Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-12-12
AND HERE 1T CONTINUES
CHAPTER XIV
The Last Meeting

WTIHE lantern whlch Neu hau lelt VII
,be bench flickered and went out in q
hidden gust of wind, but did not care.
a. on in the chilly darkness, praying
hat might soon wake up and find II
n dream, although in my heart
new Il was truth, horrid. staring truth,
rhieh | had got to face.
He did not love me! The only kind
ming that could wish for either Of US
Vas that we might never meet again
The time crept on, and Presently ]
b,ard Mrs. Alberry calling that sup
er was ready.
Supper. This, then, was the end
N the wonderful daay to which I had
booked forward so passionately.
4 The sluggish blood stirred in my
1eins. and sudden food of anger
@ept through me. ! would not accept
bis letter. I would see him once again
die II he thought he could throw my
bye aside so easily he was mistaken
Ind presently l found myself out in
he cold night, running through the mud
nd pouring rain, hatless and coatless
4 I was, saying over and over again
n my heart: II hate him! I hate
imp'
l never stopped for second till
Eas at the door of his house.
I stood still then, went through, and
haking in every limb, the letter clutch
q In my hand.
There was light in the parlor
Eindow. where we had had tea that
fst afternoon. and ! crept along the
fpnt Of the house. trying to see be-
esth the blind, which was not quite
lrayn down.
But beyond an edge of white table
10th and the glow of the fire I could
ee nothing.
Was he there? II he was not, I
hade up my mind that I would wait
ill be came home, even if I had to
rait all night.
think ] must have been a little
% my head. for presently raised
1t seemed a long time before nv
MOCK was answered, and then 1t was
Nina herself.
hhe looked so pretty and composed
H telt the contrast between us
antuily. l knew was bedray-
led ooJect, and that my face was a
r1seedy' but i did not care.
,oh, how wet you are! Won't you
ome IN she asked, in concern.
neard what she said, but ! did not
Il want 10 see Mr.. Anderson. Is
u az homeT A voice, which, of course,
~as mine, asked the question. but it
like strangers.
ne OUT she SAID. Il am sorry
1oae =, IN and wait. I don't think he can
Tried to steady my voice.
IN, no, won't come in. I'm too
nat l called2' nc 'o'''e'
/, She promised that she would o,1
W. A. $1,000 at the open doorway looking
If ne as ! went down the path
N. esAed 'Good-by - to her. as IL
.,ere was nothing the matter. but ne
Falking away. ' u0o' l stopped
~ ect TO tho house / knew he would
rrIno @ " pass through the front gate and
he came. ." "'sn' UT uhtll
me rain had stopped. but the wind
,ad risen, and it was mucb coIdar WIZ w.
eet, In their thin, saturated sIinnor:s s
frocL IKE IKE Ice the thin sleeves OF nv
n
pamp feeling. '0' 'o'e
Iorsrd neard clock strike nine in the
FUuse ES pehind me, and wondered what
loon o A.iuoerrys we're thinking, and how
n tnsyy would start to look for me
uld not care what they thought
Z what happened.
NJ neard that clock strike half mast
", out still nobody had come along
~ : road and suddenly a thought came
m Supposing he had repented of
49, nc had written, and gone to see
n -, euPposing he was waiting for me
i'm VIC A.oerrys, as | was waiting for
Ihe forlorn hope penetrated the do
AZ OF my heart. began to run back
.ue Hable Farm. | think was sob
s MS name as I ran. I crept into
sard the door of the house was
ss e open, and ! could see Mr.. and
III Aloerry together in the kitchen,
slng anxiously.
NJ Siark was not there! And I turned
aSS went back hopelessly the way l
Ione' l must see him that night.
ns hear the truth from his own
EiId my NY heart was pounding like a
OF. tning when ] reached that gate
YES | leaned against it with closed
" and sobbing breath.
was he? Oh, where was he?
aa'eu The darkness that hid him from
oal,alps Il,erhaps he had gone In while I went
sIhiy TO look for him at home; I
.ned to go again to the house. Twas
N.Y. caring what Nina or any Of them
usht' l had unlatched the gate,
Seb,na hefe was a step In the darkness
an. was Mark, knew, and for an in
absolute fear of him and what
you'd say paralyzed my tongue.
na1 did not see me. Another moment
n would have passed and gone on
cc e mouse, but that I stretched out
nj hand and caught him by the coat.
N' swung round as If he had been
nd. una heard him catch his breath
Salyi You here I" Ills grooming
|sJ |rsrn Iound me and wandered over INV
XLNfheu fronL feAf.g nLze--~S,, ~, - ~