The Hattiesburg news., 1916-08-05
CHAPTER vllI-contlnued.

- oufe quite sure he was married ~
she inquired in a manner that was
strangely deliberate. Aghast as she
was Mt the thought of Henry Street
mans drplicity, at his villainy in sub
Jecting her to a marriage that seemed
no marriage at ALL certain calm sat
isfaction came over her. In spite Of
her shame she was glad beyond words
that she was not tied to him for life
if what she now tried to believe We're
only true!
"Married?" Larry repeated. "oh,
I'm quite sure His wife was typical
moonfaeed German hausfrau, with two
children-bonny little kiddies. | used
to romp 'em.'
"oh, my Godl My Godr' Ethel
cried suddenly.
MY dear-what is it? What is it?"
Larry exclaimed. He saw that she was
IN agony. And he went to her as he
might have hurried to any fiuttering
bird with broken wing.
"Oh, it's everything everythingg'
she told him with a dry sob.
ohoulel never nave gone away; or
having gone, | should never have come
back-to make you suffer like this" he
said with bitter self-reproach. 1t hurt
him terribly to see her so torn by her
emotions. "There, there, my dearl
Don't cryH' he said, patting her arm
with the tenderness of a woman.
"Oh, let me! Let me!' Ethel cried,
for the blessed vent of tears had come
to her at last. ooh, Larry, why
couldn't it have been differentY"
Faith, don't know, my dear! But
nowwith you and me it's only dream
of what might have been-and we
must forget" he comforted her
bravely.
"Forget?" she repeated brol1enly.
"Wep we must try to-" he said.
eve must be friends-the best friends
in the world"
1--WE can't be just-friends," she told
him. She knew that their deep love
for each other would never let them be
merely that.
I'VE must be!'' he persisted with the
conviction of q man who would always
do right. eve love each other too
much to be more-or less-than the
best of friends"
From the hall outside, voices came
to their ears. And Ethel had scarcely
dried her tears before their friends
had returned to claim them for the din
ner party.
Great Scottr' Guy Falconer ex-
claimed as he came upon them. "StiIl
chinning, you two? You never talk to
me as long as tlfatY' he told Georgy
Wagstaff with mild reproach.
You're not so interesting as Cap
tain Redmond" she retorted with the
cruelty of insolent eighteen.
"Well, admitting that" Guy said, for
he never plunged voluntarily into an
argument with Georgy, admitting
that I've seats for the Palace and
we've telephoned to Richmond for
table. So let's hurry"
Il don't think can 20, after all,"
Ethel told them then. She knew thGs
she was in no condition for the banter
Ing give and take of dinner-table con
versation.
"Oh, Ethelr' Georgy cried in obvious
disappointment And "Oh, Ethel! Don't
spoil the partyl'' Mrs. Falconer urged.
"Come on, Larry!" said Guy. "By
George, you do look glum just the
same as did when Georgy first re-
fused me. Now I've got used to it,"
While they were trying to persuade
Ethel to join them, Sir George Wag-
staff entered the room. He had heard
their voices as he was passing through
the hall on his return from his hurried
visit to the admiralty. And since he
had news that he knew would prove
of great interest to them he had
stopped on his way to his own quar-
ters.
by Jove, Redmond! I'm glad to see
your he cried as soon as he caught
sight of the returned wanderer.
THANK you, Sir George! It's good
to be back" Larry replied.
AS a Britisher, you've come home
at the right moment Sir George told
him grayely as he shook the captains
hand.
You mean that there's news of the
war-bad news7" Ethel exclaimed,
quick TO grasp the suggestion of some
thing serious in Sir Georges words and
manner both.
Germany has declared that state
OF war exists between herself and
Russia. Our information is that France
is mobilizing and will support Rus
sia!" SIR George seemed all at once
years older under the added cares of
the impending conflict.