The Spectator., 1914-11-06

didn't look at it that way, but there's the fact I'm not Paul Pry; but acci- dentally I came across this," taking the document from his pocket and handing 1t to her. Read 1t. Whats the answer?"
 Nora's hands trembled.
 Takes you long time to read 1t Is 1t true?"
 "Yes."
 And went up to the tennis court with the intention of knocking his head of; and now I'm wondering why he didn't knock of mine. Nora. he's man: and when you get through with this, I'm going down to the hotel and apologize"
 You will do nothing of the sort; not with that eye"
 "All right. l was always worried for fear you'd hook up with some duke you'd have to support. Now. I want to know how this chap happens to be my son-in-law. Make it brief, for I don't want to get tangled up more | than is necessary" Nora cracked the certificate in her l fingers and stared unseeingly at 1t | for some time T met him first in Rangoon," she began slowly, without raising her eyes.
 When you went around the world | on your own?"
 "Yes. Oh, don't worry. was al- ways able to take care of myself" An Irish idea" answered Harrigan complacently.
 | 'I loved him, father, with all my heart and soul. He was not only big and strong and handsome, but he was kindly and tender and thoughtful. Why. I never knew that he was rich until after I had promised to be his wife. When I learned that he was the Edward Courtlandt who was always getting into the newspapers, laughed. There were stories about his esca- pades. There were innuendoes re- garding certain women, but l put them out of my mind as twaddle. An, never had I been so happy! In Der It was play. He brought me to the Opera and took me away; and we had the most charming little suppers. l never wrote you or mother because l wished to surprise you"
 You have. Go on."
 T had never paid much attention to Flora Desimone, though knew that she was jealous of my success. Sev- eral times l caught her looking at Ed ward in a way did not like" | "She looked at him, huh?"
 Tt was the last performance of the season. We were married that after noon. We did not want anyone to know about 1t. l was not to leave the stage until the end of the follow ing season. We were staying at the same hotel with rooms across the cor ridor. This was much against his wishes. but l prevailed" | 'I see."
 l Our rooms were opposite. as said. After the performance that night l went to mine to complete the final packing. We were to leave at one for the Tyrol. Father. l saw Flora Desimone come out of his room" l IldlIlSdu Suut anu OpSuSu hiS
 Do you understand? l saw her. She was laughing. I did not see him. My wedding night! She came from his room. My heart stopped. the world stopped, everything went black. All the stories that I had read and heard came back. When he knocked at my door 1 refused to see him. l I ht,,, in mt hot nj oh ! in Paris when he forced his way into my apartment"
 Hang it. Nora. this doesn't sound like him!"
 | "I saw her"
 | He wrote you?"
 "I returned the letters. unopened"
 That wasn't square. You might have been wrong" | He wrote five letters. After that he went to India. to Africa and back to India, where he seemed to find con- solation enough" Harrigan laid 1t to his lack of nor nal vision. but to his single optic there was anything but misery in her beautiful blue eyes. True, they sparkled with tears: but that sgnified nothing; he hadn't been married these thirty-odd years without learning that a woman weeps for any of thousand and one reasons. l Do you care for him still?" | Not day passed during these many months that l did not VOW hated him."
 Anyone else know?"
 "The padre. l had to tell some one or go mad. But didn't hate him. could no more put him out of my life than could stop breathing. An. have been so miserable and un- happy!" She laid her head upon his knees and clumsily he stroked 1t. His girl!
 That's the trouble with Us Irish.