The Washington times., 1918-06-18

YOU remember how / said that l
had seen him somewhere, or some
one like him?"
Trying to Place Fleetwood.
81 had the same feeling said
Lillian, "at first But l know now
of whom he reminds me. It's real
Iy a very faint likeness, more in
the voice and mannerisms, 1 think.
than anything else. The thick,
black hair, too"
'Of whom are you thinking?" ask
ed Esther, putting down the book
which she had been trying to read.
Lillian answered eXasively. "Of
some one I used to know" she said.
He is dead now. so, of course, it is
only just a chance likeness. She
made an attempt to change the sub
ject.
Did / know the man of whom
you are thinking?" persisted Es-
ther.
I can hardly say you did. You
never saw his face.
who is it? Tell me-"
"Mr. Fleetwood reminds me of
some one whom both you and / wish
to forget" said Lillian, reluctantly.
He has a superficial resemblance
to Basil"
ITO BasiI-the man I married?"
Esther sat up in her chair and
put the question sharply.
Yes, of course, there is nothing
in it. I told you, I fancy, that Basil
was nice looking, like his brother
who married, Gertrude. He has
thick black hair like the doctors.
He has the same infection of voice:
T. kEah fg In
iscent to you"
His name is Basil, too" said Es-
ther, thoughtfully.
Yes. a curious coincidence. But
IL Is not an uncommon name. What
connection could there be-"
He was in practice at Larch-
mont-it is all very strange. Es-
there puckered her lips together iE
a way which she had when in
doubt "Of course. as you say, it IL
a coincidence. But" she sighed, II
am sorry / know. 1 shall associate
him with Adderley now. And
] am so anxious to put those hate
ful recollections out OF my mind"
Had She Met Him Befores
A few days later Esther and Basil
Fleetwood met again. He had
called and she had given him tea.
She watched him furtively as he
drank il. Was il possible that Il
was from her very brief acquaint-
ance with the Basil OF Adderley
that she had gained this forcible
impression OF having met DR.. Fleet
wood before? Could there he any
real resemblance between the two
men?
How little she remembered OF the
man to whom she had been so
strangely married! His name his
hateful dress-a mass OF black hair
surmounting the carefully muffled
face, a tall figure covered Dy a long
overcoat-such had been the only
Impressions she could form. Ex-
cept his voice-she had heard that,
OF course. Il, Basil, take you. Es-
ther-" Now she came to compare
them, there was the same rich
tone, deep and bass. in the two
voices. Lillian was right. 1t was
very strange, but withou doubt
mere coincidence. Still. cut OF Gu
riosity, she thought well to put one
or two questions.
my name. the name OF Bora
dale. was not familiar TO you when
we first met, DR.. Fleetwood" she
asked
He put down the cup OF tea half
finished.
Merely in the way ono Knows
most names in society" he said.
while I was driving about after
your husband. ] turned II over in
my mind and remembered reading
about your marriage month be-
fore. II struck me as strange that
Borradale should have taken to
Irf11E
Yes said Esther. her eyes fNed
upon him, and did you associate
that fact with anything else you
may have heard
The BOrrndnIe "LeEend."
Fleetwood hesitated. "AU the
world knows there is some legend
attached to the Borrada1e family"
he said. II have heard many diff
ferent versions OF it. Folk are
fond Of alludinE to il when they
get around the freside at Christ
mas telling ghost stories. It Is
classic in that way. But. Of course.
! never attached much faith to it
one shudders At. but disbelieyes.
that sort Of story. Nevertheless |
wondered when 1 saw Borradale in
the condition he was in that day.
] wondered IT, indeed. there was
any truth in the tale they tell Of
an awful secret to be revealed 10
him on his wedding day. When l
look at him now. though he has re-
covered from his craving for stim-
ulants, ] wonder still"
You never questioned me-" said
Esther gently.
Il have always feared TO hurt
you" he replied. Il tell myself
that you have very much to bear,
and l admire your courage in bear
ing IT, l am only pleased IL ] can
distract your thoughts sometimes
by talking OF other matters"
You don't think" asked Esther,
after A moment, that you and
have ever met before before my
marriage, perhaps, when ] was
simply Esther Nassel? I ask be-
cause l have such a strong eel
ing that we have met somewhere.
Have you ever thought the same?"
He looked at her as she sat fac
ing him. her keen eyes fixed rath-
er eagerly upon him. He himself
could not explain the almost mag
netic attraction that she had for
him. He was quite confident that
they had never met before that day
in the train. He admired her. but
there was something beyond mere
physical attraction in the feelings
that animated him. But this he
hardly dared admit.
Continued Tomorrow
ICOUyriEht ~ W. r. HsHrsLI