Evening star., 1921-09-18

gone. There was a note on her Dress
well. she can't have gone very
far" Billy tried to speak steadily.
I'VE must find her and bring her
back"
wait: Billy, watt" she said aid, i'm:
gone with Lord Seldom
What" Billy stood as If turned to
stone.
But Seldom il a married man." he
said hoarsely. She knew that Seldom
was a married man. Oh, my God"
He flung himself down, hiding his
face in his hands.
Pierce tapped at the door.
"The car, please. sir"
Billy staggered to his feet.
Pierce's solemn eyes searched his
knowledge In them.
Beg pardon. SIR he said sudden
~. Beg pardon. sir, but have you
heard about the haccident to Lord
What accident? What accident.
man? For heavens sake speak OUT
gasped Billy.
Motor accident, sir. car skidded
! in Brompton road. sir. and upset. His
up dead" said Pierce stoIidly.
"Good God"'
There was a lady with his lord
ship. too. sir. Not injured. sir; the
paper said that" But Billy had
flung open the door and was tearing
Lady Mary followed peIl NELL. She
tumbled into the car right onto Billy.
Where are We going. Billy?' Lady
Mary asked trembling.
said Billy Erimly. "she may have
gone there"
He sprang out of the car before it
stopped; he rushed up the steps and
Lady Mary followed hard on his
heels.
They asked the footman in the
Has Miss Clyne come in?"
mans well trained features.
Yes. madame" he said.
Billy strode past Lady Mary and
into the drawing room. It was empty.
I'm my boudoir. perhaps said
Lady Mary in a whisper.
Billy went up the stairs two at a
time. Phillis sat huddIed by the fire
You're not hurt?'' he asked her
gently.
She shook her head without look
How did you get here?"
Il slipped away. while they were
picking him up! Oh. Billy. Billy"
she began to sob. great fearless sobs.
*.
it gently.
Poor chap-poor chap" he said
aloud II seemed impossible that
cold.
And it might have been Phillis.
He bent suddenly and kissed the
fingers he held passionately.
Thank God you're safe" he said
She began to sob again. What
must you think of me?"
Rf11v w1va llaxrAd no I'd
II blame myself. But. Phillis. you
knew he was a married man. you
| knew he could not marry you"
She rose to her feet: her gray eyes.
what do you mean?' she asked
! in a curiously hushed voice. What
do you mean. that he could not marry
| me. I-I-" she began to laugh
shri'i hysterieai ,aushter- oh. did
that he was in love with me-
| What else could we think? What
/! could any one Think
| The ehriii laughter broke suddenly.
"He was my-father.'' she said
DULY.
was quite a young man," Phillis
began slowly. she was a girl in a
shop, and they kept the marriage a
| secret at frst-he was dependent on
his people-and afterward-vhen he
| came into the title. I suppose-he was
ashamed Of her. Ny mother died
| when was born. An old aunt OF my
mothers brought me UP, and when
I; she died-a year ago-she told ms
my father was Lord Seldom. l wrote
; to him once. and he returned my let
| ter through his secretary. then l bor
rowed some money! told the whole
| story to a man who was interested in
me. l wanted TO meet my father on his
/; own ground. face tc face. and then to
tell him who l vas. He never guessed
| until that night at the ClarenceS ball
Mr.. Furnival saw Lord Seldom kiss
me He asked me to go and live with
| him, and said he would acknowledge
me to all the world as his daughter.
We were going abroad. until the sur
prise had blown over. We meant to
have gone tonight. and then-oh. poor
father! poor father!' she broke down
into bitter sobbing.
Billy looked At her With miserable
eyes: Lord Seldom had been wealthy.
Now the gulf between them was
! wider than ever.
| He spoke at last
| 1T beg your pardon for what
| thought-you might have told me. AS