Evening star., 1915-01-31

Cur1OuSy emphasized. Lady florence COtld not make
up her mind about her friend.
Il cannot feel altogether satisfied" she told her
neighbor at dinner about Lucille Is she improved by
her marriage, isn't she? Is she marveously happy or
desperately miserable? Look at her! To she seems
beautiful than ever before in her e and yet there
is something don't like"
Her neighbor happened to be Sir James Bondman,
Lucilles physician. He glanced at her crit
icay. "To me-, he remarked "she looks though she
had had some sort of shock. Wasn't there terrible
tragedy at her wedding reception? Of course there
seldom read the papers, or should not have had
to ask the question: he continued apoogetically
"There an American, wasn't there who shot poor
Chalmers right before her face and then confessed to
that queer murder of Lakenham? Found dead in his
cell the very morning he to be brought up for tria
"Yes,' Lady Florence agreed 81 suppose that was
enough to shatter anyones nerves. 1t was terrible
start for their wedding journey. Yet somehow or
other, Lucille is just the woman who should have
thought would have been able stand it. She always
seemed to me as though she had of steel She
look suffering, horrible suffering too, without
nchng and she bears pain when it is inevitable with
indifference. Something has happened more than
that, think"
$50 far her appearance goes, can make only one
remark the physician declared. Il have known her
intimately all her life, have always considered her at
tracve but must confess that she has made the
impression upon me that she makes at this moment.
This evening consider her the most individual and the
strikngly beautiful woman in the room-with the
one nameless and inevitable exception he added with
a little bow
Lady Florence nodded. Il see what you mean" she
admitted. "But tell me- from what does this new at
tractveness come? Something, believe has happened
upon which Lucille hadn't counted Her mouth and
eyes have altered. 1 don't believe she could stroll
through the accident ward of hospital now as her
do year or two ago..
Sir James sighed. @If have an opportunity" he
sad II shall talk to her this evening after dinner"
JERMYN escorted his wife home that night after the
> dinner party. Contrary to his CUSTOM he entered
the house with her. although he turned at toward
his study.
"You not going to the club, them she inquired
@Not tonight he replied. a have little work to do
here"
She followed him, after a moments hesitation, into
his study. He went to his desk; then, ganc1ng
round, he her in the His eyebrows were
slightly lifted.
aYou will excuse me- he remarked, drawing
proof sheets toward him.
@Jermyn!'
He turned round once more, this time little startled
Her cry had rung out, shrill and vibrant the cry of
woman in torture She stood looking at him from back
among the shadows of the room which was lit only by
the green shaded lamp his desk. There was some
thing spectral about her appearance
@Well?n
His monosyabe seemed only to lash the passion
which she barely kept in check. "Jermyn she cried,
"you treating hateully, hideousy! You tor
turing me! My Cod haven't you any heart at all? Are
you going to keep suffering like this until the end?
"Why should you suffer- he asked calmly.
"Why should l suffer- she repeated "Don't turn
away. Sit you're sitting now. Look at me. We've
known each other for good many years Do you think
it for nothing lied? Do you think it for moth
ing told you that ..atefu story? Do you suppose I
didn't go through hell before made up my mind that
it the only way?7
a am able,' Jernyn said, "to follow the in
tricaces of your reasoning cannot conceive of any
womans fashioning so devilsh a scheme
She lust little nearer him. 1t though