Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1916-11-16

SJEeetnan remembered then that he
tsd many-sided role to play. And
ttereupon he went up to the girl; and
t1.Ing one of EtheFs hands in his.
while ne put an arm around her, he
looked down at her in a most lo7erlike
fashion
"Ah, my dear! I'd let them know
noW-this minute-if I only couldr' he
exclaimed.
But we must announce our mar
rage at once" she said quickly.
Announce our marriage-why?"
Georgy Wagstaf told me Just a
few minutes ago that when I said I
was in Brighton a friend of hers saw
you and me together in Paris she re-
piled in tragic tones.
You did not explain?" he asked.
That we were on our honeymoon?
No! | kept my word to you. 1 said
was in Brighton" She looked at
him in a puzzled way as he left her
then and paced the floor in a nervous
fashion.
'Of course, it's easily proved that I
was not in Brighton" Ethel continued
"Georgy seemed to think you and
I Well!-yoU can imagine what
she must have thought Oh! why must
there be this secrecy? I loathe it."
She sank upon the settee and stared
modify at the fiOOr-a most unhappy
picture of pretty bride.
Streetman reused himself and bent
over her.
MY dear! We must wait until 1
can arrange matters with my family"
he explained in his most plausible man
ner. Until can come into my own
again we should starve Soon it will
all be arranged" And once more he
turned away from her-thfs time with
an air Of fnality-as if there were
really no argument against his vague
protestations
soon? You have said that for
month";" Ethel reminded him. you've
said it ever since we were married"
Next week, them he agreed in des-
peration. 81 promise! And you will
learn tonight about the feet?" he
added in the same breath.
'But, Henry, if I do ask Sir George
and he tells me, isn't it rather a shah
| by thing to do then to come to you
! and
mo, no, no-as I've often told your
he interrupted. It seemed to him that
/ her objections were interminable.
And under the stress of the urging
from his superiOrs his forbearance was
fast reaching its end. To hide his
anxiety and his irritation, he stepped
to the window and looked out.
| ''But Sir George trusts me-" Ethel
resumed. Streetman stifled a mouth
| filing German oath while he listened
to her. "When he answers my ques-
/ TONS" she continued, 'he does so be-
cause he thinks I'm just idly curious.
| He never dreams I'd repeat what he
| says to anyone. 1t all puts me in
beastly position. Sir George is a loyal
Englishman, and if he thought
Streetman would not let her finish.
| He wheeled about and said sharply. to
forestall even the merest mention of
such a thing as an infOrmer-let alone
| spy
"And you are a loyal Englishwoman
and I am loyal to-France"
'rnen why do you pass yourself or
| as an Englishman?'
Because it is the wish of nv en-
plOyers, the French secret service. 1t
is the wish Of France" he declared in
a. grand manner, which he intended to
carry conviction with it,
/ Ethel shook her head.
! cts all quite beyond me-" she said
with 81 hopeless air They had had
many such discussions. And never
| yet had she been able to understand
the reasons that Streetman put forth
with unvarying glibness. why should
France wish to know about our f1eet?'
"Ah! that I do not know he re-
! piled. 'The secret service gives me
| their instructions. 1t is for me to fol-
low, not to question them. It is my
WTOrk-my future" He drew nearer
to her, and his masterfuI eyes gazed
full into hers. ct is our future,
Ethel?' he cried with apparent emo
| ton.
"But isn't France England's aIIy?"
she asked. 81 can't understand why
she should need this information"
"In times like these it is best for
each country to know all possible
about every country" he explained.
''YOu will be doing no wrong to Eng
land when you get me the facts
desire" He sat down beside her, and,
placing his arm about her, he drew her
close to him. you will find out to-
night about the feet?' he pleaded.
But there was something about his
persistent Wheedling that made Ethel
WillOughby-or Mrs. Sreetman-sus-
picious.
Il can't help feeling that there is
something behind all this-something
you are not telling me- she said
slowly.
Despite his confident air, Streetman
could not easily look into her search
ing eyes. He was uncomfortable.
And he rose abruptly and took a few
quick, restless steps about the room.
''Why-What an imagination he
exclaimed, forcing a laugh at last.
Really, Ethel, you're quite absurdr
''But always, before we were mar
ried, you were so kind, so thoughtful.
You talked only Of pretty things. But
now, always 1t is the feet-the navy.