The Washington times., 1918-02-27


the rest-you are certain OF your
points,"
Job For The Slugger."
Good. Then there is no immediate
hurry" lie stopped over the ledger
and wrote in his own unsteady and
Informed figuring. e. V. s.. by 8"
Then he showed the entry 10 the
clerk.
You understand" he asked.
ayes" muttered the young Jew.
"Thc sluEGer, he's the best man
for the job. Esther Vassel,
him tonight and put him up TO his
work"
Good again. Say. there's no
pressing hurry, unless the young
lady seems to be falling in love"
The spider leaned back i'm his
chair and laughed-a CHASTITY
mOcllery Of miFth.
Esther sat in an easy chair
drawn through the drawing room
window and placed in her favorite
corner of the terrace of Helm
Court Mrs. Meredith was by her
side; she had brought her knitting,
for she was an Industrious little
person, and was hardly ever with
out work of some sort in hand, but
now it lay idly in her lap, and she,
too, gazed over the spreading lawn
in unconscious admiration of the
beauty of TIE scenery.
Reviewing the Past.
Esther was reviewing the events
OF the last few months, or, rather,
OF the months since she had taken
up her residence at Helm Court
Everything now dated from that
period: all that had gone before
was put aside-though il would
crop up at times uncalled for as 4
hateful nightmare; sometimes In the
black watches of the early spring
when the wind had whistled omin-
ously round the house or moancd
in the swaying Gins she would
awake with a start-and remember.
Or sometimes in the quiet village
church the white face and white
hair OF the vicar, his deep, sad voice,
or his sunken eye would recall
scenes which she wished to Danish
her mind.
She had been happy during these
three months at Hahn Court, as
happy as it was possible for her
to be with the weight OF her secret
upon her. She had been well re-
ceived, and had sprung into imme-
dlate popularity with her tenantry
and with her neighbors. Mrs. Bor-
radale had been kindness itself, am
Harold Borradsle constantly sought
her society. She could not disguise
from herself the fact that he was
falling-Or had fallen-in love with
her. and the knowledge was very
sweet-till memory would bring
back with a rush the vision OF the
ruined chapel, the midnight we'd
ding and the man TO whom she had
been given in marriage.
What Should She Do?
She was a married woman-she
would cry IL out to herself in thu
silence OF her own room-and she
had no right to allow herself to re-
spond to this mans honest and
straightforward advances. What
should she do when the time came
as she was sure il would-when he
came to her and asked her to be
his wife? What could she say to
him? Would he not have the right
tO call her a heartless fiirt? And
yet these hours in his company were
too swcet-too bitter sweet-for her
to think OF abandoning them.
Was she really married? This
question often suggested itself. and
IL was in reference to this that she
longed to question the vicar. lie
could tell her: but would he?
Esther, pleading a headache, left
Mrs. Meredith alone in the drawing
room.
The footman threw open the doors
and announced Harold Borradalc.
lie looked little disconnected
when he saw the chsperon was by
herself.
1T is such a beautiful night" he
said. that l could not resist a moon
light walk. And having reached the
Court ! yielded to the further
temptation TO come in. Miss TasseI
is well, I hope"
"She is on the terrace" Mrs.
Meredith indicated the open win
dow. viii you not join her? She
will he pleased"
Bofradale needed no second invI-
;ation. lie hardly paused TO make
a conventional speech to Mrs. Mere
dith. She smiled as lie left her.
Esther feels as II something
were going TO happen" she whis-
pcrcd to herself, rs she saw tho |
well-knii figure pass out into the |
moonlight. Well, l think she is