The Washington herald., 1914-01-04

q blow. "Margery. you shouldn't have
come"
.1 had to come; couldn't help coming;
couldn't stay away. thought you might
want me-"
Want you? Az II there's ever likely to
be \ time when don't want you, I was
half beside myself for want Of you then"
She moved forward; he put his hands as
II to stop her. You mustn't, YOU
mustn't" He drew himself little more
erect. 'Margery. I'm going to be mar
ried."
rs that true? Is IT quite. quite GER
tain that you're going to be marriedT"
ITS either that or Jail"
You are sure-perfectly sure?'
Absolutely. Clarke IL here: he wants
his money; he'll take q warrant out IL he
doesn't get IL soon. I can only get 1t
from-her."
There was such an accent on the pro-
noun-I knew 1t from the look which was
on his face I could see she WINGED.
'I know; I've heard all about her
don't know what to advise you to do
You know you will be committing great
sniff you marry her" noticed that
both parties seemed to avoid mentioning
her name. Il know you, Cecil. your
weakness and your strength. / do not
think you will ever cease to love me-"
II am as sure of that as that you and
are standing here: it's the only thing of
which am sure. You are part and par
eel Of my life. OF my very being"
That being so. do you think you ought
to marry-her, even to save yourself?'
IT'S not only TO save myself-its to
save you. If don't marry her shall be
sent to jail-theres no alternative. Then.
when come out. as likely as not shall
marry you
"well-what Them The smile which
lighted up her face was one which. my
instinct told me, only comes to the wom-
an who holds the world well lost for love.
Her question made him flame IuIo anser.
What then? Everything then! Mar
gerry, you shant marry a jailbird-you
shall not II I'm to be branded as felon.
I'll never carry on the brand to you. and
to our children-never. never. As God Is
my witness, you shall not be a felon's
wife. So the thing resolves itself into
this: II I don't marry this woman i shall
become a jailbird-Clarke will make me
one: then-you'll be such a temptation to
me, Margery. I've been tempted once and
I've fallen, but what was that ten ptation
compared to your I'll not dare TO risk IT.
So it's good-by. Margery. I've 10 right
to kiss you: the mere thought of your
lips against mine drives me mad. I'm
going-Tm going to marry that woman
and I'm going to her now"
And apparently he went-he positively
ran. And the girl never turned even to
follow him with her eyes, but remained
stock still where he had left her: then
did as he had done-looked out across the
night-black sea.
sat still and watched her till could
bear II no longer; then l went to her and
said:
VIII you come with me. please. while
I speak to some friendsT She glanced
at me as she might have done at a ghost:
I do not think she quite realized that I
was a creature OF flesh and blood. So
reached out and took her by the hand and
said to her again: IL think can help
you II you'll come with me while speak
to some friends"
She did not utter a sound, or try TO. I
think her heart was broken. She Just let
me take her by the hand and lead her
where / would; she moved as IL she were
a docile child. / saw. In the distance. that
Mr.. and Mrs. Curtis were still where I
had left them: so I placed her on a chair
within sight, and I said, as IL I had been
speaking to child:
''Sit there, please. and don't move: in
a few minutes I hope I'll be able to come
to you again with some good news"
She sat down with meek and heartren-
ding obedience-she was such a picture OF
misery I could have cried: but I bore up
till ] got to Mr.. and Mrs. Curtis, even
though / believe there was something
moist In the corners OF my eyes. I got
TO the heart of my subject without any
sort of preamble
You know. Mrs. Curtis. I told you that
I was a teacher OF the deaf and dumb.
and that could tell what people are say
ing by watching their lipsg'
"Of course you did. my dear. This is
my husband. who has Just come to me
from New York City. Fred, this Is Miss
Judith Lee. of whom i was speaking to
you. She's very wonderful young wom-
an. and l hope she's going to be my very
dear friend"
did not wait for Mr.. Curtis to speak:
] jua went on could see he was be-
ginning to look at me with a sort OF
wonder.
II Just saw you and Mr.. Curtis talk
ing and / saw him sa.- to you that with
some Of the money he had Just been max
ing he would like to set some fellow. who
wasn't quite a bad one. on his legs. and
give some woman. who was very much in
need of il. happiness. Well, know just
such a pair, and IL he meant II can
give him a chance of doing. right now.
exactly what he said he wanted to do"
They looked at me. and they looked at
each other. which did not wonder att
was so hot and eager. SO very much in
earnest.
Mr.. Curtis asked, with something in his
voice which made me wonder IL he was
quizzing me- but did not care II he was:
who are your deserving couple, Miss
Lee?'
Then told them all about Il. in just as
few words as I could. and as close to the
point as / could get them II did me
good to see how quick he was at getting
at my meaning. I believe that before I
had finished he understood it adjust got
at what 1 wanted him to get The quiz
zical note was still In his voice when he
made what, from an Englishman, would
have seemed a simply amazing speech,
but which seemed to come quite naturally
from him.
.'If fifty thousand dollars-that il, ten
thousand pounds sterling-would do for
this lady and gentleman what you want
to do. you can have the cash tonight, on
one condition, Miss Lee-that you don't
say from whom it comes. You're to re-
gard that as your secret and mine"
In about three minutes I went tearing
off after Mr. Armitage. I found him sit
ting at a table IN g corner OF the restau-
rant. a suspicious-looking glass in front
of him and a most dismal expression on
his face.
"Mr Armitage. want you to come with
me at once, on business which is to you
almost a matter Of life and death"
He looked at me as II amazed, which
was not odd. I fancy seemed pretty ex-
cited, and my acquaintance with him was
of the slightest. But / gave him no chance
to talk. Almost before he knew II, 1 was
sailing down the room with him at my
side. I believe Mr.. Armitage did ask
some questions, but he got no answers:
I took him at such pace to my hotel
Il