Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1914-12-15

troll. as though he we're suffering horribly
and yet glorlsd In his pain,
The hot blood rushed into Lady VIM
berley's face, and flowed back again,
leaving her very white She was seated
on stone bench by the side Of the lake.
and John Brleish was standing In front
Of her They had been talking about
the boy, who had already been year
&c Harptree, and who had expressed a
desire 70 Join the Army class, and go up
70 Bandhurst when he left school. Then
John Erleigh had risen from his seat,
said Goodbye, walked away a few yards,
and returned again. "There Ia some4
thing | think you ought to know" he
had said and when she had asked him
what Il wes he had answered.
Anne, I love YOU"
II was ~ II the words had been forced
from him against his will, as though
he knew the folly Of them and was yet
| compelled TO speak. great gulf lay
| between the headmhster Of even sud-
| eessful public school and Anne wimber-
Icy, John ErielRh, ptoud Of his calling,
which he considered tho finest In the
world, was quite aware that, from a
| worldly point OF view, he was not a
suitable husband for the widow of the
Marquosa OF Wlmberiey, and the only
daughter Of Lord Cotheistone He was
the son Of a poor clergyman and the
grandson OF small country solicitor.
from charge on the wlmberiny estatea,
Between them there was wide social
Hulf, and no had flung q bridge across IL
IA bridge OF four simple words.
For few seconds there waa a silence,
save for the rustllnE OF the wind In the
Fhick wood that lay between this part Of
the lake and the house. Anne Wimbariey,
very pale, twined her beautiful, delicate
hands together on her knees and looked
down at tho ground. She had expected to
hear these words from the mans lips, had
oven lonEed to hear them, Her heart beat
very quickly and toars cnmo into her eyes
she was waiting for him to say something
more. He had said 70 very little-so much
less than most mon would have said
under tho circumstances.
Il had no right to speak OF this" he
went on, In that quiet tense voice. 'T
could not dare to hope--of course, the
idea is ridiculous-there are social con-
yendons-one can never get rid OF them
I've been presumptuous fool"
He wna stammering now, like any love-
sick boy; his face was red. He seemed
more human, and Anne wlmberley liked
him all the better for Il. IT love YOU
Anne" he faitored. I'll think It has
been 80 ever since I first saw you-you are
always in my thoughts-I've been a fool
thought l could control myself-well,
oan't-you know now-thht you are every
thing to me-mors than my worlE--1 al
ways thought that wes everythinE-lt
isn't now-you are everything in the world
to me-even' my works. nothing"
She rose from her seat and looked at
him and held out her two hands, smiling
through her tears.
He graaped them and stood motionless,
looking into her eyes, his own ablaze with
a wonderful light.
Anne" he stammered, 'T-you don't
mean
"That I love you. Jaoh7" she said
gently. "Of course I do-you dear, fool
ish fellow-how could help TT love
you-better than
He drew her closer to him and cIasped
her hercely in his arms, kissing her lips
her checks, her throat-ln the madness OF
his passionate love,
They sat on the stone bench. holding
each others hands, for an the world like
any boy and girl in the frst ecstasy OF
love. The whole world seemed beautiful
to them.
Il can't believe" he said shyly, ''that
this wonderful thing has happened-that
you have stooped-to give me such happi-
ness"
She did not speak. but her fingers closed |
more tightly on his hand. She knew we'll
enough what her friends and relatives |
would say about the marriage Lord |
Arthur would be quite outspoken about IT, |
The others would only talk among them |
selves. She cared nothing for any OF |
them. She had been very young when shs
had married Lord Wlmberley--too young |
to know her own mind. He had been a |
very handsome man, and the greatest
match in England. She had been brought |
up in q hard school. where love was not /
talked about In those days her father,
head OF one of the oldest families In
had been poor. Her money had
come to her afterWRrd from an uncle on
her mothers side. The story of the mar
riags was story that is told every day
among the upper classes OF society She
had been placed on the market. and sold
In her flrBt season. In her gfrlish way |
she had tried to love her good-loolSing
and brilliant husband-had even per-
suaded herself-before her marriage-that
she did love him. Two years were quite
long enough to- disillusion her. She had
been a good and affectionate wife. a wife
hour OF his death. But she had never
loved any man until she had met John
Erlslgh
1T win be-a very different life for
you" ne said, after pause.
"a better nfe" she said proudly.
'Jhckt VI you only kneW-nOW urea am |
of doing nothing I'm the world. And now
80 much depends on the wife OF a head
master doesn't it?"
"Yes, dear-a great deal"
"And--my money WIN help, won't tt7''
He flushed. II did not think Of that"
no answered.
IT have thought Of H." she laughed
'oftsn--I know what you have done out
u your salary. Now we can do much
more"
They began to talk OF the school-oR
MS ambitions-of the years OF steady
work that lay before them Then Lady
Wimberley spoke OF her boy and a tender
ight came into her eyes.
''I'm afraid OF him" said Erleigh with
! smile, "He has been everything 10 you
ip to now. He may resent"
'You must not think that" she inter
'upted eagerly. ''If you only knew how
10 speaks OF YOU"
"As a headmasterf Yes, but"
'Ie simply worships you. And IL am
70 glad for hts saks-hs has reached an
,ge when a boy needs a father when q
mother begins 10 lose her influence over
aim"
They talked Of the boys future, OF his
Inc nature, Of his undoubted brillianes
10Th In the classroom and the playing