Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-12-29
AND HERE 1T CONTINUES


hi ever see her unhabpy-through you
50 a" His voice rose fiercely.
Then be laughed and went on more
auietly: "She loves you, John, and
because she loves you I'm willing to
belieye you're worthy Of her. A won E
ans instinct is wonderful, and there
are not many girls who would have
stuck to a man as she has to you,
through all these years--terrible years
tbey. must have been for her."
: The Fortune Hunter made no answer :
be sat motionless, his eyes on Mr..
Harding's earnest face, listening in
tently.
Il the elder man asked sharply: well,
=, what have you got to sayT'
The Fortune Hunter reused him
self with an effort. "Only that l give
MIR. Harding said "Humph !" and
added half in fun, half seriously: "And
YOUR best, and my best, will only be
half good enough for her. She's an IDEAL
ist, you know. OF course, you know that
ali along she has believed in your in
nocence."
The Fortune Hunter nodded: he could
not find his voice at that moment, and
the old man went on
'"You know, too, that she has money
that she is wealthy"
The Fortune Hunter opened his lips
to say, ~ don't want her money" but
he knew It was lie, and somehow the
words stuck.
4 But tonight his thoughts were in a
whirl. He did not understand himself,
could not analyse his emotions; he only
knew that for the first time In his life
he was ashamed that be had not played
the game better.
q Mr.. Harding tilted the shade of the
lamp suddenly, letting its piercing light
fall full on the Fortune Hunters face.
A haggard face it looked-a weary
young facc-during the brief second be q.
fore he got control of himself and
smiled.
You're tired Mr.. Harding said
abruptly, "and I'm keeping you up
listening TO things that can easily be
said during tho next few days. You'll
be glad to go to bed" He held out his
Land. Good night, john"
But now the Fortune Hunter could
not meet his eyes, and his reply was
almost inaudibie as he turned and
walked out of the room.
4, He went upstairs to his room, feel
eing like a thief. He was dog tired,
hut he never closed his eyes all night.
CoDscence, which had for so long lain
dormant that be bad believed it dead.
nWoke and tortured him.
/ When it began to get light he got
ur and sat down by the window. watch
Ing the gray mist slowly lifting from
the garden and river and the first streak
Of sunshine creeping wanly through.
II will 60 away" he told himself
The thing is impossible. / will not
stay"
And yet when he was dressed and
out in the garden, walking about
among the flowers, his resolution
waYer.d.
IT was Fate that had thrown him
here, and he believed in Fate.
He would stay yet little awhile and
llsk what happened. 1t was Heaven
TO be treated once more as gentleman
and to see love in a woman's eyes. If
he went now it would hurt these people
TOR more than If he stayed.
SO he argued with bimsclf, knowing
yThe argument to be false.
II And then, from one OF the upper
windows of the house, Anne berself
called to him, smiling down with the
sunshine in her ewes and upon her hair.
and the heart OF the. Fortune Hunter
beat fast as he called up to her rather
unstcadiiy: Come down-you re SO far
away up there-come down.
She Joined him in the garden almost
az once, slipping hand shyly through
his arm.
You're still here then! You're real (!
Mhen l woke this morning was half
AFRAID that ] should find it all a dream,
and that you had gone
The Fortune Hunter smiled wryly,
remembering his resolution of the night,
You slept well, them" he said. She
laughed and flushed
n ~ never woke up once. And YOU 2"
never closed my eyes" said the
fortune Hunter grimly. "My guilty
conscience, l suppose" Her fingers
tlghtened about his arm.
Il will not let you say that. You
PROMISED me that there was TO be no
Mst-no looking back"
IL not so easy to- kill tho past as
DEARLY.
She interrupted swiftly.
but 1t Is killed-it is dead The
paSt cannot come back don't think of
1t, ~ won't; I'm going to look forward
how-only forward" "
Inc Fortune Hunter made no reply.
out he thought of the foxy eyes of the
man fernie whom he had seen last
"snt, aud a breath of apprehension
swept through him.
and that's breakfast Anne said as
Sol oell rang through the house. "Are
TISa T hungry! am--and here
Tommy waited for them at the hons.
aSor; he looked at the Fortune Hunte,
"ua chagrined eyeG.
,u we shan't have to go to London
a.!er all,' he said. "to fetch your bag
gage; mean" He turned and indicated
pue OF boxes In the hall "It's al
sJst come up from the station" b,
added dsgustedly. ~
Ihe Fortune Hunter flushed Grim.
epa, ny, When he had first entered upor
spS adventure it had been more in tn,
SSpFlt OF joke which would last onl,
,ps the moment than the manifold
saHeny into which il was slowl,
ttssolylng He looked at the rather bat
desnuo du ana much-labeled luggage Will
desperate eyes.
I. The initials ~. S." were painte,
amateurish large letters on the sid
-, each box. and bore beside the labe
Sb,aa well known cross Atlantic steam
%nIr Sa,P, on which he himself had ono,
httsed passage home. He smile,
'''.erly at the irony Of it all.
,,a breakfast is ready" Anne sal,
SinIauthly. She had been standing b,
tbe'liy, and now she turned and lc,
,"s way into the dining room.
y,o; mr; Harding was already seated. III
e'.Nsyeu tne Fortune Hunter cheerily.
In 'gu won t:mtnd my beginning
;aa hurry. They're. going to hold al