Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-09-27

l
Wyatt and Christine were Just entering
a. taxi. Christine saw him. She touched
his arm, arm dimdently as he passed.
Chaiioner pulled UP short He would
possible
Mortlake; she had gone with that
wyatt wSs,i, nKyeobsr,asiv Kslb1s SShe answered Mi"
,Thanks-thanks. very much. ] was
going to walk, but II you will be 80
KIND as to give me a lift"
m ne really hardly knew what he was
hand dazedly across his forehead be:
tore he climbed into the taxi and found
himself sitting beside Christine.
He forced himself to try to make con-
xisrsat,on ioT sss NJ. We'll and how did you en-
II was a CHASTITY effort to talk. He
wondered II they would notice no"
| strange his manner was.
Immensely" Mrs. Wyatt told him.
i've heard 30 much about Cynthia Far
row, but never seen her before. ono
certainly Ia splendid
| She's the most beautiful woman
have ever seem" said Christine.
=, Challoner shot her a grateful loon.
Most women were cats and never had
word Of praise for one Of their own sex.
| He felt slightly comforted.
IT you've nothing better to do. Jim
my" said Mrs. Wyatt. won't you come
back to the hotel and have some supper
with us? We are only up In town for
| fortnight. Do come, IL you can"
| =. Challoner said he would be delighted
He was very young in some ways. He
mad not the smallest intention Of call
Ing on Cynthia that night. He wished
savagely that she could know what he
was doing: know that In spite of every
| her.
She was with that brute Mortlake
wen. he was not going to spend the next
hour or two alone with only his thoughts
| for company.
He wondered where Cynthia had gone
and X she had known all along that
Mortiake was calling for her. He
ground his teeth.
The two women we're talking to-
gether. They did not seem to notice
him a little Of cynthis's: a sudden re-
vulsion Of feeling flooded his heart.
| Poor darling All this was not her
fault No doubt she was just as miser-
wished he had not accepted the Wyatts'
| invitation. He felt It was heartless oI
him to have done 80. He would have
excused himself even now II the taxi
had not already started.
pose you are very fond Of theatres?'
heaps" He wondered il his reply sound
rushed on to cover 1t. I've seen this
particular play dozen times: it's a
great favorite of mine. I'm very
keen on It,"
II think It is lovely" said Christine.
| dreamily.
She was leaning back beside him in
the corner He could only see her white
gloved hands clasped in the lap of her
You must let me take you to some
he said. He had a rotten feeling that
II he stopped talking for a minute he
would make a fool OF himself Il OFTEN
got fn Ar
Christine sat up. do you! oh, how
! lovely! l should love to go! Jimmy. uV
anG knGw any psSPs ''
u know some-yes, / know quite =
mot Miss Farrow. suppose?" she
a0ssS. sYesWyes' l do" said Challoner.
She gave little cry of delight. "On.
wish could meet her-she's SO beau
tiful."
have given worlds had 1t been possible
to stop the cab and rush away; but ne
knew he had got to 60 through WIN u
now. and presently he found 1tn,n himself
through the hall Of the hotel at which
they were staying.
ITS quite like old times ,,n isn't i'll. IT." the Se
wish we could have them again"
The house is still there" said aid Mrs, Mrs.
Wyatt laughing. Perhaps you VIII coine
down again some day" -,, 1. uu.,v
There would be something very painful
In going back to the scene OF tnoss
days. he thought. He was so much
changed from the ligatneareer ghrisens round The
garden and pulled her hair because she
would not kiss him. ,-,..
He looked at her with reminlscent
cheeks. She looked more like the child
sweetheart he had so nearly forgotte.;
Mrs. Wyatt had moved away He ana
Christine were alone. Il used 70 k,ss
you in those days; didnt ;ssrab,s liz ne SSg and
She. looked up at him with serious
eyes YES" she said almost inaudibly;
Something In her face Ss,aners E,rlss an hesrt
This girl had been his first love, and
n man never really forgets his first love
he leaned nearer to her.
"Christine, do you---do you wish we
could have those days over againr' he
A little culver crossed her face. For
a moment the beautiful brown eyes llt
up radiantiy For ,nsn moment fnst sns @ey.as was
"fH He waited eagerly for her answer.
His pride, II nothing deeper. had been
seriously wounded that nisht, v,rIts Ths Tsm fane
was like a gentle touch on a hurt.
DO you-do you wish it?" he asked
again. ~ c,u,,,,,o so,,,v .vss :,
you do"
It was late when Jimmy, got home to
his rooms he was horribly tired. and
his head ached vilely, but he never slept
a wink all night.
The fact that Cynthias husband was
alive did not hurt Him nearly SO much
as the fact that Cynthia had avoided
him that evening and left the theatre
with Mortlake. Jimmy hated Mortlake'
while he-even the insufficient income
which was always mortgaged weeks be-
fore the quarterly check fell due only
came to him from his brother. At any
moment the Great Horatio might cut
up rough and stop supplies
than ever before In his life. He went
out and bought some of the most ex-
pensiye roses he could find in the shops
He took them himself to Cynthia Far
rows fiat and scribbled note begging
her to see him II only for moment
The answer came back verbally MISS
Farrow sent her love and best thanks
but she was very tired and her head
ached-would he call again In the
afternoon?
Chailoner turned away without an
swering There was humiliating lump
in his throat. At that moment he was
the most wretched man In the whole OF
through the whole Internal morning?
And was she always going to treat him
like this in the future? Refusing to see
him-deliberately avoiding him
He wandered about the West End
q. y IL yal In MT