The Washington times., 1918-06-27
The Wolves of New York
A STORY OF LOVE AND MYSTERY
Esther COnfides to Basil That She Is
His Wife and That She Thought
Him Dead.
Part One-(Continued)


his mind when Esther burst forth
with her description OF the scene
outside the church; she had spoken
as of the very night to which he
was referring.
Could She BE the Brides
1t was then that he examined her
face more closely, and felt that she
was far more impressed by what
she had heard than she cared to
admit to him Could It be she?
The thought flashed across his
brain. 1t seemed absurd, and he
secuted it, but it returned with re-
doubled force. In any case, II II
were not she, she probably knew
the Esther of his adventure
So, IL was that, impulsively, he
put his question. Can you tell
me anything OF Esther. OF the girl
to whom I was married?'
The words had hardly crossed his
lips when he felt that he was
scarcely acting generously in fore
ing such a question Supposing 1t
were indeed she?
Married to another man, II would
be a terrible admission for her to
make. But the words had been
spoken, and there was no recalling
them He waited. fdEetinE his
hands and feet uneasily for the
reply.
II had turned dark in the room.
A summer fog. had arisen. for,
though it was growing late. that is,
for an afternoon call such as his
had been, the days were still long,
and II was yet hardly time for sun
set 1t was with difficulty that he
could see Esther's face.
She paused a long while before
she replied. What was her duty?
Her duty was to Harold. If she
maintained silence this man would
never know the truth, whatever he
might suspect The whole wedding
had been Illegal, irregular. not
binding. Absurd, too, she could al
most laugh at It in the light of this
development. Two total strangers
had been brought together and
niarried-for what purpose? Had
anything been gained by Basirs
supposed marrisge?f
Solemn Words Re-EehoInE.
Her duty was to Harold. She kept
repeating this to herself. But
would she be swerying from her
duty il she acknowledged the truth
to this man? Had he not the right
hAON IL Eldu AlG HoL d. ltnSA
some claim upon her? Those whom
Sod had joined together" Why
should those words keep re-echo-
ing in her ears? She felt that she
could not argue with herself. She
must drift, allow herself to be car
ried along upon the stream OF des-
tiny.
She reached out her hands help
lessly. Il don't know what to say"
she fsltered. at is very difficult.
You cannot tell mean. ! cannot
make you understandable diff
Guilty OF answering your question"
Don't answer it, Mrs Bora
dale" he said brayely. Say not a
word uH1esS you think you ought.
Let my story stand as I told il to
you, without my having the small
est knowledge that it was in any
way connected with you or with
your family. You have told me that
have not forfeited your esteem
for the part / played that night;
that is all that l wanted. Not for
worlds would l have you answer
my question II what you said were
going to bring about any alteration
in the relationship between you
and me. Let that continue just as
II is. ! ask no more OF you. My
Esther may remain a dream to me
you are a reality. I will willingly
abandon the one il l do not lose
the other"
T." began Esther. She
tried to rise from her chair. but
fell back with a faint cry. ~ don't
know what to do. You ought TO
know feel that you ought to
know-and yet" BY her very
hesitation she was making IL clear
10 him that II she 50 desired she
could give him the information he
Rad asked for.
IF there IL anything that you
think ought to know" he said
very earnestly, wait before you
speak IT. Say nothing now that
you and I might afterward wish
unsaid. There Is plenty % tine.
You are going away tomorrow; Il
will be weeks, perhaps months. be-
fore we meet again. beg NJ you
to think Il over in that time, Mrs.
BorradaIe. and ~ you feel that
. speaking may sever your friend
ship. then let all I have told you
be forgotten"
Moved by Sympathy.
He rose from his chair. How
late IL is gettIngTr he said brusque-
b. 81 must really be going" He
looked down At her paIe, troubled
faSA, and . great pity stole into
his heart He knew the unhappy
life that this woman-littls more
than q giri-wGG leading with .
husband who for Goms unaccoUnt-
able reason neglected her: he read
IN her eyes that she had suffered,
and suffered acutely. He saw that
she was suffering now. He had
never before attempted TO AnalyEs
his feelings for her, but now. as he
stood by her side, he had a strange
longing TO knsei beside her, to take
her trembling white hands in his,
TO console and comfort her As best
he could.
y must GO" ne said hoarsely.
GOOD by, Mrs.. BOrrAdals"
watt she said feebIy, "a few
moments All this must seem so
strange to you, cannot let you
60 without some sort Of eXplana-
ton. You have been admitted into
the secrets of my family, You know
all sorts OF things without under
standing the reason for them.
do not want you 70 take a way false
Impressions, hut there il so much
20 explain, end II I began the task
why should have to tell the whole
story Of my life She laughed
Historically.
The temptation came upon him
again II Eha we're indead his