Middletown transcript., 1916-06-03

WY 0Oyp ro0 T1dVS 6GSu TaT $WNys
Two at a timer You're getting bet
ter"
The captain subsided. zone for
Alan" he grunted.
The drinks came Alan welcomed
his. He was tired and faint after the
long journey. The captain gazed on
his own glass dehantly but ordered the
maid to set 1t on the table at his side.
Alan waited long for him to take It
up. and then he saw that the captain
had fallen asleep. Alan slipped his
drink. The captain was right, it was
f1avorless. But Alan remembered that
he had thrown away his last cigarette
for the same reason. He sighed.
In spite Of the judge, Allx was feel
ing very lonely, abandoned, unloved.
She sat on the little veranda at the
back of the town house and day
dreamed. Across her knee lay the
morning paper. A word caught her
eye. Elenic. Half unconsciously she
read: Among the arrivals by the
Elenic Hon. Percy Collinge-
ford"
Collingeford! She started to her feet
and then with what seemed a percep-
tible click her mind repeated, "Elenic." Z"
She sat down again. The hand that
held the paper was trembling. She sat
for a long time looking at her hand
The telephone bell rang, but she did
not hear it. Old John came and stood
beside her.
''1Ir. Collingeford telephones to know
If you are in town."
A frightened gleam showed in Alix'
eyes. 1t passed and fame Of color
came into her pale cheeks. "Yes," she,
said, II am at home. Tell him will
see him at any time today"
COllingefOrd lost no time. When he
arrived Alix was still sitting on the
veranda. She received him there. He
came upon her with a rush-like a
fresh breeze. "What luckv' he cried.
Really In town on a hot summers
day?
Which is It? Frocks or the dentist?"
Alix rose and held out her hand. A
faint smile came to her face. fingered
moment and passed. II am glad you
have come" she said. and then paused
Her eyes wavered. Was she glad he
had come?
CollingefOrd caught her mood. "Just
what do you mean by that?" he asked
gravely.
Alix' eyes came back to his face.
'I-I don't know" she stammered.
They sat down. Collingeford dropped
his hat and stick and leaned for
ward. A dull color burned in his
cheeks. "Alix," he said. ''has-has
anything happenedY
NO." said Alix. mot what you
mean. Gerry is alive. He has writ
ten. He says he Is coming back
some time"
CoIlingeford sprang to his feet, his
eyes flashing.
Some time! Did be really write
that? Some timer"
There was a petulant look about
AIix' mouth that belonged to an Alix
of long ago. She tried to shake IL off
with her mood. "No," she said DULY,
after a pause. "He didn't write just
that but It amounts to the same thing.
He wrote but he has not come"
ColIlngeford paced up and down the
little veranda, his arms crossed and
one hand pulling nervously at his mus
tache. He came to a stop before Alix
and stood looking down at her, his
eyes eager but questioning. Well"
he said.
Alix made a little gesture Of despair
with her two hands. "I-I don't know"
she repeated. Then, quite quietly. she
began to cry.
ColIlngeford caught her hands and
drew her to her feet. He put his arms
around her. She laid her head against
his shoulder and sobbed. Coiiinge-
ford's heart was beating furiously.
His arms trembled. He longed to
strain her to him. but be only held her
firmly and patted her back. Some IN
stlnct told him that this was not the
moment OF possession.