The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1915-08-30

walk BY the Sea and IL spoken to by .
man she does not know. She - res
cuod from his attentions by Victor
Steele. sergeant In the British army.
whom she later marri4s. She finds
married life wearisome and refuses 70
follow Steele to Egypt. Then she hears
OF his death and conceals the fact that
she 10 his widow. Four years later
married TO Oswald vArney and mother
rof boy. she meets Steele face TO race
1 n jerusalem. He tells her to keep the
past secret, and her husband announc-
es that Steele Is going to sail with
them.
'Ah.ha!" cried Oswald. gleefully,
II thought should run you to earth"
He playfully tapped Victor with his
cane. I'm glad you tumbled across
each other"
. He looked from his wife to his
friend well pleased For all her e.
forts Leslie flushed.
II was very glad to meet Captain
Steele" she said. II am afraid ! was
rather rude to him this morning,
though he was kind enough not to no
tice It. thought you had gone 70
Jericho, Oswald" 4L
nat WH0T0 q 6OOO many
wish their husband, Ell. Steele"
chuckled Mr.. Varney. You'll find that
A-Out one of these days"
=. Clearly he saw nothing in the least
strange or suspicious in his vife's
meeting with the Egyptian officer. 1t
was Victor who found himself thrown
on the defensive. bG ~
81 saw the Pasha-that isn't his
right title. by the way-all right" He
fastened to explain: HE heard Whist
had TO say in silence, and. having re-
marked that we were al In the hands
of Allah, and that the English were .
valiant race and virtuous, he dismiss
cd ME with instructions to call again
later. So l came on here" added the
soldier. simply. ....
Oswald looked round carelessly. II
don't know why we came here. ne
said II take my religion in quiet
stay.at home way-don't care for
shrines and pilgrimmages and that
sort of thing. 1t was Leslie's idea. you
know. Didn't fancy Egypt. Wouldn't
go there on any account. What do you
think Of that, Steele?"
Leslie smiled nervously. She felt
that Victor's gaze had turned toward
her. II think Mrs. Varney was right"
she heard him say. II found the coun.
try hotter than ever this year."
She broke In on the gossip, Il think
] will leave you two men together"
she said. "In talking to Captain Steele
forgot my headache, but 1t seems to
be, coming ON again. will drive back
to Jerusalem alone--unless, Of course,
you are ready to come now"
Politeness compelled her to suggest
that alternative.
Oswald looked doubtfully at Steele.
What do you say? I've been over the
church, Suppose we drive you back
and you dine with u.s."
Eyes, hope you will dine with Us.
Captain Steele" said Leslie. more
Firmly than warmly.
I'm sorry, but l don't think I will.
] had promised myself long ride to.
ward the Dead Sea, and at the finish
know l shall be no good at dinner
table. You must excuse me, Mrs. Var
ney. The fact is I'm quite unused to
society--have to prepare myself for 1t
In fact"
Look here" said varney. II rode
here. II you don't mind, I'll join you
and then we can dine together at your
own hotel and yarn to our hearts con
tent afterward. Leslie will be glad to
get rid of me for the evening, I dare
say"
"Unspeakab bly," she retorted lightly
She watched Steele's face. For a mo-
ment. it was perceptible only to her
he hesitated; then he acquiesced In
Varney's proposal with apparent cor
diality.
said Leslie She extended her hand
For the first time since that day al
Waterloo Station 1t rested in her old
sweetheart's. A culver ran through hel
frame as she felt his long. slender fin
gers. as she touched his hard, brown
flesh. His hand clasped hers tightly
for moment. In flash she remem
bered that he had resolved never tc
see her again. This was his final good
bye. She went cold. Her fingers drop
ped from between his. limp and unre
sponsive.
Back at her hotel she threw herself
on divan in retired corner of thu
lounge and clamored peevishly for tea
II was pale, weak stuff which she
would have refused with derision a,
home. but shep drank cup after Gu
greedily
She lit cigarette. She was calme1
now. She was even conscious of a
measure Of relief She was Profound,
sad, but the sickening sense of i'm
pending ruin was gone Victor woul6
not speak. She knew now that 1t was
the fear OF him which had writheC
like a pale thin flame in and out OF hel
brain that morning. Now at least she
knew that her fate lay in her own
hands; and however heavy such a
responsibility may be- 1t is better thar
knowing that you are at the mercy o.
others.
Little James was heir to Reeves ant
would remain so. He would neve,
know the heartburnings which a nomi
nally moral society had occasioned his
mother in satisfaction OF offences not
her own.
Legally she had never been the ser
geants wife. So she treasured herself
There might be, it occurred to her. {
moral aspect also OF the case. To con
4 slider this she was not we'll fitted. Tn,
@Adistinction between the legal and thu
moral is seldom very clear to Englisl
people. especially to women, and Les
lies mind was imaginative and recep
tive rather than philosophical and crit
ical.
She had had no definite religion.
IL.