Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1914-12-30
JOHN ERLEIGT1-.
SCHOOLMASTEP
A GRIPPING STORY OF LOVE MYSTERY AND KIDNAPPING

Lady Wimberly saying that she was
spending few days in London, and ask
ing Mrs. Travers If she and her son
would like to go to the opera that night
Mrs. Travers handed the letter to her
son, and his eyes sparkled with pleasure.
pOf course you'll accept" he said in an
eager voice.
"Yes. Jim, think so. You'd like to
goT
Like to g52" he queried, Then he
laughed. 81 shall be thinking OF 1t all
day." he added. TITS awfully good of her.
And youn wear that new dress of yours,
mother. and outshine them ALL"
'I may wear It, jim" she answered
quietly. 81 don't know. But II I did
could never hope to Outshine Lady VIM
berley."
He flung his arms around his mothers
neck, kissed her, and left for his office.
Grace Travers read the letter through
again, and her heart was full of graft
tude. 1t meant more to her than pleas
ant evening at the opera. Lady Wimber-
ley was now acquainted with the story
of her shame, and this letter was like
holding out the hand of friendship. The
blood rushed into her cheeks as she
thought of her last visit to Harptree. Well,
thank Heaven, she had cut herself free
from all that now She could fight on the
other side, help to save young Lord
Wimberley from these scoundrels, warn
his mother speak to her brother ABOUT
the danger; give no names, perhaps, but
make Vertigan's plans of no avail
There were a party OF six in the box
that nlght-Lady Wimberley and her two
children, Lord Arthur and Mrs. Travers
and her son. The elders sat in front,
and the younger folk behind, Lady VIM
berley was in black, and her hair and
throat glittered with diamonds. Mrs.
Travers wore no jewelry of any kind, but
her dress had come from Paris and her
beauty was so remarkable that the nu-
meroua glasses leveled at the box. were
chiefly directed at the particular corner
where she sat. Lady Joan, with her hair
up, was in white, as fair and radiant as
some slender lily. James Travers, look
ing at her from time to time, felt glad
that she was for his eyes alone. No
one else in the house could see her
'You are fond OF music, Mr.. TraYers2''
she said during the interval.
I'll love it," he stammered. more
than anything else in the world"
Wlmberley, seated on the other side OF
his sister, laughed.
''You should hear Joan practicing her
scales" he said. "That'd cure you, I
say j ulunl lIlhh lluCh oA lhhA hBits
did you2 The tenor was too fat-out OF
training, / should think"
Joan looked at him contemptuously. A
few months ago she would have said,
shut up, you silly little ass" But the
lengthening of her frOcka had, In COM
pany at any rate, deprived her OF the
pleasure of speaking her mind so freely.
II could tell you were fond Of musie.'
| she said, turning her back on her brother.
II mean really fond OF IL. i was watch
ing your face just now
He flushed with pleasure. "And youf''
he said eagerly. "You love it7"
''Yes-I think / dol don't know. 1t
| hurts me at times-I mean r."
1T hurts us too" said Wimherley,
Especially before breakfast You ought
to come and stay at MonksilvsF, Mr..
Trayers. IL you want real musical
/ treat"
You play?" said Travers. with a frOwn
at the irrepressible Wimberley.
''Yes-but only llttlei my brother Is
! quite right l play excrueiatingly; but
one can enjoy music for all that-don't
YOU think so?"
1Tavers did think so. lie also thought.
only he did not put L into words that
Lady Joan Merlet was more beautiful
than any woman he had ever seen, and
that even II she could not play the plano
her voice was sweet As any music that
| Was ever heard, To his boyish lmagina,
tian. as yet unclouded by the dull routine
Of bis life. she was some 1alry princess
/ Thai she had only just emerged from
tho schooiroom added 20 her charm h
I hls eyes He liked 70 think of her as 3
child standing 0a the throshaia q (
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