Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-10-22
By RUBY M. AYRES !.

..,,,, reslIzed that the man nad stronB
sonol,ty. and one very likely to hold
VA reep such nature as Christine's.
n,, he could not bear to think of the
.,.wreck this meant for them ALL lie
sn'r ,s not believe that her love for
1.s.n,v had died SO completely: she had
,ayed hlm so dearly.
,,.,r,v came over to where he sat:
sco and ring UP again, there's dear
..r.. S,e said. His voice was hoarse.
ru .m,r, IN the hotel for me. will you?
go. nav have come back oh,
: .a,e she has" he added brokenly.
s.rpster rose at once He held cut
his hand.
VIZ ,r,m sorry, Jimmy I'd give any
.,,.,-anything- he stopped. But
~. all right, you see," he added
1...rilv struck by the despair In his
s.,.,ds face She'll be back there by
row we're both getting scared about
~ ling. I'll ring up"
tTs walked over to the desk where
r,mmy's phone stood. There was a
moment Of suspense as ne rang ana gave
tns I,mmy had begun his restless pacing
.,ca more, His hands were deep thrust
~ his trousers pockets, his head bent.
RI. heart seemed to be hammering In
~ throat as he tried not to listen to
mSaf sangster was saying-tried not to
heay; hayos Challoner-Mrs. Chal-
,oner. I only wondered II she had re-
.yrned. . Not yet--oh.
Yes A wire.
r. There was little silence; a tragic
.uence Il seemed to Jimmy. He was
Sanding still now. He. felt as II his
limbs had lost all power of movement
al face After moment Sangster hung
W He ie' did not turn at once; when at
,sst he moved, It was very slowly. He
went across to Jimmy and laid a hand
an his arm. shes not there, old man ;
I'M. but there's a wire from her
C-she wired to the manager. ."
ge paused He looked away from the
agony in Jimmy's eyes. He tried twice
10 find his voice before he could go on.
them "She--she's not coming back to-
.ent from-from oxford. ."
AID now the silence was like the ST.
hence Of death: Sangster held his
breath. He could feel the sudden rigid
hess Of Jimmy Challoner's arm beneath
Then Jimmy turned away and dropped
into a chair by the table. He fell for
ward with his face hidden in his out
sSG oh, what shall I dor" he said in a
hoarse whisper.
II was so useless to try to offer any
consolaton Sangster stood looking at
hlm with a suspicious moisture In his
honest eyes, Christine--little Chris
tlne His heart felt as II 1t were break
tng as he thought of her-of her love
kor Jimmy-of the first days of their
Al xtya. t,. aft,
khat he tried to remember that Jimmy
was to blame for It all. He tried to
harden his heart against him but, some.
how, he could not He went over to
where he sat and laid a kind hand on
his shoulder.
moment he felt years older than hfs
friend. There may be some mistake
Don't let's give up till we're sure
quite sure.--" g.. o.,
Jimmy raised his face. His lips were
gray and pinched. 4"
"it.s no use" he said hopelessly: mo
use. Somehow know 1t.
oh. If could only have it over
again-just a day. ." The
anguish in his voice would have wrune
harder heart than Sangster's. For a
moment there was unbroken silence IL
the room. Then Jimmy struggled to his
feet 49,
II must go after her. She won't come
back. I know. But at least I can
try. 1t may not be too late--
Kettering-damn him. =" He
broke off. He stood for a moment sway.
Ing to and fro.
sangster caught his arm.
III do do ali III 'Ss can nt s:' xiv; give you my
word OF honor that I'll move heaven
mistaken. We may ." He broke
off Some one had knocked softly or
the door For a moment neither of them
answered, then the handle was softly
turned. and Christine stood there on the
threshold. .
Sangster caught his breath hard lr
DIS throat. He looked at her, and ne
had to hold himself back with an iron
nand TO keep from rushing to her. from
falling at her feet in abasement for the
very real doubt and dread that he had
cherished against her.
one looked so young-such q child
'ha her brown eyes were so sweet and
ny as she looked at Jimmy-never al
nlm He realized 1t with a little stab
NV smg pain that 1t was not once at him
uiat sne looked, but past him, to where
jimmy stood like a man turned to stone
Then: Christine !" said Jimmy Chal.
'oner with great cry.
ne put out his hand and touched her
slmost as II he doubted that she was
waa ea,. MS breath was coming fast: he
was ashen pale.
Christine" he said again in a whis.
Sangster moved past him. He did no,
o't al christine any more. He walked
tne door and opened 1t. He hesi-
sSsna sS moment. wondering If either OF
tnem would see him going, be conscious
ms presence. But he might not have
oeen there for all they knew. He went
0uI slowly and shut the door behind him
was the shutting of the door that
groke the spell. that reused Jimmy from
~ ~ ietnargy into which he had fallen
he tried to laugh.
=, I'm sorry. IL didn't expect you =
he words sounded foolish to himself
ie trled to cover them. Wont you slt
SSwnY Im-I'm glad ." 4 wave
crimson surged his face. "Oh
am glad TO see you." he said
He CROPPED backward for his chair and
fell into IT,
o,1s most humillatlng weakness came
'er T MN. lie hid his, face In his hands
SnLrlstlne stood looking at him with
oanled eyes; then she put out her hand
'a S1,Uusndi ,tOuShed him timidly:
He caught her hand and carried It to
~ mps He kissed 1t again and again
Sss Se little fingers, the soft palm. the slen-
thought should never see you
ssam, ss,a,, couldn't have borne It :
St,s,,te me- I'm 80 wretched, SO utterly
4'meirly miserable ."
n,s me appeal was 80 boyish---so like the
g'u selhsh Jimmy whom Christine had
,Vseu @ and spoiled in the days when they
ny % poth children. 1t almost seemed
~ lhey were down at Upton House
.Slng up n childish quarrel--Jimmy