Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1921-08-30
CHAPTER XIV.
An Unexpected Caller.

| sense of burning shame.
'Tt was when I got home" she said at
last in a low voice. 'T-I-oh. it wasn't
my fault he kissed me-" she broke out
! In distress. I'D never thought of him
as anything except just friend, but
| he"
Are you talking of Nothard?" Cav
anagh asked sharply as she paused.
| She looked up, her eyes wide with
amazement.
"Of Peter Nothard; Oh no! 1t was
her head sank again-'it was Mar
garet's husband, Mr.. Delay she whis-
/ pered.
She heard the sharp exclamation he
gave but he only said gently:
Yes, go on. He made love to you, and
| so you ran away?"
"Yes-no At least Margaret
came in, and-and she told me to go or
, ,he would kill me-" She broke into pr
;eous sobbing once more. 1T wasn't my
! fault-it wasn't my fault! I hate him
| | hated him kissing me"' she walled.
| Cavanagh said nothing he began pac-
! i@g up and down the long ROOM his hands
>lasped behind his back, and presently
! Ninette was quiet again.
eff Josh had been alive, he would have
1 killed him for this p she said, in a pas
sionate whisper.
"And so you came to me- Cavanagh
| said. after a moment. He came to stand
beside her, looking down at her with an
enigmatical expression in his sunken
eyes. ny did you Gomez"
/ Il don know, I was too frightened to
think, an remembered what you said.
I haven't anyone else in the world
There Is Nothard.'
She looked up at him with a wavering
smile
He is Margaret's brother, and he will
believe what she says. not what l say"
she told him bitterly.
There was a little silence, then Cav
anagh said quietly.
We'll, before we talk, you must have
some dinner. I haven't much to offer
you, only cold stuff, but its good of its
kind. Take off your hat and coat, and
come to the table with me" He saw the
refusal in her face and added calmly:
I am hungry if you are not, and l
cannot eat If You Will not join me-"
She arose slowly.
Very we'll Thank you" She took off
her hat and coat and tried to smooth
her roughened hair.
she said, trying 10 smile.
II never dress to dine with anyone"
/ he answered uncompromisingly. Il
please myself-as I hope you will, too,
ifyou stay here"
/ The color rushed to her face
Stay here! But how can /? oh,
ought not to have come" 80
We viii talk about that afterwards
Are you just a little hungry, and do
! you like cold chicken"
He talked on commonplace subjects
/ with resolute cheeriness while she ate,
she had been really hungry. and her
/ spirits rose as the time passed
/ Only when they had finished and the
! sphiuG-like manservant had brought
/ coffee, C4vanagh spoke Of the Delays
+ again.
q must let them know that you are
here" he said We don't want them
/ setting the police on your track and
making a nasty scandal" He looked at
I her, the color deepening a little in his
sallow face 1T Is for you to say If
you will stay with me, Ninette," he
added II want to"
He broke Off as the manservant came to
the door.
IF you please. SIR, gentleman-he
wishes to see you; but will give no
he viii not believe me. He insists on see
ing you, He says he will wait till you
are dlsengaged." He glazed at Nj
nette and lowered his voice. Il think If
you could spare a moment, sir"
Cavanagh frowned, then he shrugged
his shoulders
"Of, very well, show him in the study"
He bent over Ninette. u am sorry, but
if you will excuse me for a moment"
oh of course I am afraid I am keep
ing yOu. You said you were going to
Paris tomorrow" she started up in dis
may. Il had quite forgotten"
You need not look so alarmed I am
not going now" Cavanagh answered
He went away leaving Ninette by
the fire.
Her thoughts we're in a turmoil 1t
was strange that she was not in the least
afraid of this man, or of being alone in
his fat. and yet she was conscious of
a strange sort of excitement
What did he mean to tell the Delays7
And how would it be possible for her to
stay? She looked around the room, it
was beautifully furnished with a taste
which evidently did not belong to Cav
anagh himself. for each detail of color
and decoration was perfect; there was
nothing that seemed to stand out dis
1nctIN from the rest OF the room. and
yet the whole was restful and keautiful.
To NiAette. who had admired the De-
lays home. it was like an enchanted
castle. To her excited imagination it
seemed that she was continually climb
ing one step higher since the days when
she and Josh Wheeler had lived in two
rooms. and she had cooked sausages for
their supper over a smoky fire.
And yet they had been happy days
She had almost broken her heart when
they ended. and the teaEs welled into her
eyes now as she though of them. and of
Josh Wheelers thin, studious face, and
kind. shortsighted. eyes.
There was an old woman who lived in
shoe.
She had so many children she did not
know what to do
Out of the past the old nursery rhyme
1oated to her on the leaf of memory,
spoken in the queer rather hating. self
conscious manner which Josh had al
ways done his best to amuse her.
As she sat in her luxury of Randall Cav
anagh's fat she seemed to realize more
than ever before the many sacrifices Joah
had made for her For years out of his
nothing he had given her much no man
would ever he so good or so unselfsh to
her again.
ITO Be ContinuedD