Free trader-journal and Ottawa fair dealer. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1920-1927, 1920-11-30
a
Destroying
Angel
~ Louie Joseph Vance
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sThs Pool Of F7sms,
S5As B,onss Bsl." "7M B!sak
Be-" "7hs H,sss Bs,sI."
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Copyright BY Louis Joseph Vance

w
you--I suppose rs simply my vanity
to see me act Perhaps youll feel
little less hardly toward me If you see
that | am really great actress, mat
] give you up for something bigger
than just love
"What rot :" he said with an odd,
short laugh. Besides, ! harbor no
resentment
She stared, losing little color, eyes
tiarkening with apprehension.
II did hope you'd come she muir
INJURED.
"Oh, III come" he said with spirit.
'Wild horses couldn't keep me away
"Really, Hugh? Aud You don't
mind? Oh, I'm so glad"
II really don't mind" he assured her
with IL strange smile. But :.
would you mind excusing me one mo-
ment? I've forgotten something very
important
"Why, certainly :"
He WAS already ut the telephone in
the hallway, jus. beyond the living
room door 1t was impossible tn escape
oyerhenring his words. The woman
listened perforce with, In the begin
ming. n little visible wonder. then with
astonishmcnt, ultimately with a con
sternnlion that shook her with violent
trcmbllngs.
Hello" said Whitaker; "get me
Rector two-two-hundred.
Hello? Rector twotwo-hundred?
North German Lloyd? This Is
Mr.. H. NJ. Whitaker. telephoned
you fifteen minutes ago about rcser-
walton on the George Washington.
sailing Saturday Yes. =.
Yes. Yes, l promised to call
for the ticket before noon, but | now
f1nd l sha'n't be able to go. VIII you
be kind enough to cancel it, if you
please. Thank you.
Goodby"
But when he turned back into the
living room he found awaiting him Il
quiet and collected woman.
"Why did you do that?' she asked
evenly.
Because" said Whitaker, i've had
my eyes opened. I've been watching
the finest living actress play care
fully rehearsed role, one that she had
given long study and all her heart to-
but her Interpretation didn't ring true
Mary, ! admit, ut first you got the: l
believed you meant what you said.
But only my mind believed it; my
heart knew better just as it has al
ways known better, all through this
Wretched time Of doubt aud misery
and separation you've subjected us
both to. And that was why | couldn't
trust myself to answer you; for If
had, ! should have laughed for joy.
O Mary, Nary he cried, his VOICE
sOftening my dear, dear woman, you
can't lie to loye You betray yourself
Ia every dear word that would be
henrtless, in every adorable gesture
that would seem final. And love
knows better always. OF course
l shall be in that box tomorrow night;
of course ! shall be there to witness
your triumph, And after you've won
It, dear, l shall carry you off with
ne
He opened his arms wide, hut with
4 s,notherod cry she backed away,
placing the table between them.
mo- she protested; and the words
were almost sobs-"No."
Eyes" he exclaimed eXuItantly.
Eyes a thousand times yes 1t
must be sou
With swift movement she seized
her muff and scarf from the chair and
fed to the door. "There, pansinG, she
turned, her face white and blazing.
at is not true" she cried. you
are mistaken. DO you hear me? You
are utterly mistaken. l do not love
you. You are mad to think it. ! have
just told You l don't love YOU. am
afraid Of you; darent stay with you
for fear of you. II dcspise you"
u don't believe it !" he cried, adyanc
ing.
But she was gone. The hall door
.I1 ,,Fn lao, p,,1. Il