Evening star., 1912-07-21
Continued from page II

ana the spectacular 1OT 1tS own noble sake,
or was it for the glory which might, without
effort or sacrifice, be reflected upon herself?
Or are these thoughts the vain wisdom which
comes after the event? 1t was the shock of
my life. For moment it had turned me to a
cynic But already, as | write, week has
passed, and we have had our momentouS
interview with Lord Roxton, and-well, per
haps things might be worse.
Let me tell it in few words. No letter or
telegram had come to me at Southampton
and | reached the little villa at Streatham
about ten o'clock that night in a fever of
alarm. Was she dead or alive? Where were
all my nightly dreams of the open arms, the
smiling face, the words of praise for her man
who had risked his life to humor her whim?
Already was down from the high peaks and
standing fiat footed on earth. Yet some good
reason given might still lift me to the clouds
once more. | rushed down the garden path,
hammered at the door. heard the voice of
Gladys within, pushed past the staring
maid, and strode into the sitting room. She
was seated in low settee under the shaded
lamp by the piano. In three steps ! was
across the room and had her hands in mine
"Gladys!' | cried "Gladys!'
She looked up with amazement in her face.
She was altered in some subtle way The
expression Of her eyes, the hard upward
drew back her hands.
"What do you mean?" she said.
3Gladys!" l cried "What is the NATTER
You are my Gladys, are you not-little
Gladys Hungertono'
NO." said she, Il am Gladys Potts. Let
me introduce you to my husband
How absurd life is. | found myself me
chanically bowing and shaking hands with a
little ginger-haired man who was coiIed up
in the deep armchair which had once been
sacred to my own use. We bobbed and
grinned in front Of each other.
"Father lets us stay here. We are getting
our house ready said Gladys.
"Oh, yes" said l.
aYou didn't get my letter at Para, them
"No, got no letter."
"Oh, what PITY 1t would have made
all clear"
at is quite clear" said T.
"I've told William all about you," said
she. ave have no secrets. | am SO sorry
about it. But it couldn't have been so very
deep, could it, if you could go off to the other
end of the world and leave me here aloneo
You're not crabby, are youo'
"No, no, not at all. think I'll 60"
"Have some refreshment,' said the little
man, and he added in confidential way,
ats always like this, amt ito And must be
unless you have polygamy-o the other
way round, you understand" He laughed
like an idiot, while made for the door,
| was through it, when a sudden fantastic
impulse came upon me, and | went back to
my successful rival, who looked nervously at
the electric push.
will you answer question:" asked.
"Well, within reason" said he.
"How did you do it? Have you searched
for hidden treasure, or discovered a Pole, or
done time on pirate or flown the channel,
or WHAT Where IS the glamour of romance?
How did you get it,"
He stared at me with a hopeless express
sion upon his vacuous, good-natured, scrub
by little face.
"Don't you think all this is little too
personal?' he said.
"Well, just one question: | cried. "What
are you' What is your professione"
Il am solicitors clerk" said he. "Sec-
ond man at Johnson & Merivale's, Al Chan
cery Lane"
@Goodnight7 said l. and vanished like all
disconsolate and brokenhearted heroes into
the darkness, with grief and rage and laugh
ter all simmering within me like a boiling pot.
nNE more little scene, and | have done.
- Last night we all supped at Lord Rox
tons rooms, and sitting together afterward
we smoked in good comradeship and talked
our adventures over.