Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-07-08
BY JOSEPH DUNN.

1t was a relief when the evening
was over. The last Euest gone, Mary,
worried over the mysterious message
and her husbands attentions TO Mar
garet- turned YEARLY into tho library.
did it go of fairly wen. dear!- as
she sank on the couch.
Seemed to-" was Kennedys trench
ant ansvcr. al he poured out = whisky
and .odA
frank took Miss warner home
! with studied careiessness. Il think he
really cares for her.
Norwood caustieaily. Hes too
seif-eentcred to caro- for any one"
showing back his glass. Now, for
Heavens sake don't start post
| norton. That party was ttresome
enough without having to talk It over.
I'm going to bed"
Broodingly. Mary looked after him
as he went upstairA This curt
cynicism was 30 unlike him. but lately
his whole nature was changed Was
his increasing irrttability q chahng at
the ties that bound him! Was 1t his
freedom that he wanted!
Tho gray mtstiness Of dawn was
paling tho electric light when Mary
finally left the library and climb ed
YEARLY up to her room
To Margaret every ring of the tele-
phone and door bell always brought
the thrilled hope that II might be
Kennedy. But tho next afternoon
when she went to the door her eager
ness ebbed to disappointment as Nor
wood confronted her.
Ho had said he would call with
| proofs of tho new story. but she had
not expected him 30 soon. They were
absorbed in some radical corrections
when again the bell rang.
This time she knew 1t was Kennedy
That he should find Norwood there!
With a chill fear Of a possible scene
she turned to the door.
Tho next moment Kennedy. with a
! proprietary air. STROBE into the room
His start at seeing Norwood was
| hardly perceptible. but his greeting
was betraytngly curt and frigid.
Sensing MarEarets confusion, with
quick responsiveness Norwood rose to
go. Flushed and embarrassed, she
followed him 70 the hall.
| As she came back into the room.
Kennedy WINS Einring out the window,
his very attitude expressing his hos
tiiity. The ranking jealousy that he
had so long controlled now biazed out.
Am I to have no friendsr auivered
| Margaret do you expect me to be
| a reciuse-to see no oneT'
Il expect you not TO see men who
arc 30 patiently in love with you.
However. II you prefer Norwood's at
tention-In withdraw mine
It was their first auArrel-the nrst
time he had left her in anger. He
would repent-he would call her up
that evening or see her on the street
tomorrow morning. But this f1verish
reinsurance did not lessen the poiS-
nancy Of her wretchedness
| In tho evening papers she read the
announcements OF Kennedy's nomina-
ton for Congress- Despite her leap
ing pride, she had dread premonition
OF this proving a barrier between them
Would his fear Of possible unpleasant
publicity outweigh his love for her
! That evening and the next day
passed In feverish waiting for some
message. The very atmosphere OF the
room became charged with her inten-
sty. She dared not go out for fear
ne might telephone
Her pride rebeiled against her maxi
ing any overture. Whatever her love,
she could not cheaper herself by de-
Hberateiy seeking htIn.
But ut least she could $50 and hear
him without his knowing. Che would
go that night to the political meeting
where he was to speak.
IT was $40 when she reached the
crowded auditorium. Slipping into a
rear seat, Margaret waited with pain
full tensity.
Kennedy's appearance was greeted
with rousing cheers. Introduced by
the chairman. he spoke with simple.
telling directness. holding his audience
by his very earnestness. and not by
any oratorical tricks
| During a prolonged applause a com
motion arose in the rear Of the hall
Kisses and cat-cails, a deliberate effort
to disconcert the speaker-by agitators
Of the opposing party. A brick crashed
through the window, and the place
was In an uproar.
Suddenly through . rift In tho crowd
Margaret raw Kennedy IN the grasp
of four ruflans. Knowing Of the re-
cent attempt on his life, she was
para1yzed with terror.
Then. with leaping belief, she found
Norwood beside her. Having seen her
in the audience. he had come to her
Kennedys peril. Incedufoun. but
fought . way to tho side entrance
They were Just In time to sec Ken
nedy. apparently unconscious. being
lifted into gray ear. Norwood,
recognizing Doyle on the front seat
va Iva "a NJ fa