The Washburn leader., 1916-06-09

uttered an almost hysterical cry.
They had turned into the elm ave-
nue. which led to Ferncliff, and now
the long, low front Of the closely
shuttered house confronted her.
They drew up under = the wide
porte cochere, and she saw the
grave face of old Angus, the butler,
peering down from the gloom Of
the doorway. With a little sob she
alighted and was standing beside
Angus before the chauffeur de-
scended from his seat.
Alicia was frightened and bewil-
dered. In her agitation she could
think of nothing. The old butler
greeted her with a puzzled glance,
stepped aside, bowling low, and she
entered the door and walked into
the library. 80
"Mr. Osmond is not at home, il!
he?" she asked, with frightened
look at the old servitor.
"No, madam"
"But you are keeping the housA
open?" she asked, wondering mean
time how she could explain her ar
rival.
"Mr. Osmond," replied the butler,
Ordered us to keep the house in
readiness. He thought he might be
home any time, l suppose"
Alicia's eyes were bright with
tears. t'That is all. You may 60
now, Angus" she said kindly.
When she was alone she laid her
head on the broad arm of the huge
leather covered chair beside her
own. It had been Norman's favo-
rite seat, and the very touch of it
seemed to bring him nearer to her.
She was crying again when the soft
closing of the door caused her to
lift her head.
She sprang to her feet and con-
fronted the mufled figure of the
chauffeur who had so strangely
driven her down to Fernclif.
Before she could dash away her
tears the man had removed his cap
and goggles and flung aside his coat.
She saw before her the haggard
face and miserable eyes of her hus-
band. ~ a+.
''Normanw she whispered faint
ly. "You?" ,a
"I want you," he said deliberate
ly, standing with tightly folded
arms-"I want you, Alicia. I can
not live without you. You belong
to me-"
1 am so glad" she breathed soft
ly. II have wanted you. Norman,
it has been such horrible mistake
all around, and I have tbeenrso5 un-
haPgy.r ggy J, .,.1.-
took her in his arms. "The next
time we disagree over any matter it
will be a case for arbitration-eh,
darling? Not the bitter punish
ment Of separation -.
When Alicia had sobbed herself
into peace she asked for anexplana-
tion. "Where did you come from,
and where is the Purple Comet?
And everything is SO mixed up to-
day." , - H@+ '4aj
ssI have been watching and wait
ing" said Norman, blushing q little.
81 felt sure, darling, that you did
not hate me. This morning I drove
Barbara to town in her new purple
car-the one outside, a duplicate Of
the Purple Comet. When you came
out of the shop your own man had
gone around the block: You walk
ed deliberately into the Chapins'
machine, and I couldn't resist the
temptation to run away with YOU"
,5"And Barbara Chapin--what will /,
she think about her carp" asked
Alicia wonderingly.
:tshe is probably still trying on
bonnets, or perhaps she has annex
ed the Purple Comet and gone
home."
"Norman Osmond, did you bribe
Stevens to drive around the block Z"
demanded Alicia, looking into her
husbands happy eyes.
Osmond laughed happily. II will
confess that the immaculate Stew
ems is not above corruption" he ad-
mitted.
"You will stay with me, Alicia? ?"
he asked again after long while.
"Dear, I never want to 60 away.
1 would rather be with you than
anywhere else in the world" she
said brokenly.
"Then it will be all right with us
after this" he said. 'ELet us light
a hearth fire, Alicia: We must new
er let it 60 ont again"
No Difference.
Jack-My darling, I want to tell
you something. i have deceived
vo,, am not rich hnt 1ttorlv