Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-05-03
Author of ''The Lone Wolf" 'The Brass Bowl" Etc.

bing, painting. going to heaven against his
lips.
Then fell lull. She was conscious that
| his embrace relaxed a trife, heard the
murmur of his CONSERVATION: "Oh, this
| is madness, madness!
But when she tried to release herself
his arms frightened
Mo- he said thckly. mot now-not
after this! Don't l love your
She braced her hands against his breast,
struggled, thrust him away from her.
found herself free at last
You don'tl" she sobbed mserably:
you don't love me. Don't lie to mo!
Let me go!'
why do you say that9 You love me,
and L"
Don't say It! 1t isn't true. I know.
threw myself at your head. What else
could you do2 You care nothing about
me; to you I'm Just one more silly
woman, No; let me be, please! You do
not love me-you don't, you don't, you
DON'T"
He shrugged, relinqulshsd his effort to
recapture her muttered uncertainty,
Blessed II l know"
Recovering a little, she drew her hands
swiftly across face and eyes that still
burned with his kisses
oh" she cried brokenly, why did
you-why did L"
whats the good of asking that? It's
aggrleved resentment. II didn't meant
mean to-I don't know what I meant
Only-never this"
He took an impatient stride or two in
the shelter of the shadow turned back to
her, expostulant, TITS too bad! I'd have
given worlds"
But now i've gone and done IT," she
retorted bitterly. In chagrin, her own in
dignation mounted ut is too bad, poor
Mr.. Lyttleton!'
That was too much; he came closer and
grasped her wrist why do you talk
that way to me?" he demanded wrath
fully. What have ] DONE"
You? Nothng" she broke in, roughly
wrenching her hand free in a fury of
humiliation. do you ever do anything?
Isn't the woman always the aggressor?
Never your fault-of course not! But
don't, please worry; I sha'nt ever re-
mind you. You're quite free to go and
forget what's happened as quickly as you
like!'
She scrubbed the knuckles of one hand
roughly across her quivering lips. For
get' she cried. Oh, If only I might
ever But that's my penance, the morti-
fcation of remembering how l took adj
vantage of the chivalry of a man who
didn't care for me-and couldn't"
You don't know that" Lyttleton re-
torted. Provoked to imprudence by this
sudden contrariety this strange inconslst-
tnCe, ne made futile attempt to regain
her hand. Don't be foolish Can't you
SEQ I'm crazy about your"
oh, yes!' she laughed, contemptuous
You're no fool" he declared hotly
You know well you can't-a woman like
you-play with a man like me as If he
were child. I tell you i"
He checked himself with 1rm hand:
since, 1t seemed she was one who took
such matters seriously I'm mad about
you." he repeated in more subdued
tone, "and I'd give anything if. Only
the deuce of it is, 1 can't"
You can't afford to!' she snapped
him UP. "Oh, understand you perfectly
Didn't / warn you I was penness? You
can't afford to love a pennless nobody
can you?-a shop-girl masqueradng in
borrowed finery! No-please don't look
so incredulous; you must have guessed
Anyway, that's all I am, or was-a shop
girl out of wort-before I was brought
here to be Mrs. Gosnolds secretary. And
that's all I'll be tomorrow. or as soon as
ever she learns that I waylay her men
guests at all hours and-steal their
kisses!"
"She won't learn that from me-" said
Lyttleton, mot II you hold your tongue"