South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1917-04-14
II LIE Long Complete Tale by KITTY LOFTINC

4A - - - -
mission She longed to write TO Anthony and
ask him to send back her ring but her pride
would not suffer her to do this. She never
met him. though she tried to-
At last one afternoon. the desire to gain.
even at secondhand, some news OF him. to at
least hear his name spoken, became too strong
for her. She put on her hat and went to call
on May Lovett whom she had not seen. to
speak to, since the death Of her husband
When the servant ushered Ler into the room
she had to wait little. and when May Lovett
came in Margaret was struck with the change
In her. In her black dress she looked years
older than Margaret. who was the elder OF
the two
For a second they chung together. speech
less; = n Margaret blinked back her tears
and sat down. She began to talk OF imper-
sonal things, and the entrance Of tea gave
them time to recover themselves. And she
longed to speak Of Anthony, but dared not
And then suddenly. as she held out her plate
for a cake. May Lovetts eyes fell on her
empty left hand and stayed there.
-Why-Msrgaret!" she exclaimed, and her
face said the rest There great amaze
ment on it and concern.
A wave or burning color went over Mar
garet TaIbot's face, and then ebbed leaving
her very white. Now she had gained what she
had come for she felt she could not speak OF it.
"Margaret-your ring? You-you-haven't
lost it?"
"Oh. no" The girls voice was very hard
and casual
mot lost-then-oh, It is not possible that
oh. my dear. what has happened? What
does its meanT
"It means" answered Margaret steadily
that am no longer engaged to Anthony. l
sent him back his ring"
May silent. She was so surprised that
she was quite at loss for words at the mo-
ment
'T-ETony said nothing to me about it. 1
had no idea"
The girls lip curled with a scorn hat May
did not understand. mo. I do not think he
would speak to you about it."
But when did this happen?"
About fortnight ago"
you said you LETT back his ring. That
means that you broke off the engagement?
Yes"
There was pause May waited, but Mar
garet said no more. At last she ventured
May l know why? Will It hurt you TO tell
dear? Surely it cannot be serious, final?
There must be some mistake some misunder-
standing. Margaret don't let trifles ruin your
whole life. There are very few men in the
world like Anthony Kerr. Don't lose his love
because OF some caprice some fancied wrong"
The flush came back to Margarets white
face.
why should you assume that I am in the
wrong" she cried. That it is my fault that
have parted?
Forgive me if say hard thing, dear
am younger than you, ! know; but, oh. Mar
garet. l much older in sorrow, in ex-
perience Tony adored you; you meant all
the world to him. No who knew him could
be blind to that. Knowing him as ! do can
not think the fault was on his side; at least
not Intentionally"
YES thought | knew him Also" was the
bitter answer. I'VE know no one really. May
Not even those who nearest and dearest
to us. II can't tell you why we parted
Don't let speak of it any more. He de-
Ceived me-led-T--
She stopped abruptly. choking back the
words with a sudden look Of terror on her face
II flashed on her all at once that il was May
Lovett to whom she talking, and she felt
sick and cold with the sudden realization Of IT,
In her selfishness. her obsession of her own
trouble. she had only been thinking OF easing
the pain at her own heart by sympathy, by
confidence She held out a shaking hand for
her teacup.
May. it's no use talking about It. It's over
done with. II had rather not speak OF it,
She stopped again, frightened at the look
on May Lovetts face, look she had clue
TO and could not understand. Why did May
look at her strangely?
We must speak Of it, May said slowly.
Tony is my friend | owe him-oh, | cant
begin to tell you what owe him" She got up
and came close to the girl. You said-he lied
What did you mean by that?'
Margaret looked round her helplessly She
wished with all her heart she had never come.
Il didn't mean anything" she whispered
desperately. Il don't know" She rose un-
steadily from the chair. May let me 60 I'm
really feeling rather ILL.,"
But the little figure barred her way mex
orably. She seemed TO tower over the other
girl by sheer force and strength OF character
You shall not go until you tell me-" she said.
firmly You brought a direct accusation
against Tony on said he had lied. To your
"Yes-no-at least p Margaret STAN
mered. May, for PHYS sake, ask nothing
more. You-you don't know what you are do
ing. am sorry l spoke, sorry came here to-
day But have been so unhappy" She broke
down a moment, then went on more calmly
What lies between me and Anthony is one
else's business No one else has any right TO
know, to ask. Il is affair"
The stern, accusing look died out of Mays