme popularity of face or movement dis
close your Identity. 4 hundred times |
have been tempted to go back After all.
what's the rope? | have had merry
life III warrant it would have a merry
close. short shift, and a long, long sleep "
His golden voice died away in cadence
Of melancholy.
Continued Tomorrow.