The evening world. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1887-1931, 1920-11-13
CHAPTER MI.

arm bnOWCu distinctly,
MiCky could bear ~ no longer; he
touched Esther'S ClIsIed hands.
Are you ill2--wuuld you like me TO
take you Out?"
But she shook her head.
NO, no o.. please leave me
alone"
June had discovered a friend in a
seat "a row or Two ahead with whom
she was trying to y.,Iry ON a CONVEX
satiOn: she had no eyes for MlCKy OF
Esther. MiCky gave a sigh OF relief
when the lights were lowered again;
hs could feel all that Esther was SUI
tCring, ne could put himself In her
pIacO so Thoroughly.
II he went round to the box aud
made sur y u we're Ashton, DER haps
shat would 5e the best way: he Couid
manage to give him the ~ then to
Necp out OF thu way; uu half rUgu la
HIS seat, but Esther ndv,u a. one,
iay ing her fingers on his arm.
oh, don't EU-dun't leave ms here"
she said tremulOusly,
IL was not tho man himself sIO
wanted, hut his presence somehow
gave her feeling OF confidence, II,
indeed, II was Raymond up there IA
the box. She tried TO argue herself
out OF the fancy. he would have let
her know II he had como tu LONDON
surely she would have been the t,rBt
% whom he would have come: she WAS
mad 10 ever think the man up ,Lere
III tho background could be Ray
mond.
But the conviction was there N noI
mind.
1T Is he know lrs he" some
! thing in me-" heart was saying over
and over again Obstinately.
The rest OF the play seemed endless,
! she rose with quick b. eath OF thank
! fuinCss when II was over.
you are in a hurry June said.
r"HavCu't you enjoyed it, .
"YesI oh yes. but MS hot-l want
o get out"
Mvky was deliberately being ~
luwNas he could---hc blucKed the way
| III yDslinot,Iy; the sails were al
most empty when at last they loft
hem.
June Touched his arm.
"Micky-Asy-Esthcr III Look how
| white she is.'
Esther was some little, way ahead
! II them, she seemed 10 be trying to
,et out as quickly as possible.
IT'S too hot for her, poor darltRg!'
| lunC said. "MiCky---"
Micky laughed savagciy
| IT'S not that" he said, but Ash
Ton was up In that box with his
| mother, and she saw him"
"Mlcky---" lie silenCcd her with "A
rrDwn. He followed Esther as quickly
as he could. but she was outside ia
! the cold night air before he overlook
| her. There was crowd here too
| rows OF cars and Clrriug"s outside, and
women in thin evening frOCks and furs
ahivering In the cold wind.
Micky drew Esther's hand through
his arm.
1--WE shall find our cab this way, l
think" he said evenly
! He had seen Mrs. Aahton only few
Yards away, and he dreaded every
moment that Esther would see her,
| and see, too. who was with her
4 sudden block in the crowd mo-
mentHrily hindcred them. and IN that
second mans light laugh rang out
above the noise and chatter or voices.
Mlcky felt the girl beside him give
a couvulsive start. She tried To drag
her fingers from his, but no held
them fast.
The crowd was moving again now;
a second, and Raymond and his
mother were lost 70 sight,
Milky had slipped an arm Tuunn
| Esther; he was white to the lips. lie
Knew now how near he had been %
! ilgcOvrry and the wreck OF all HIS
hopes lie tried To pretend that he
! did not understand the cause OF her
agitation. lie looked down at her,
BETTER nuw you're In the arr" he
lsked 1T was hot In the theatre. /
EstheT---"
She had swung heavily against him,
and looking down In sudden alarin,
| Hlcky saw that she had tainted.
Most Of the people mad gone, one OF
two OF the theatre attendants ln6er-
ed: il seemed long time before
! Esther opened her eyes. She lay for
d moment, looking vaguely about her
| then her eyes came back 10 MiCky. who
| VIVA bending over her, HIS face scarcely
i,aH white than her own.
she made an effort tn llft herself
| rom his his arm; then quite suddenly
-ne burst INTO tears
The uttlc aounl Of soDbIuE Orok,
The spell that seemed to have h"l.
June: she went down on her knees
brg'le her. both arms round the
.lr,drr shaking figure.
MtcEy had risen to nts feet June
glanced up az hin.
Go and lind the t.lN, and leave her
10 me. ~llt Eh ||l NlAahl l'F ''N t'A y
If suffering i'm his face hurt hero
Nickv went out into the cold night
hatehtaded lie hardly knew what he
vas doing. lie stood FOR some minutes
on the path, forgetting why he had
Fcomn out at all, before some one
iosilng against him. brought him
hgck 20 a sense ~ time and place.
He went down the road 10 look for
taxi When hr came back Esther
was sitting up. wrapped In her CLOAK
She was not crying now but she
looked Ike child who wants 70 cry
but ig determined not to.
June was standing beside her.
We're quite ready" she said Sh,
kept an arm about Esther, and Micky
followed them silently.
He saw them into the cab, but dlc
not follow. June asked sharp ques
tlon; Aren't you coming?"
"No-at Reast, not N you can man
age without me" His voice. sounds'