Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-09-30

U
else said Jimmy with a rush. II know |
It's a lie, anyway. How can she be en- |
gagged to Mortlake, or any other man
IL her husband Is living?"
NO., Sangster agreed quietly "She |
certainly cannot be engaged to any other |
man IL her husband Is still living"
There was an underlying meaning In |
MIS- voice. Jimmy swung round savagely. |
what are you trying to get at?" he
and have done with It,"
II don't know anything; am only
repeating what have heard
"A pack of gossiping old women
They walked few steps silently.
why not forget her. Jimmy?" said
Sangster. presently. she isn't the only
woman In the world. Put her out OF
your life once and for ALL"
TITS all very fine for YOU to talk
things are not forgotten so quickly. She's
oone with mel told you so--and -
on. why the devil can't you mind your
own business7"
But in spite of his fine sounding
words, Jimmy. had not done with her.
ana the next Afternoon-having shaken
on Sangster. who looked in to suggest a
stroil-,he soT,ia , went round to Cynthia Far
She was not alone half dozen theat-
rical people. most of whom Jimmy knew
personally, were lounging about her lux
uriously furnished boudoir They were
weli enough as a general thing but to-
day their chatter bored him; he hardly
knew how to contain himself for um,
patience He made up his mind that he
Wouiu stay as long, and longer than
! they did-that wild horses should not
drag him away till he had spoken with
| cynthia alone.
| She was very kind to him. It might
nave struck disinterested observer that
she was little afraid of him-a little
anxious to propitiate him; but none Va
these things crossed Jimmy's mind.
ne adored her, and she knew II: he
wosid Won 90 anything in the world for her,
and she must know that too. why,
then, should she be in the very least
lie found himself talking to an elderly
h woman with dyed hair, who had one.
ant enough company, but she had not
YET realized that her youth was q thing
or the past. She ogled Jimmy as IL she
nad been eighteen, and smpered and
>. She was the last of them all to leave,
! u struck Jimmy that Cynthia had pur-
| poseiy asked her to stay. but he coulo
not be sure. Anyway, it did not matter
nir, NJ INN. ne meant TO stay there ali
alone. "''' "ei
=, AS soon as the door had closed on
| tne rustling skirts of the dancers juve-
CGtb,o Gtye ttbT,ock, Jimmy rushed over to where
,, Sne was smoking n cigarette. She
threw 1t pettlshly into the fire as he
dropped op his knees beside her.
Cynthia, said Jimmy Challoner
little bit, pleased to see me?'S II W. %.s q
so,y very boylsh appeal; Cynthla's face
SCREENED before IT. She laid a hand for
moment on his shoulder.
my: you know that. I hope we shai,
atb5%ays tbSnSyS be friends. even though-even
=. Jimmy caught her hand and covered
cDarling
She moved restlessly.
Snnmy, you're such q boy" There
was hint Of impatience now in her
e' nnS" aren't you ever going to grow
I'll. ne rose to his feet and moved away
from her. The momentary flash Of han.
piness had fallen from him he felt ve,.v
Iis Sia a,hd, ana miserable as he. stood leaning
down at the fire She no longer ca rns;
t Sr MN something In her voice told him
lnat as no actual words would have
pone. she had not wanted him to come
wnn,d uers dsoaay: Even now she wished that he
wouId go away and leave her. He sud
aehiy remembered what Sangster had
said last night He turned abruntjv
LOOKING down at Cynthia.
h.. Sne was sitting up now, looking before
tapped the floor impatlently
Jimmy moved nearer TO her.
20 you Know what they are saying In
the clubs?" he demanded. ~
slim shoulders. NeeeN "ei
whdt,yy They are always saying something
BUT her voice was not so indifferen,
as she would have had 1t ; her eyes were
They are saying that you are en-.
Jimmys eyes never left her face: Il
was tragic moment for him. Cynthia s
vously. O'e' ''''
Are they, said she. "How-how
Her eyes had fallen now; h. could
against her cheek.
he waited moment, then he strode
forward-he covered the space between
them in stride; he put hand beneath
her shin; ~ Forcing E her to lock at him;
His voice was strangled his breath
came tearing from between clenched
Cynthia shivered away from him. back
hind her.
~. "Don't .nt ,SIt hurt me; me; Jimmy; don't hurt
He took her by the shoulders and
ohooh is IL tTue-lB III trueV'
For moment he thought she was
going to refuse to answer; then suddenly
she dragged herself free. She started up.
and stood facing him pantingly.
Yes" she said defantly. Eyes, It Is
true"
And then the silence fell again, long
and unbroken.
1t seemed an eternity to Jimmy Chal-
loner; an eternity during which he stood
there like man In a dream staring
at her flushed face.
The world had surely come crashing
about him in ruins; for moment, at
least. he was blind and deaf to every
thing.
When at last he could find his voice
"It was ala lie then-about your
husband!-a lie--to--to get rid OF me-"
Jimmy turned blindly to the door. He
felt like drunken man. He had opened
It when she called his name; when sho
followed and caught his hand, holding
him back.
Jimmy don't go like that-not with
out saying goodby. We've been such
friends-,we've had such good times to-
gether"
She was sobbing now genuine enough
desperately.
, known that I did, only-only--. Oh. I
couldn't bear TO be poor! That was It.
Jimmy. I couldn't face being poor"
Jimmy stood like a statue. One might
; almost have thought he had not been
, listening. Then suddenly he wrenched
| his hand free.
Let me go. for Gods sake--let me
> gor'
He left her there. sobbing and calling
. his name.
/ She heard him go down the stairs
heard the sullen slam OF a distant door
then she rushed over TO the window.