The Irish standard., 1917-01-20

power.
The hopelessness of her situation
was dawning on her. Even when the
touch Of her beside him and the soil
tude Of the country roads got in his
blood, and he bent toward her, she
found no encouragement in his words:
II am mad about you tonight"
She took her courage in her hands:
'"Then why give me up for someone
else?"
'"rhat's-different."
"Why is it different? I am wom-
an. II love you, Max. No one else
will ever care as do.''
'eThat was q trick. I am sorry,
Max. don't care for anyone else in
the world. If you let me go I'll want
to die"
Then, as he was silent:
IF you'll marry me, I'll be true to
you all my life. I swear it. There
will be nobody else, ever"
The sense, if not the words, of what
he had sworn to Sidney that Sunday
afternoon under the trees, on this very
road! Swift shame overlook him, that
he should be here, that he had allowed
Carlotta to remain in ignorance of how
things really stood between them.
'I'm sorry, Carlotta. It's impossible.
I'm engaged to marry someone else"
"Sidney Page?"-almost whisper.
eyes,"
He was ashamed at the way she
took the news. If she had stormed or
wept, he would have known what to
do. But she sat still, not speaking.
"YOu must have expected it, sooner
Or later"
Still she made no reply. He thought
she might faint, and looked at her
anxiously. Her profile, indistinct be-
side him, looked white and drawn. But
Carlotta was not fainting. She was
making desperate plan. If their es-
capade became known, it would end
things between Sidney and him. She
was sure of that. She needed time to
think it out. It must become known
without any apparent move on her
part. If, for instance, she became i'll,
and was away from the hospital oil
night, that might answer. The thing
would be investigated, and who knew
The car turned in at Schwitter's
road and drew up before the house.
The narrow porch was filled with small
tables, above which hung rows of cleo
trio lights inclosed in Japanese paper
lanterns. Midweek, which had found
the. White Springs hotel almost desert
ed, saw Schwitters' crowded tables set
out under the trees. Seeing the crowd,
Wilson drove directly to the yard and
parked his machine.
mo need Of running any risk" he
explained to the still figure beside him.
rWe can walk back and take table
under the trees, away from those in
fernal lanterns
She reeled a little as he helped her
out.
"Not sick, are you?"
''I'm dizzy. I'm all right"
She looked white. He felt stab
of pity for her. She leaned rather
heavily On him as they walked toward
the house. The faint perfume that
bad almost Intoxicated him. earlier,
vaguely irrita:ed him now.
At the rear of TIE house she srnoE
+ bis arm aEl preceded him :ut.und
.ie building. She chose the end OF The
porch as the place in which to drop,
and went down like q stone.
There was moderate excitement
The visitors at Schwitter's were too
much en:rOsSrd with themselves to hp
iluch Interested. She opened her eyes
,lnGSt as soon as size feli--to fOrestar
ny tests; She was Shrpwd enough t.
COW that Wilson would detect he,
.:nlinge ring very auic'Ily--and begged
j, be taken into the house.
81 feel very ILL., she said, and hef
rhite face bore her out.
Sclwtter and Wilson carried he;
and up the stairs to one of The
t,oms. The little nan WAS twitterina
eth anxiety. He had a horror Of
noclout drops and the police. They
lid her on the bed, her hat beside
or; ard Wilson, stripping down the
,ng sleeve of her glove. felt her pulse
"Thrre's a doctor in the next town."
aid Schwitter. 81 sent for him
while AGONY wife's not very WELL"
"I'm DOCTOR"
as it anything serious?'
Nothing serious"
He closed the door behind the re-
ieved figure of the landlord, and, GO
ing hack to CarlGtta, stood looking
down at her.
"What did you mean by doing that?
You were no more faint than am"
She closed her eyes.
II don't remember. Everything went
black. The lanterns"
He crossed the room deliberately
and went out, closing the door behind
aim. He saw at once w!:2:a he >tnod-
IN what danger. If she insisted that
she was i'll and unable to go back,
there would be fuss. The story
would come out. Everything would be