Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-09-19

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mad Shall | make a confession? At
first I considered you merely a sweet.
plcasingly attractive little woman {:
then, | don't know why, my eyes be-
gan to follow you-and my thoughts. :.
I looked for you everywhere and felt
disappointed and savage il you were not
there. And when you were, it was
like n draught Of champagne | began
seeking you out. confding in you, tell
ing YOU my secret plans as ] have told
them TO no one else on earth.
Mrs. Hartshorne made an incffec.
tual effort to free herself.
You mean the government contracts: /:
The padded bids and the undergrade
stuff? But there was no harm in that.
nothing exactly illegal. You told me so
Yourself; you said that everybody was
doing it and you might as we'll get your
share of the profits. Why should you
not have told me? l was proud of your
confidence -
4 dull flush had mounted TO Swarth
more's brow and his voice grew swiftly
hoarSe.
Il don want to talk about that now ::
Ill u luz W NuO" NOu NIHl YOU mean
to me. There've been other women, of
course. Women who amused me for an
hour and others whom I thought would
look we'll at the head of my household.
but none who combined every attribute
in themselves as you do. You drew me
TO you, held me as I am holding your
hands now.
You are hurting me" she mur-
INJURED plaintivcly. And Jenny is com
ing with the tea 80
He released her; and rising. walked
to the window where he stood for a mo-
ment staring out into the fast gathering
darkness.
What an enigma you are" he re
marked at length. Il wonder some
times if YOU know your power and use
it with conSummate art, or whether
you are utterly unconscious of the effect
YOU have upon men. We are all your
that doddering. SNUG faced
old rascal Braddock."
Don't call him that. :" she remon
strated sweetly Il like him. he's so
nice and fatherly And besides. he's
dining here tonight -
is he" Swarthmore turned upon
her. his eyes smOldering.
Yes. He asked me to dine at the
GrOsvenor with him. but I did not feel
quite up to going out. so | invited him
here instead
'Why?' he demanded savagcly
You are not tho empty headed sort to
want Scalps to danglc at your belt -
He is coming to talk over my bust
ness affairs with me- Her eyes opened
VIDE. He advises me. YOU know"
lie put few spOkes in my wheels.
ScnlIe aS he is, but I've always man
aged to knock them ont in time. :"
SWarthmore muttcred. Don't you know
mat he Is using your affairs as a mere
excuse? That he's infatuated with YOU /?
,hil MN up and tell him you are too
I'll to see HIM. and then como and dine
with me somewhere. | won't leave you
until I've made you listen to me, until
We convinced you that your happiness
hes IN my hands w.
The entrance of Jenny with the ten
brought the conversation TO a less emo
tional pitch and for n time they chattcd
of mere social affairs, but when they
were alone together once nor" Swarth
more moved determinedly to her side.
Why should we talk about these
other people? What do they matter? l?
The only thing that counts in all the
world is that | love you. | want to
make you my wife. ~
How like man ~ she smiled. You
are very confident, Mr.. Swarthmorc .
Are you quite sure that you could hold
me: What if the old gypsy longing
came back and l wanted to GO
Il would take you" he interrupted
anywhere in the world, Out of the
way places where you could never ven
ture without n protector. You are
searching for happiness I'll give it TO
you.
Mrs. Hartshorne sighed.
How can You know me when don t
know myself" she asked softly. Il
might let you persuade me-you are
very mastcrful and compelling. YOU
know might feel quite sure that you
could really do all that You protest and
make me happy. And then my mood
might change and i would feel tempted
to run away from it ala formal en-
gagcment and everyhody's rongratula- =
tions and silly dinners - even from
you"