The public ledger. [volume] (Maysville, Ky.) 1913-1968, 1914-05-02


after banking hours, kissed his daugh-
ter-inIaw, and delivered an ultlmatum
secondhand from the power at home:
she was to come to dinner and bring
Miss Castleton. A little quiet family
dinner, you know, because they were
all in mourning, he said In conclusion,
vaguely realizing all the while that 1t
really wasn't necessary to supply the
information, but, for the life OF him,
unable to think of anything else to
say under the circumstances. Some
how II seemed to him that while Sara
was in black she was not In mourning
in the same sense that the rest of
them were. II seemed only right to
acquaint her with the conditions in his
household. And he knew that he de-
served the scowl that Leslie bestowed
upon him.
Sara accepted, much to his surprise
and qualification. He had been rather
dubious about It. 1t would not have
surprised him in the least II she had
declined the invitation, feeling, as he
did, that he had In a way come to her
with white flag or an olive branch
or whatever 1t is that a combative
force utilizes when 1t wants to sur
render In the cause of humanity.
AS soon as they were alone Hetty
turned to her friend
"Oh, Sara, can't you go without mel
Tell them that am ill-suddenly ILL.,
IL don't think it right or honorable
Of me to accept"
Sara shook her head, and the words
died on the girls lips.
you must play the game, Hetty."
"It's-very hard" murmured the
other, her face very white and bleak.
81 know, my dear" said Sara gently.
"If they should ever find out"
gasped the girl, suddenly giving way
to the dread that had been lying dor
mant all these months.
They will never know the truth
unless you choose to enlighten them"
said Sara, putting her arm about the
girls shoulders and drawing her close.
you never cease to be wonderful,
Sera-so very wonderful" cried the
girl, with look Of worship in her
eyes.
Sara regarded her In silence for a
moment, rejecting. Then, with a swift
rush of tears to her eyes, she cried
fiercely: "
you must never. never tell me all
that happened, Hetty! You must not
speak 1t with your own lips"
Hetty's eyes grew dark with pain
and wonder.
THAT is the thing can't under
stand in you. Sara" she said slowly.
I'VE must not speak Of it,"
Hetty's bosom heaved. Speak of
it," she cried, absolute agony in her
voice. Have l not kept It locked in
my heart Since that awful day"
"Hush!"
81 shall go mad II l cannot talk
with you about"
mo, mol 1t is the forbidden sub
ject! know all that l should know
all that care to know. We nave not
said so much as this in months-iu
ages, II seems. Let sleeping dogs lie
We are better off, my dear. could
not touch your lips again"
IL can't bear the thought OF
that"
Kiss me now, Hetty."
II could die for you, Sara" cried
Hetty, as she impulsively obeyed the
command.
II mean that you shall live for me. "
said Sara, smiling through her tears.
How silly of me to cry. 1t must be
the room we are In. These are the
same rooms, dear. that you came to
on the night we met All. how old
feel!"
old? You say that to me? l am
ages and ages older than YOU" cried
Hetty, the color coming back to her
soft cheeks.
you are twenty-three."
And you are twenty-eight."
Sara had a far-away look In her
eyes. About your size and figure
said she, and Hetty did not compre'
bend.