Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-10-08

The voice broke In q cynical laugh.
Jimmyi Thoy were talking Of Jimmy
and
All the blood in her body seemed to
concentrate suddenly in her heart, and
then rush away from It, turning her
Big lounge seemed to twinkle and 90 out
She pressed her feet hard TO the floor;
she shut her eyes.
After a moment she felt better; her
brain began to work again stiffly.
So Jimmy was with Cynthia after all
Jimmy had been sent for, and Jimmy
had gone.
This was the end Of everything; this
was the end of all her dreams Of hap
piness OF the future.
She sat there for long, long time,
unconscious of her surroundings II was
only when the band had stopped play
ing, and a sort of silence fell every
where. that she moved at fly and went
'As She 81 stood there by y the he bed % for pV mo.
ment. looking round her with dull eyes
the clock on the mantel-shelf pointed to
nine.
Too late to go away tonight Was II
too late? A sudden memory leaped to
Jimmy and she had gone down to Up
ton House by a train later than this the
day after her mother died. Sho tried to
remember; It had been the nine-flfty
-
a rapid calculation she could catch
that II she was quick-catch II IL she
hurried. She threw off her slippers;
she began to collect a few things to-
coming fast--her heart was racing. She
would never come back any more--never
live with him again. She had lost her
iast shred of trust In him--she no longer
loved him.
She was pinning on her hat with
shaking fingers when some one tried the
handle Of the door-some one called her
name softly.
Christine ." It was Jim
She stood quite still, hardly daring to
breathe. She pressed her hands over her
lips, as IL afraid that he would hear the
iuleS aSbrIss,ns Beating OF her frightened heart.
tnt, ,nent, then she heard him saying some-
thing under, his breath impatlently; an
otner second and he turned away to the
sitting room opposite
She heard him moving about there
tor some time; she looked at the clock
Almost too late to go now; a fever of
lmpatience consumed her.
IL only he had not come bacl---if only
she had gone sooner.
she turned out the light and softly
an an inch at g time. opened the door
room; there was a smell Of cigarette
smoke, Jimmy was still there.
She wondered II she could get away
W.thout him hearing her; she tiptoed
Jack into the room, took up her bag
door. " '"e
The floor seemed to creak at every
step; Half dozen times she stopped
rrIlsnttensd; fright ned; then suddenly the half.
opened and Jimmy came out. '''''''e
he was In evening dress he still wore
loose ovsrcoat
For a moment he stared at her blank.
~ the light had been lowered a little
sure II 1t was she. Then he strode
across to her and caught her by the
"riSt n not very gentle grip.
Where are you going?' he asked
She covered back from him aran.t
the wall; her face was white. but her
eyes eyes biazed at him In passionate de-
n0,:I II am going away. Let me go. I am
He half led, half DRAGGED % her into t,s
55nIing room; he put his back to the
LOOT Saa ana stood looking at her, white
The breath was tearing from his
sais snr9at ne seemed afraid to trust him
Presently: "why2" he asked hoarsely.
Snristlne was standing against the
Lapie. one trembling hand resting on il
sne was AFRAID OF him and Of the white
bravely. ' A"@eu MN
II am never going to live with YOU
any more. IL wish I had never seen
Even her voice seemed IN bay.
changed; he realized It duly, and the
knowl> dge added to his anger. She no
;ohger spoke In the half-trembling, child
lsh way he remembered there was
s1hmething shnM, more grown-up and womanly
- Don't be a little fool" he said rough
~ What Is the matter? What have
l done now? I'm sick to death of thess
scenes tre e and heroles; for deceney'S sake
Ky Ky anu pehave like a rational woman.
70 you want the whole hotel to know
that we've quarreledT"
Ihey know already!" she told him
He came nearer to her.
rake on your hat and coat. Christine |
and don't be absurd Why, we've ,sn,
pen married little more than n week.
Ills voice was quieter and more gentle.
IVY Mhats the matter" Let's sit down and
tSik ts things over quietly. I've some
tonight I came to your door Just now"
Know heard you"
Very we'll what's It all about? wha,
"aSS Ss. ! ., done to upset you like thisT"
he spoke to her so kindly II simost
vlvtdly the boy sweetheart whom sSs
nad never really 'orsotten. And YET
tnswn tn,s Jimmy pr was not the Jimmy she had |
only looked at her With the same @ eyes
IN reality he was another rnan-a
stranger whom she feared and almost
vol, lie d, took t!, her hand. Christine. arc
-, She opened her eyes; they were blaz-
ing. The touch of hia fingers on hers
seemed to drive her mad.
,o"l, Yes" she said. shrllly: ''1 am--ill
hateful deception; III i because s snS ycTVs yGVs
broken my heart and ruined nv life.
You swore to me that you'd never sec |
cynthia Farrow again. You swore to |
nnd ma tnat hut 1t was was all over and done with:
"Yes-now," said Jimmy; his voice
was hoarse and strained "Yes-and |
now" Ae said again. as she did not
She wrenched herself free.
You've been with her this eyeninR.
you've LEFT me alone all these hours
To be with her. I don't count nj ali n.
your life. don't know why you mar
ried r me, unless It was to-to pay her
Id died before ever married you
wish---oh. wish I could ale now" she
ended In a broken whisper
Jimmy had fallen back q step; ne was
no longer looking at her. There was a
curious expression Of shocked horror In
MS ey's as they stared past his wife
INTO the silent room.
Presently: She's dead" no said
hoarsely. Cynthia Farrow IL dead I"
"Deadr Christine echoed JimiIiy =
hoarse word in dull voice, not under-
standing. "Dead!" she said again
blankly
He moved away from tho door: he
cropped into q chair and hid his face In
h!s hands.