The evening world., 1920-11-19
CHAPTER XVII.

not lONS III Nor eyes, out 5EptH'
What are you thinking, LallieT he
asked her.
She sat very straight and stiff in
her chair.
i am thinking she said, "how i'm
possible IT seems that l could ever
have thought l cared for you" Her
voice was low but very clear, ana he
heard each word distinctly. II am
thinking that you are the most con-
tCmptible thing 1 have ever met in
my liie--I am thinking how sUrry l
am for the woman who Is your wife"
She pushed back her chair and rose,
Would you like to hear any more
OF my tLoushts2" she ASKED.
Ashton had r sen too: there was
look of bewildcred Amusement in his
face; he tried to laugl. Even now he
thought she was joking.
"Lallie--" he said hoarsely. He half
held his hand to her. "Lallie-" he
said aRain--Dut the cold contempt OF
her face struck the appeal from his
lips.
He drew himself up with poor at
tempt at dignity.
80 virtue Is to be the order of the
day, Is III" he said sleor!ngly. VERY
we'll" his Dyes famed a. they rested
on her face. 1T makes one wonder.
why you are herein Paris-alone"
lie said tnsuitingy. III you are
alone"
There was little point OF silence.
'Then-thcn you admit tat it's
MeliOWGs," he stammcred. That it's
ne who has taken ny piICe-Uho has
cut me out" His voice changed to
q sort OF threat.
II night have known what he meant
to dc. l m.gnt have guessed. Wait
til I see hlm--wuit Till get back TO
London"
Esther smllcd--a little smile Of Sc
CuUty ana confidence.
"'rhere IS no need 10 wait" she said
quistly. Mr.. McilUwcs Is here in
Paris with me, ii you wish to see
him"
Ashton echoed Esthers words
hoarsely.
Here! with you! In Paris! d.
MiCky--"
A wave of bttercst jealousy surgod
through him. He fell back a step,
struck dumb By the force Of mis- emo
lions. and Esther fled away from him
dom the ST., c..
Then she suddenly remembered the
hbttl from VIII. Oh Micky mad written
70 her She would 20 there. il would
be somewhere ut least to sleep ana
rest.
1t was only little drive to the
"otel' S',e "'si'eI II hau us'l ron ger.
- Inc i"L ""ru' anu
aI sT ,tn'., 'L,nh IA FFench. 81, iIo%cd
distinct AID unreal. She tried to
answer. but her owu voice sounded as
II 1t were miles away.
They were in the small, rather
ldreary lounge. Esther Posed a nand
ACROSS her eyes She must conquer
this aosuid weakness. She forced ner-
self TO remember that Oh" was alone,
: out she telt as If she h1a 40 wall
: power left.
A door In front # h,r o.,." ~U T.
denly, ana man ''I', ..f irr
= lounge.
"nan he saw E5.hoT j. ''..r'd.
l The hot color rdaac4 to MIS- iut'. "a"
: seemed to be waiting Tor some "a
from her. For moment tAr!. pes
met; then hardly Knowing what she
, did, Esther held out her hand.
'Oh, please" she said family, oh.
- please tell ne-what am to do?"
; Bat for the next few minutes she
was past remembering anything
though she never really lost conscir us
ness. She only knew that everything
. WIS ali riglt now kIicl;v was here
, and the sheer relief the knowledge
, brought with II for the time threw
; ! heI into a sort OF apathy.
, Some one took of her hat and the
> big fur coat that had crown 20 h~avv;
some one had bathed her face and IN
. laced her g oes. and now Mickey stood
, there Looking down n her w,-h .ves
= that hurt, though they slni,rd,
Esther slept thvoGgh the lone
tourney Fitfl,lly-snc vac rrcn,aiiy
: and phys'cal'y cxhaustad-she was
; only thorpu,.slv arouge1I nv neople ONT
g, N the cor,gdor moving aboi,t collect.
. i,lg bags ara ba,-rgFe,
SHE opened hpr eyes with a confused
o rccll1g.-the train was s,ackeninr
; srerd. and M,ckv stood in the doSr.
way.
I'VE are nearly in" he said
The train was almost Mt a stand.
! sim
"CaIaIsI Ca,aisl"
UstHCr rosr TO her reet-.bcr limb,
: we're TREMBLING and her head acne
q duly.
when thew got on board he FOUND
y rer a chair on tho IeesiJe Of the hoat
+, ana loft her
In nc train he ,ort her 70 hersaIf +i,,
,bn,, ro,,LnI 80, ~ 80