Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1919-08-12
II w-oontsnued.

CHAPTER Iv.-Conttnued.
He paused an instant, steady1nk
himself. AS usual, she had contrtved
to make him feel in the wrong and
ashamed.
II do apologize" he said, less Ger
tainly. II did not come In here to
cay all that, Lucille. But I did come
We cannot finish this thing we have
begun. We could not stand 1t. Think
whatever you may of me as a coward.
I am not going on"
Indeed, I think you have gone TAR
enough" she calmly returned. Sup
pose we dt down and be civilized.
Will you smoke before dinner?"
> He shook his head. baffled in spite
Of himself by her elusiveness, but al
SO fingered to resolution. And he
knew that he had seen her truly q
glamoured his sight for a year could
not hide from memory that glimpse
Of her mind.
thanks" he refused. "And I am not
playing. Our matter looked bad
enough as it was, but you showed me
a worse thing, just now. 1t vas bad
enough to take my friends wife for
love; I can't and won't take her by
means of my fathers money"
She wheeled about. swiftly and hot
ly af1ame, and they stared at each
other as strangers.
you have forgotten that we are
engaged" she said stingingly. "Or
doesn't you conscience heed a broken
word? I"
Perhaps it is needing the tacttul-
ness Of being engaged to one man
while you are married to another" he
struck back, goaded to a brutality
foreign to his nature.
The faint chime Of touching glasses
checked them on the brink of a
%ciliation impossible. Mrs. Masterson
dropped into a chair, s%natching up a
fan to shade her flushed face. Adri-
ance stood stiffly where he was, WISE
ly making no attempt at artificial
nonchalance. The servant who enter
ed saw only composure in his i'm
mobility.
Mrs. Masterson eagerly lifted the
offered cocktail to her lips, as II anger
had parched them. Adriance took a
glass from the tray presented to him,
table; now that he realized, he felt
that the hospitality Of this house was
not for him. But the brief interlude
helped both Of them.
When the servant had gone, Adri-
ance spoke with restored calmnes.
you see, ever now the situation
has wrapped us. all awry. If it were
not so, I should like to buy things
for you. I suppose. I can imagine"
He broke the sentence; quite sud
denly he had remembered the little
huckled shoes bought for the girl in
the pavilion. He had looked interest
eddy at other things in the shop, while
he waited for his parcel. It would
have given him delight to purchase
certain elaborate stockings and alb
surd lace-frilled handkerchiefs.
II can imagine that I should" he
finished lamely. Lucille. you viii,
come to agree with me. 1 hope. But
even if you do not, I cannot go on
She rose and 4 up to him with
q swift movement that brought both
he grasped her intention. Her warm
face was directly beneath his own.
us there someone else. Tony?" she
demanded. Some girl? OF course
it would be a young girl who inspired
all this; pure as water'-and as taste
less! Is that it,"
She might have struck him with
less effect. Tony Adriance went abso.
lutely numb with disguised wrath
What preposterous thing did she i'm
ply? The shining gray eyes Of the
across the alert, probing gaze Of LII
ellie Masterson; looked at him with
beautiful candor, with indignation
He felt outraged, as If the young cir
herself had been made present in thi.
nasty scene. And without cause! He
had no thought Of loving that sober
little figure; he was sick Of love.
Il am sorry you cannot credit mf
with n disinterested MOTIVE hi
said coldly. "As it happens. you arr
wrong. There is no one except you
neither unmarried nor a widow. since
you force me to repeat all this. II
you were either"
you would stay" she whispered.
He looked down at her, and as al
ways before her magic his strength
grew weak. He lifted her hands from
his shoulders, before replying.
YES" he conceded. his voic.
changed. But it is over, Lucille
stay
As he moved toward the door, Mrs
Masterson turned to the table and
caught up his untouched glass. Fea,
and, chagrin were swept from hel
face: it still glowed from her late
rage. but her eyes were lighted Will
confidence and ironic relief.
ITO your safe voyage and pleasant
return!" she exclaimed lightly, facing
him across the room. For you viii
come back, Tony. The ispasm Will
pass; and leave you lonely. I car
wait, then. Goodnight"
She laughed outright at the con.
sternation in his glance, Is he paused
But he turned and went out; leavina
her leaning acros the arm Of one Of
the discordant rose-colored chairs
watching him.
Back in the foyer. Adriancs
stopped. to recover a conventions