Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-05-03
CHAPTER TX.
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Plucking peremptorlly at her cloak
Lyttleton drew the girl to him and. seiz-
Ing her hand, without further ceremony
dragged her round the olump of shrubbery
to spot secure from observation.
She submitted without a hint Of resist
ance, But she was trembling violently
| and the contact with his hand was as fire
to her blood.
Pausing, he stared and laughed uncer-
tainly.
"of all peopler' he said in an under
tone. II never for an instant thought of
youl"
Controlling her voice tolerably, she
asked directly: How did you get UP
| again without my seeing your"
"Simply enough-by the steps of the
place next door. saw you watching me
saw your head over the edge of the
landing, black against the sky-and knew
I'd never know who 1t was, unless by
strategy So l came UP the other way and
cut across to head you or"
He added. after a pause, with a semi
apoogetio air: What do you mean by
1t, anyway"
what
watching me this way-spying on
me"
But didn't mean to. I was as sur
prlsed to see you as you were, just now,
to see me-"
Hone stly?"
His eyes searched hers suspiciously.
Flushing, she endeavored TO assume some
little dignity-drew UP. lifted her chin, re-
sumed possession of her hand.
"Of course" she said in an injured
voice.
Sure Mrs.-sure nobody sent you to
spy on me?'
"Mr. Lyttleton!"
II want to believe you"
You've no right not to!'
But what, will you tell me, are you
doing out here this time of niEht7"
II came out because wanted to-I was
restless. couldn't sleep"
He reflected upon this doubtfully
Funny freak" he remarked.
You're impertinent"
II don't mean to be. Forgive me. I'm
only puzzled
80 am I puzzled" she retorted with
spirit. Suppose you tell me what you're
doing out here at this time of night
down en- the beach-anXious to escape
notice. IF you ask me. I call that fun
nier freak than mine!"
quite So" he agreed soberly; land
very reasonable retort. Only I can't tell
you. It's-er-a private matter"
80 presumed"
Look here, Miss Manwaring. this is n
serious business with me. Give me your
word"
What makes that essential? Why do
you think I'd lie-to you?"
1t was just that little quaver prefacing
her last two words which preciptated the
affair. But for it a question natural
enough under the circumstances would
have proved innocuous. But for the life
of her she could not control her voice; on
those simple words It broke, and so the
question became onfession-confesslon
accusation and challenge, all in one.
1t created first a pause. an instant of
breathless suspense, while Lyttleton
stared in doubt and Sally steeled herself,
upon the brink of some vast mystery.
Then: '"ro me-" he said slowly. You
mean mo to understand you might lie to
another-but not to me?"
Her response was little better than a
gasp. you know it!'
He acknowledged this with half a nod;
he knew 1t we'll, too well,
And she must have seemed very lonely
to the man in that moment of defiance.
flash. saw his face darSen suddenly in the
paling' moonlight and heard the SHARP
sibllance of his indrawn breath
And whether or not II was so, she fan
cied the wind had fallen, that the night
was hushed once more, and now more
profoundly than 1t had ever been, as
though the very world were standing still
in anticipation.
She heard him cry, almost angrily, "Oh,
damn 1t, I must not!'
And with that she was in his arms, sob