The Winslow mail., 1915-04-03

Nlo hOW LASy WSI6 AOu16 again, anu
Ellen, sulking in her boudoir, was in
formed that her new mother was wait
ing for her at her fathers side. Sulk-
lily the girl ran downstairs and entered
the living room. Then, as Zoe stretched
out her arms to gather the child to her
heart, Ellen calmly put out one hand.
A moment later she lad left the
room. She rushed upstairs, flung her
self down on her bed, and wept bitter
ly and furiously. For tongues had not
been idle, and everyone knew where
Judson Holmes had made his second
wife's acquaintance.
And society was not inclined to be
lenient Zoe found herself the
hostess, virtually ostracized by the
women who called on the occasion of
her first reception. She wandered
among them, like some forgotten
ghost, out into the conservatory;
stood there, looking indecisively upon
the gay gathering, then
She heard mans tones come from
behind the row of begonias and scent
ed, tropical plants that screened the
little nook at the far end
Come away with me tonight" she
heard him saying 1--WE can be mar
ried-" N
She stood still, paralyzed with hor-
ror. She knew the voice only too well.
And the words were words which had
been said to her. 1t was the same
cruel scene, played over, with another
for the victim.
Faint and numb, she dragged herself
away. AS she did so she heard two
people rise; then Ellen came toward
her, half repentant, and introduced the
man at her side.
II want you to know my friend Mr..
Halsey Burnes," she said.
vi
We'll? What if you heard?" de-
manded Halsey truculently.
'Do you think am going to let her
life be ruined as mine has been?" de-
manded Zoe in turn, equally resolute.
who spoke of ruin?" answered the
man. 1--WE are simply going to get
married quietly, so as to avoid any
fuss. What is there wrong in that?"
"Only you forget you told me that
you are married, Halsey," Zoe re-
turned.
The man caught at her wrists and
held them in his furious grasp.
What's that to you?" he exclaimed,
shaking with passion. What do you
CIR ~,
you imagine Judson will think if l tell
him the truth about his wife? That
she was my cast-off plaything-"
"Halsey! Have you no heart, no
conscience? Do not drag down and
ruin that trusting girl as you did me!
/ cannot keep silence
"But you will keep silence, because
to speak means your utter destruc-
tion, Halsey returned and passed into
the reception room, leaving the
wretched woman clinging for support
to the conservatory door.
She watched the throngs withlG ~ e
thought of Ellen, of the girls future.
There was none for herself. If she let
Halsey accomplish his wretched work
she could never face Judson again.
And she knew that without giving him
her confidence, even at the risk of los
ing him, her position would be made
intolerable.
At that moment, raising her eyes,
she saw Halsey and Ellen standing to-
gether in far corner of the reception
room. Her mind was made up. She
beckoned to the butler as he passed
carrying tray.
ASK Mr.. Holmes to step into the
conservatory" she said.
VII
Zoe had told him all. She had not
spared herself But she was astounded
at the change in him, at the man with
confronting Halsey.
In the presence of that anger Hal.
sey's projected revenge withered like
dead branch cast into fire. He slut
tered and hung his head
"If you are in this city in twelve
Holmes.
Halsey raised his head; his eyes
were bloodshot, and his gaze, as it
fastened upon Zoe, was of unutterable
hatred. He turned away as Ellen came
quickly in.
you wanted me, papa?" she began.
why Halsey? Papa, what has
Come here, Ellen" said Holmes
sternly. You are intending to elope
with this scoundrel this very night"
You have no right, papa
"Ie is already married. Look at his
facet"
Ellen looked and saw; and, as Hal.
sey went quickly toward the door, she
flung herself into her fathers arms
and wept in utter disillusionment
Zoe went quietly toward the recep.
tion room. 1t would be easy to slip
out of the house. Of course she would
not return. 1t was doubtful whether
Judson would see her, engrossed as he
was with Ellen. She would
sETOob'