Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-02-05
,rrR xx1-continued.

.o.prAK1NG of riding, Mr Collinse
ford. you're riding for a fall AhN
-,,nced at him meaningly.
,,,.., AID YOU know" he stammered
NV nv, went on rather sullenly, ANY
anu anu ,.o,,,re wrong. I'm not. But l was
wAy .yo,ng TO-" He prodded Viciously al
@ us' Cracks in the pavement with MS
stick. 49,. 7
,san You'll break your stick and 1t
,hs one | like"
ro,,irpeford turned a flushed face to
Look here, Alix," lie said, you
IA honest ard sincere and all those
1tbinas I said. Don't let's hedge-not
inst now. If your bad luck doesn et
pn-.f won learn anythng-anything you
ISpn,t want TO know-I can't say 1t right
ov,-.vould you-d'you thing you ever
would"
4, earnest and she Liked him too much
w,s ZOO much at one with him-not to
Val what he was going through. II like
vour Honest AliX," she said, after n
nonse "and I'm going to let her do
,hs talkng FOR a moment. II I learned
absolutely that-that Gerry can never
come hack to me, there is no man I would
Arm 10 quicker than to you" Collinge-
ford gave her grateful look and the
dush under his tan deepened. Don't
misunderstand me-" she went on. Il
hike YOU a whole lot, but | have never
thought Of marrying any one but Gerry.
fd like to marry Gerry. I'VE never mar
fied him yet. Not really"
They walked on FOR some time in
kilence. Collingeford's thoughts had raced
away southwards and AliX's followed
them unerrngly. Don't make one hor-
rible mistake. Percy" sh, said when she
was sure Don't imagine that 1 could
ever love the bearer of i'll tidings."
Collingeford flushed, this time with
shame. mo, of course not" he stam-
rnered.
"You see-or can't you see?" she went
on that all this new life of mine I've
hung on TO a single hook of faith. If
the hook breaks-and sometimes it seems
rs If it must be wearing pretty thin
this new me must tumble. / have spun
about myself silky darkness and l have
waited to break into light for Gerry.
could not break out from this probation
for any other man. I do not mean that
a woman can love but once-not necessar-
Iy.
"But do think that ones life must
spring from a new cnryaiis 10 meet
new love fairly. Second loves at first
sight have tang of the bargain counter
and the ready made. Love is not a
chance tenant, He must build or grow
into new home"
They walked on in n full silence. Col
llngefords shoulders dropped. For the
hrst time In his life he felt old. You
are right-you are always right" he said
At last. II shall go away-somewhere
where it's easy TO sweat
somewhere where it's easy to sweat"
exclaimed AlX. What an ugly thought"
ITS only Bodsky," said Collingeford
Ant
orown any woman's memory in sweat.
GOOD old Bod! / wonder where l shall
find him."
oh said AIix. "if it's Bodsky,s. one
mustn't quarrel with 1t simply because
II is ugly But
But what?" said Collingeford.
was going to say, But what naked
anguage' Perhaps It is one of those
ruths one shrinks from because 1t starts
q by slapplng ones face. Anyway, even
II Is truth, it's horrid. 1t hurts
Foman to be forgotten"
Colllngeford smiled. "Just So" he said |
ma stopped before an uptown ticket |
gency' do you mlnd?" he asked, with |
wave OF his hand, They went in and he |
I0ugnt passage for England. He was |
sal the following afternoon: He looked |
GUM over II that AliN consented to |
uneh with him and see him off.
ne came Cor her the next day a little |
s'e out when she saw his face she felt |
shock ana forgot to chide him. Her
~ mirrored the trouble in his, but
omehow she felt that it was not the
from her that had turned him
m night. He helped her into the
ls cab and then sank back into his
,aa AK laid her gloved hand on his knee.
nInt nSat Is it?' she asked.
Vhlhgetord's face twitched. He fixed
eyes through the cab window on
N,ins' "Bodsky," he said, ''is dead.
soa mas = been dead for months"
"a cried AliX, I'm sorry. I'm sorry
YOU; She did not try to say any
N.Y. one had put all her heart into
osSinngeiord drew out his pocketbook
n s9ok from II a soiled sheet of paper
a. torn from a field notebook He
~ out 10 her with trembling hand.
Touluht show II to any one else. Trou-
u, Has made you great-hearted. When
d, saio tae you were sorry you felt 1t so
t.n me words Just choked out l need
lt you an about It, l must talk
IN whole lot Sometimes a man must
a. or blubber. Read IT,"
W. W. puzzled over the slip of paper.
AZ - me name OF the place? l can't
rs 1 little hole on the borders of Thl-
i nn papers been handed along for
months months The envelope 1t came in
ptaf Old Pal" read AK, "do You re.
man aa1sr what l used to tell you? When
ma - na seen all the world he must 20
~ ~ ule' When we last parted had
places left to see, but they haven't
buS me as long as l thought they
nave sent you my battery. The
DIT too big for the new pow
sn.iny saa you can't use the guns, i know,
~ 49,. nave home. old man. and you
sss them place in a rack. They
sAe a little room as wide as the
4. the earth. didn't Kill her.
hef XIII herself. Bodsky."
Nss puzzled again, but then she
she said. N''s'
eAl her! Kill what2" said Collings-
llss.s h' yes ! remember AS II that
1ssss aa''srs, It does matter" cried Aux.
sss. sasise me. said Collingeford. Il had
,.sa that you never knew Bodsky
Yesterday that Bodsky used
aase. You Weru right Bodsky
teiasa. Just as some people Z
s''a some blue. Bodsky saw things I