, 1921-09-17

saw a very beautiful girl surrounded
by n lol OF men. and asked b she
was. and found put n was the woman
b had written to. the owner Of the
chain and iocket. and, I was also told
that her engagement had Just Aecn
announced TO \ young Englishmsn of
family and position. who had known
her only a few months. and with
whom she was very much in love. So
you see." he ven on. smiling. that
II was better thai he died. believing
in her and in jher love for him. Mr..
Phillips. now. would have let him
live TO return and ind her married:
but Nature is kinder than writer's Of
fiction. and quite Al dramatic"
Phillips did not reply to this. and
the General only shook his head
doubtfuily and said nothing. So Mrs.
Treveiyan looked at Lady Arbuthnot.
and the ladies rose and left the DON
When the men had left them. a young
girl went 10 the plano. and the other
women seated themselves TO listen:
but Miss Egc-son, saying that t. wa
warm. stepped out through one Of ths
high windows on to the little balcony
that oyerhung the garden. II was
dark out there and cool. and the
rumbling Of the, encircifng city
sounded as distant and as far on IS
the reflection seemed that Its million
lights threw up 10 the sky above.
The girl leaned her face and bare
shoulder against the rough stone wall
of the house. and pressed her hands
Together. with her fingers locking and
unlocking and her rings cutting
through her gloves. She was trem-
bling slightly. and the blood in her
veins was hot aad tingiing. She
heard the voices OF the men as they
entered the drawing-room. the mo-
mentary cessation of the music at the
piano and its renewal, and then a ng-
ure blocked the light from the win
dow. and Gordon stepped out OF II
and stood in front of her with the
chain and locket In his hand. He
held IT. toward her. and they faced
each other for n moment in silence.
viii you take It now," he said.
The girl raised hor head, and drew
herself UP until she stood straight
and tall before him. Have you not
punished me enough?" she asked. in
a whisper. Are o not satishcd7
Was II brave? Was II manly? Is
that what o have learned among
your savages-to torture a woman"
Gordon observed her. c~uriously.
with cold consideration. what OF
the suffeerings of the man to whom
you gave this7" he asked. why not
consider him? What was your bad
quarter Of an hour at the table. with
your friends around you. to the year
he suffered danger and physical pain
for you-for you. remember"
, They told me he was dead" she
said. Then It was denied. and then
! the French papers told of II again.
; and with horrible detail. and how It
1 happened"
: Gordon took a step nearer her.
And does your love come and no
with the editions of tho daily
: pnpers7" he asked, nercely. "If they
/, say tomorrow morning that Arbuth-
4 not is false to his principles or his
/ party. that he is a bribe-taker, a man
who sells his vote. will you believe
l them and stop loving himf" lie gave
5 a sharp exclamation of disdain. .Or
5 will you wait" no vent on. bitterly,
until the Liberal organs had time 10
| deny IT,, Is that the love. the iifc,
Z and the soul you promised the man
. who"
( There was a soft step on the noof
: of the drawing-room. and the tail
figure OF young Arbuthnot appeared
: in the opening of tho window as he
8 looked doubtfuliy out Into the dark
4 ness. Gordon took a step back into
e the light OF the window, where he
could be seen. and leaned easily
against tho railing of the balcony.
/, His eyes were turned towards the
! street. and he noticed over the wall
i the top of a passing omnibus and the
, glow of the mems pipes who sat on Il.
Miss Egertong" asked Arbuthnot,
/ his eyes still blinded by tho lights OF
! the ROOF he had left. ITS she here!
Oh. is that your" he said. as he saw
the movement of the white dress. 81
Z was tent to, look for you" he said
, wrong" He turned to Gordon. as il
in explanation of his lover-like solicit
tude. 1T has been rather 4 hard
! week. and II has kept one pretty well
! on the go all the time. and Thought
/. Miss Egertpn looked tired Mt dinner"
l The moment ne had spoken, the
! girl came towards him quickly, and
put her arm inside of his. and took
l his hand.
t He looked down at her wonder
I ingly at this show OF affection. and
e then drew her carer. and said.
gently. You are tired. aren't you. i
came to tell you that Lady Arbuthno;
is going. She Is waiting for you."
1T is very pretty and peaceful out
: here" he said. is 1t not7 IT seems
I a pity TO leave it. Goodnight, Cor
don. and thank you for your story
He stopped. with ono loot on tho
threshold. INT smiled. And yet, do
, you know" he said, II cannot helm
: thinking you were guilty of dofnc
. Just what you accused Phillips OF
: doing. somehow thought you
helped the true story out a little.
Now didn't your Was IT all just as
I you told It? Or am / wrong4"
1 NO" Gordon answered.: you ara
right did change It a little. In one
! particular"
And what was that. may 1 ask7r
said Arbuthnot.
] The man did. not die." Gordon
! answered.
A~rbuthnot gave a quick little Sigh
of sympathy. Poor devil!" he said,
. softly; poor chapi" He moved his
-tIeft hand ovar and tourhod "a 49,