Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1914-12-23
JOHN ERLEIGFI,
SCFIOOLMASTER
GRIPPING STORY OF LOVE MYSTERY AND KIDNAPPING

Jack. dear" she said IN a low voice,
| you don't want to tell me this. 1 don't
wont to hear It,"
"Ive sot to tell you. Grace insists on
it. II don't keep my promise TO her,
she'll come here herself It's something
! about Grace-about her past life
"Oh, Jack, dear, what does It matterr'
ut might not matter" he continued,
III | were marrying a woman without
pride--1 mean, Anne, dear you come OF
a great race you would. Of course, feel
Il very deeply II you married into a fam
lily that-that had stain upon H. / didn't
see that so clearly Till Grace made II
plain to me. But now I see that you
ought TO know about Grace"
She looked up at him and smiled. II
don't want 10 know about her. know
that there is no stain on the life Of the
man love"
lie WINGED 'I have promised to tell
you" he continued. When Grace was
very young she was betrsyed-by a
sooundrel She has never been married .
her s0n---"
"Oh, Jack. dear" she interrupted gem
tly, "how terrible for her. am so sorry
for her-poor thing. Is the man alive7"
mo-" Erleigh answered in hard
voice. He is dead"
What was his nanie7" she asked, not
because she wanted 70 know. but be-
cause she felt that she must say some
thing to show that she was not ashamed
OF discussing the matter.
Rockford" he replied.
mot one OF the sons of Lord Roch-
ford?"
"Yes-the youngest-Robert."
Her grip frightened on his hand and
eyes.
''You mean" she faltered, ''the man
who was murdered by Harry Talbot"
John Erleigh hesltated-a imper-
ceptibly-before he replied.
Yes" he said in a hard voice Harry
Talbot-that was the man. You knew
him?"
VERY well--before the crash came.
His mother was an old friend of my
fathers. We saw a good deal Of the
family when I was a girl. My father
always said that Harry. was innocent,
but Harry's people cast him or don't
know what happened to him. No one
ever mentioned his name after that"
John Erleigh did not look at her as
she spoke. He stared straight in front
OF him at tho fire, looking back into the
past. 1t was terrible to think that Harry
Talbot, the man he had injured, had
been friend of the woman he loved.
II was even dangerous. She had now a
personal interest in the cruel tragedy
She would ask questions, refer doubtless
to the subject again and again. He
wished he had never mentioned Talbot's
It. Those who have a secret TO guard
cannot be too careful
II suppose" said Lady WimberIey after
a pause, you don't know what happened
to hlm?'
Went to the bad, believe. He is
dead. He died a very Short time ago."
Poor fellow" she murmured. poor
Fellow; and to think that perhaps a little
help and sympathy
''He would not take 1t from any one"
Erleigh broke in fiercely. Those Ave
years-it changes a man. you know; /
would have helped him II he had allowed
ME 10 DO so. The man he killed was a
scoundrel-a brute that was not fit to
live. Anne, dear. I came here to talk 10
you about my sister"
Yes. Jack know. but for the moment
could not help thinking of poor Harry
Iaioot-such jolly young fellow he was,
tull or spirits, not clever, but a really
good sort / can't believe he was guilty"
The blow was struck In anger" said
Erleigh slowly. ANY man. however good
chap, might have done the same. There
was no intent to kill. That was allowed
for, but II was known that Talbot hated
Rochford-that went against him Anne.
dear, my sister wished me to tell you OF
this tragedy in her life. And now that
have told you think you will understand
what she has suffered all these years.
make no excuse for her sim Anne but
hHo AhH pdlu-hedNllNs SUM- one can [ 20
against the opinion of the world: the
stain is there-and you, SO pure, so spot
less, so proud of the honor OF your
name"
Jack, dear" Lady Wimberley inter
rupted, "surely you do not think that
am so mean? You don't think that this
could make any difference to us? Why,
my dear man. shall only be more kind
to your sisteI-try and bring a little
brightness into her life"
He took hold of her hand, and bending
his mead, kissed her reverently on the
forehead.
MY dear one he whispered, "of course
I know that this would make no differ
ence. You are not the sort of woman to
trample on those who are down. I really
believe that II I came to you with some
shameful story Of my own, you would for
give me-"
He spoke almost lightly, with a smile on
his lips. But there was a hungry look
I'm his eyes. Anne Wimberley did not see
It. for her face was pressed against his
hand and she was gazing at the FIRE. She
did not speak. She did not know that
he was asking question that required !
an answer
Anne. dear" he continued after a
pause, Il wonder II you would forgive
me2'
CONTINUED TOMORROW
Copyright, 1914. by the Associated Newspapers,