The Pensacola journal., 1917-01-21

were lively bunch, and I wondered
why Jack looked so disappointed
when / met them halfway in their
mild Irritation.
After luncheon we sat around,
played the Victrola, danced little.
Myra was a good pal and the boys
seemed respectfully crazy about her.
found Jack unchanged, and could
not bring myself to speak of his mar
riage, to either him nor Myra. After |
the officers had gone, Jack went
horseback riding. He invited me to
go. knew nothing of riding, so de-
c.ined. Never shall / forget what a
glorious day that first day at the
Howards was. Myra said it was too
beautiful to take her usual after
luncheon nap, and suggested our GO
ing for walk. We started out-the
woods were beautiful-we went deep
er and deeper into them. Two natives
who had watched US at a distance
came suddenly upon us. We strug-
gled with them. Jack happened to be
nearby. Hearing our cries, he dashed
into the woods, rescued us. His So
licitations were markedly more for
me than Myra. She noticed it, and
seemed to be angered.
We walked home, Jack leading his
horse. I tried to be very attentive
to Myra, and act as though nothing
had happened. That night we at
tended dance. Jack managed to be
near me most of the evening. It was
late when we reached home. Two
officers accompanied Myra, Jack and
me. The taxi drew up before the
house. Myra stepped out. The Of
ficers walked away with her. As
alighted my foot caught in my dress.
would have fallen had not Jack
caught me in his arms. Confused,
4 glanced UP at him-found him re-
garding me with all the tenderness
! of the old days. went quickly to
my room. It was dark save for the
moonbeams, which had found a way
through the open window.
A variety of emotions surged over
me-all the old love and longing
came back again. held out empty
arms in the darkness-"Jack, Jack, /"
!, l whispered, ri want you So" l real
lied there would always be for me
just longing, nothing more-and
falling on my knees in the darkness,
l prayed, "Dear God, Dear God, help
me to be strong and-good." (The
engineering party must have arrived
in Manila about this hour.) How long
l remained thus in my room | cannot
tell. / was aroused by a knock on
my door. Opening it, found Myra
standing outside in her nightdress.
She handed me a letter which had
been delivered during our absence
from the house. My room was still
lark. Seeing light in Jacks study
entered, read my letter which was
} from Martin:
I 'Dearest-This will reach Manila
on the same steamer as you, and will
tell you, better than /, of my love.
: Once again l ask you to be my wife,
etc" Jack came into the study while
was reading, and standing close be-
hind me, glanced over my shoulder.
turned-a queer, frightened feeling
came over me.
Martin has asked me again to
marry him." I said. Before I real
ized it, Jack had put his arms around
me, and holding me close was saying,
II can't let you go to him, Edith.
You don't love him, and marriage
without love is hell. Stay with me.
and Myra?" l trembled in his en-
brace-like a barrier the face of
Myra swan between US, and with all
my force threw him away.
"Don'tw I whispered. "How dare
you! You whom / always thought
so strong and truep 1 stood trembl-
ing with passion, my love swallowed
up in binding infuriating sense of
wrong. "Oh! l have been deceived! |!
Where l thought to find strength,
have found weakness, where faith,
| deceitw
/ staggered from the study, seeing
dimly his trangely set face and
noble erect figure-then l heard his
study door close In the darkness,
( scarcely knowing why, crept down
stairs. heard footsteps on the walk
outside. They drew nearer-then
: heard them on the gallery. A key
) clicked in the lock, the door opened
) and a man in khaki crept inside. l
drew back into the shadow. He found
/ way to the stairway-started up.
Urged on by terrible fear, l fol-
lowed. Myra's door was open. The
!, man stood on the threshold. Myra
E saw him-uttered a little cry-then
ran to him. He gathered her into
: his arms, kissing her over and over.