Evening star., 1915-02-14

during Whicn ne STOOD tfere, gazing through
her empty place with transfixed eyes, he
remembered moment in the gardens on
the previous night, a moment when her arms
had stolen round his neck with touch of
that old, feverish, terrified craving, and a
shadow of hopelessness had cleaned once
more in her strangely lit eyes.
"Ahl Jermyn," she had whispered, "they
have been wonderful, these three years.
Three years! The three years were up
that day. Lucille had mentioned the exact
time. Jermyn left his letter lying on his
plate, opened the door, and ran upstairs
swiftly. On the landing he met Annette.
where IS your mistress?" he asked
quickly.
Annette answered in an undertone, "Her
Ladyship had no sleep last night She is
lie down for a few hours. She wishes par
ticularly not to be disturbed"
Jermyn almost pushed her aside. He
hurried along the corridor and reached the
door of his wife's room. He turned the han
die: it was locked. In a moment he had
passed on into his own sleeping apartment,
rushed through it, and tried the handle of
the connecting door, That too was locked.
"Lucille!' he called out.
There was no answer. He took the handle
in his hand and shook it.
"Lucille!' he repeated. Il must speak to
you at onCe!'
the sick fear was in his heart He stepped
back, his right shoulder squared for charge.
Then he heard his wifc's voice. There
seemed something unnatural about it, it
seemed to come from long way off; but it
was her voice
what is it, .Terrnyn?'
u must speak to you this instant" he de-
clared hoarsely. d must speak to you
without a seconds delay. Do you hear?
Open the door, Lucille!'
FOR moment she did not reply. Then he
l heard the rustling of draperies within
the room. She was coming toward him.
The lock turned. He flung the door open.
him like ghost. He sprang past her to the
middle of the room. Then he gave great
sob of relief. On her table was letter,
written and addressed to him; by the side of
it wineglass full. He caught it up in his
hand and dashed it to the carpet. Then
sudden fit of weakness came to him. He
sank into the chair where she had been writ
ing: ~
"Jermyn!' she cried softly. @How did
you know"
He sat looking at the little stream of dark
brown liquid, and the fragments OF the glass
on the carpet. The sight seemed to give
him confidence. He rose and held out his
arms. She came to him readily enough; but
her face was still very white and strained.
"Dear," she faltered, "it is my word-my
word of honor!'
He held her tightly and led her toward the
window. Below the nurse and child were
playing. She turned away with a little
shiver.
ayes, know, I know!" she sobbed. "But
these three years, Jermyn One could go
down into hell with the memory of these three
years singing in ones heart
He kept his arms about her tightly. With
an effort he made his tone as matter of fact
as possible. Il think he said, 3that the
best thing you can do is to read letter
have received this morning, and afterward
to read another one which you will probably
find for yourself in the post bag
"Fronn-her?"
He nodded. @Will you wait here while
fetch them?7 he asked.
"Yes,7 she promised.
He hesitated She smiled at him very
pathetically.
"Jcrnyn dear, you can't think that
wanted to do it? shall be very safe until
you come back"
He went downstairs like man in dream,
and returned with the letters. He spread his
own ont 11DOn the table before her and cut