El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1913-04-18


and came to one on rough gray paper.
It was from his younger sister. &C.
oily:
Ny dear Rupert, it rant have
been thinking it would be so nice if
Peggy could come down and stay with
me for a bit. 1t is ages since I saw
her Give her my love, and say every
thing persuasive you know. shall be
so disappointed if she can't come.
write to you because I know if your
persuasions are not added to mine, 1
might as well accept defeat at once.
Yours ever, Cecily."
The Duke Of CleverIey laid the letter
down with a trembling hand. Peggy
had been gOse for a whole week. and
quite suddenly it was revealed to him
that she had not been with Cecily at
all She had said that she should
not write-She was going for so short
a time. And she would be back on
Thursday, a week from the day she
stared, and that was today. Suddenly
he covered his face with his hands.
The obvious simple auth forced itself
home. Peggy had gone away with
some one else.
He wandered into the study and
smoked modify and thought. Just be-
fore 1 o'clock a taxi drew up at the
door, and the Duchess of Cleverley
stepped out Of it. Her face was curl
Ously bright and radiant
She went straight through the hall
to the study where her husband
"Rupertr' she said. MY darling,
have you been lonely?"
She came across and leaned over his
chair.
The duke was silent for moment.
No" he said. rs that why you have
come back?"
But I said Thursday She was
staring at him in utter establishment
Her husband went on:
It's a good thing you have come,
because Cecily wants you to go and
stay with her-says she hasn't seen
you for ages
Peggy's face blanched.
You have heard from herr" She
faItered.
He nodded
There was silence.
'I-of course I didn't CO. she said.
obviously"
I went
1T dOsen't concern me greatly where
you've been The astonishing thing IS
that you should have thought it neces-
sary to come back"
Come back"' Peggy's fair face was
full of wonder.
I can explain"
"Explaini Why should I believe your
explanation Why should your story
be more literal now than it was a
week agO?"
Peggy stood trembling and CULVER
ing Once or twice she tried to speak,
and failed. Then she said:
Pm sorry 1 came back. I'll go"
And gathering up her muff and furs,
she went.
The duke wanted to ask her to ex-
plain He wondered if she had any
money; where she would CO. what she
would do. But something held him
dumb. And while he was wondering
the door banged. Peggy was gone.
1t was about quarter to seven when
Ann came in.
The duke heard the door close
sharply. and the rustic Of a gown. For
one conflicting moment he thought II
was his wife; then he was aware Of a
dark. strong featured girl, dressed IN
royal blue velvet coat and great
feathered hat. She was quite unmis-
takably an actress
She was looking at him critically
I've come" she said-"abOut your
wife-about Peggy"
The duke WINGED.
Wont you-sit DOWN. he said
Ann Rutherford sat down on the
I came" she said. because it's all
my fault-this dreadful misunder-
standing"
She paused
When she-Peggy-wa at the Friv-
olity. I was there too. was in the
chorus then, she was leading lady,
but we were pals. and we've written
and seen each other now and again
ever since. I've got on since then-tO
a leading part myself-and--
Forgive me, but what has all this
to do with the Duchess Of Cleverley2
Ann frOWned-
Everything. was down for the
leading part in the revival at the
Frivolity. Well, 1 had a bad attack Of
flu just before. Ny understudy was
a nobody; the part would have been
ruined. I happened to send a line 10
Peggy saying that 1 couldn't play, and
the revival would be ruined. 1 said
in the note If only you could come
and play your old part" and she took
it seriously and came. She stopped
with me for a week, and no one but
CarnabE the manager, and 1 knew
who she was. You don't recognize
people where you least expect to see
them, and the public will never know
that the Duchess Of Cleverley played
my part for a week. She saved the
situation for me, and she loved it
every moment Of it. She's an artist,
and to keep her from her work is
like staryation-just that. For a week
she has danced and sung for me to
keep my place, and II seems she
lost her own"
She laughed a little.
II was determined you should know
the truth" she said
For a momest there was silence.
why should I believe you?" said
the duke.
looking at her he knew that what she
said was true
The silence in the study was broken
She sails tonight" she said.
The duke started
Sails
For America" said Ann. You've
chucked her; Carnaby's snapped her up
for his first touring company. It's
always like that in the profession
What you you mean? Peggy goes
tonight? Ny wife in a touring theat-
rical company"
Ann came across the room. and, put
ting her two hands on the desk, COM
fOrted him.
This fuss is all very Well" she said;
but what are you Offering her TO
She is the Duchess of Cleverley-
my wife, said the duke vaguely
Ann laughed.
las if that were the sum and pu--
nose of lifer' she said. Have you
ever thought how the superficiality OF
the whole thing must bore girl like
Peggy? We're pals. she and l. We've
been hungry together, and tired and
sometimes worse than that. but never
once bored
II love Peggy so much that d sooner
have let her go off to America, and
NOT said a word Shed be happier so.