The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1916-11-11
TWELFTH INSTALLMENT

what is the matter, dear?" asked
Cleo quickly, noting the anguish in
Hopes face. HAS anything hap
pened?"
For a long moment he stood notion
less. Then. summOning all his cour-
age, he prOffered her the letter.
'Read it," he said in a tone so
hoarse that it was little higher than
whisper.
Filled with forebOdings of she knew
not what, Cleo unfOlded the closely
written sheet. This is what she read ::
Dear Jarvis:
This is humiliating letter for a woman
to have to write to a man-but it mas to
be written. Do you remember-but of
course you do-the Abernethy's house
party at Lake Placid last summer? And
do you remember how we lost our way
the afternoon We started to climb White
face. and how, the storm coming up, we
took refuge in that deserted cabin and
spent the night there together in the for
est? Il shall never forget how the wind
moaned there. and the rain dashed the
roof all through that interminable night)
We were afraid I'VE would not be believed
If we told the truth, you remember 50
when we got back to camp the next morn
ing we told the others that we had spent
the night at the Lees cottage. 1t was a
foolish-an insane thing-but we did it.
They say that lies have a way of COM
ing home to roost. and it is quite true
for that lie has come home and is roost-
ing my bedpost-a great black, ugly
thing that is driving me wild.
1t seems that a few days after we left
Lake Placid Hazel Abernethy happened
to meet Mrs. Lee at the boat club and
thanked her for taking care of us. OF
course. Mrs. Lee had no idea what Hazel
was driving at, and said so-and then the
cat was out of the bag. And if anything
were needed to make matters worse one
of the guides told Mrs. Abernethy that he
had seen US coming out of the cabin at
seven o'clock in the morning.
Hazel, as you know, is a modern edi-
ton of the town crier, and. thanks to her
industrious circulation of the story, every
one knows that we spent the night to-
gether in the cabin-and. of course, puts
the worst possible Interpretation upon it.
You know and I know that we did no
wrong, but no amount of denial will con-
vince others of our innocence I'm not
blaming you, Jarvis, but you have COM
promised me. Indeed, I already begin to
see signs of ostracism. At the HiIdreth' s
dinner the other night that impossible
Mrs Norton asked me IL didn't prefer
the unconventionality of life in the woods
to the staid existence one leads in New
York-Whereupon general smoker ran
around the table. You will understand.
therefore, that life has become perfectly
intolerable.
Under such circumstances, Jarvis, there
is only one course open to a gentleman
and know. that you are a gentleman.
You proved that by the way you con-
Quoted yourself in the cabin. Is there
need. then. for me to tell you what you
should do? I am fond of you and I am
sure that I could make you happy. With
implicit faith that you will do what is
right by me, eagerly await your reply.
Affectionately. INEZ.
eternity, Cleo, her cheeks drained of
color, stood as though turned to stone
staring at the letter with unseeing
eyes. AT last she spoke:
@'Who is this woman?"
''Her name is Inez Machin," replied
Hope. "She belongs to quite well
known New York family. I met hel
last summer at a house party in the
Adirondacks."
do you love herr"
Love herr" he repeated bitterly
'sNot the least in the world. There i.
only one woman whom love-and yoI
know who she is, Cleo"
us it true, as she says, that you die
nothing wrong?"
'On my honor as an officer and
man swear it, Cleo
''You needn't swear it. Jarvis" sh
answered dispassionateIy. 'In m
heart never doubted you"
There was a pause.
what are you going to do abou