Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-11-20

How long have you been here r. cried
the girl, stockstill and staring.
tertaining, ! should say for hours and
hours said Madame Obosky.
ms matter OF fact" ariI Nre Spof-
ford from her side Of the fireplace, "it
dear"
"But-.but saw you Just now COM
bspE,y s out q 81, your SSg eaSn Grid Ruth
or the floor giving way beneath her.
You saw---- Oh now l understand I"
cried tho Russian: with a laugh. ''zoss
rny srs Of mns Sey1Ssy they are % IKE 80
to bed until zey know I am safely tucked
IN myself Alas, Mrs. Spofford, zose
girls do not trust me. I fear. II I 80
out at night alone, zey instantly put
all at the same time. SO that Is what
has happen, Niles Clinton. One Of them
Alma, l suspect because shH had
sister who-Yes. II would be Alma, I
out to get me, so like a policeman But
still do not understand something.
have told them / was coming here to
Sc s,e you. you II it was one Of my girls. why
Ruth had turned away, ostensibly to
pull down the little window shade but
really to send swift searching glance
! out across the green.
'She went the 9th r way" she replied,
rather breathlessly.
Olga sprang to her feet "Now, what
is Eat little fool up tor she cried,
angrily III catch her running out to
Ruth interrupted her. she started In
this dir ctton, but when she saw u.s. she
turned and went the other way. I was
talking TO Mr.. Percival out near the
Westinghouse. About the Easter serv-
Ices, Auntie," she made haste to say 40
Mrs: Spofford looked UP in surprise.
Olga was looking at her Ak dly, an
odd expression In her eyes, her lips
"He has promised to help me- He is
delighted to sing in the choir Madame
Careni-Amori will sing two solos She
promises to make Joseppi sing one or
ments with Mr.. Pcrcival"
Now I understand" said Olga, gaily
put with the odd, inquiring look still in
her eys. Alma Thought 1t was I: l
She sees me with q man--ztp she runs
the other way as fast as she can That
Mrs. Spoff 0rd?"
man Madame Obosky"
Why did he say II was your" cried
Ruth. hot with chagrin.
olra shrugged hor shoulders. I'VE Is
SO very amiable," said she. II dare say
no thought It would please you"
Ruth bit her lip There was no mis-
taking the challenge in the Russians
remark, however careless It may have
sounded.
IT came to see you about Mr.. Percl-
wallis birthday" said Olga. abruptly
charging the subject. Some one has
suggested zat we all join in giving him
q grand great big celebration Bon
fires. fireworks a banquet with speech S,
think, eh?"
"He wouldn't like It at ou" -ota
r.. Ruth promptly, "Moreovers why should
deserve Il any more than scores Of
"Oh. then we must drop It alto
gothic" broke in Olga, rather plelrtive-
ly. II thought every one would be in
favor Of 1t But, OF course, IL there is
the slightest opposition"
81 do not oppose it," said Ruth coldly.
Pray Go not let me upset your plans"
Mr. Is Fits qSt my AND pSn Mr. za nice ana Gss
tain trigger they have proposed II
Miss clinton, not l. But men never
quite ret over being. boys. They do not
stop to question whether a thing Is
have thought little longer ov'r It. zey
will agree with you that IL Is foolish
10 be so enthusiastic about this fellow
d1P"rolvaIi--and d,l.o the whole project will
Her hand was on the latch She met
Ruth's haraseed, unhappy gaze with her
lndolent almost insol mt smile. Sudden
~ the American girl snatchod up her
thrown across n chair in the corner.
''If you don't mind. I will walk part
OF the wav home with you" she said.
Olga opened the door and looked out.
not think OF tt cannot p rmit you to
come. 1t .s late--and the moon is under
the clouds. Goodnight - goodnight,
Mrs. Spofford."
CHAPTER XVII
She quickly closed the door behind her
md sn"d off down tho Two NJ now light
less cabins. A man stepped out OF the
nnI black s.dns shadow ", Seyond the second cabin
pause, but walked swiftly. fearless'y up
70 him, her heart quickon!ng under the
thrill OF exultatlon. He was waiting for
her He had been waiting for her all
the long evening The tim" had come!
WIND he'd sprung M 10 drive the blar,
and storm laden clouds across the moon
iit sky. She held out her hands with a
@ rIttle l., moan % OF ecstasy--and then she
fsrcsiy s IN ms rs strong h crushing arms pressed
on can believe-is II tr1ie7 You
nave come-you have come of your own
Tree will-you are here in my arms I"
..ussoIips !s lips found hers in a. wild kiss.
Ruth-dnrr'ngl o"' nuth'
H'r body st!ftened. A oonvuls,ve
shudder raced over her and then for
an an instant, she was limp and heavy in
ms embrace Then suddenly she threw
her arms about his neck and kissed him
gam and notwithstanding away at last
"Now@wownffoc, .ow snffoc,atinS laugh.
Hc lifted his head with a Jerk ne.r-
ing INTO her face, slow TO realize IN.
incredible mistake he had made. He
Tns sun under the spell OF his riotous
It had rushed over him like a great
reslStless wave-hot, delicious tinRlinr'
He had been amazed, bewlldered by the
unbelievable fee llng--furous and nm
controlicd.-which she revealed in her
mlomentary surrender 10 the elemental.
'hc truth h"Gan to dawn upon him even
pefore she spoke. Could this be Ruth
'ould this woman who cung to him
md smothcred him with kisses be the
,n nnre' hlgh-mindcd girl he had grown to
Va knew that tn" consuming fire in his
Wood was unhGlv--ss unholy as the
park that set 1t ahlaze
,r, but he d,d not put her away from, him
The lure CT the flesh was upon him. II
was stronger than his Will stronger than
his love
For months this woman had begu,led
lim There had beer times when he was
ne asked: "Why not?"
she was aluring. she was frankly
sensualISt but she was patient she
vas crafty. She knew that M was hon
1rably In love with another, but she was
nor detcrred by that nor by tho con-
vict;on that her conquest. II she pre-
vailed, would be transtory. She had a
code of hcr own, 1t included an uncer-
tair element Of honor tiXnd rather rig
idly upon what she would have called
| constancy. Singleress OF purpose was
her notion Of mnralItN Sha ,I.nnld ~