Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-10-12

India she said suddenly.
went on.
1T seems as IL my life out there must
oil have been in another world"
lime passes 30 quickly, doesn't It 2"
said Chris abaently.
lie mad never seen her in this mood
before, and it rather bored him.
went out as soon MS I was mar
ried, she went on, taking it for grant.
cd that he was interested. II was---oli.
80 young--younger than Mrs. Lhwless, l
should think !" She laughed rather Bit
ttrly. 81 thought l was going TO he
happy ever after rs the story books
have It, when I got married." She
sh.ngged her shoulders.
That's what comes of marrying for
You are very candid" Chris said
amusc1ly.
II am; I think it always pays, don I
He shrugged his shoulders.
Il haven't thought about It,"
II have! And ] know that people
don't like me because I always say
what I think"
Don't they - He drew in the sculls
n. little and, resting on them, fun.
blcd for his cigarette case.
There was a little smile on his face.
Mrs. lleriot was amusing him now.
though unconsciously.
She stretched out a white hand.
Givc me a cigarette" Chris handed
Ter his case, but she waved it away.
Don't be so ungallant! Light it for
me-"
lie did as she asked.
Does your wife smoker" she asked
NO" He bent to the sculls nsain.
I'm afraid she's not very modern"
Afraid -
Chris frowncd. II should have said
glad perhaps" He corrected himself
iather shortly.
Mrs. Heriot looked at him in silence
for n moment. then she SAID, cnergeti- :
cnlly: Don't let marriage turn you
into bore, Christ
"A bore!' He was 20 amazed that
he dropped his cigarette. Yes" She
smiled teasingly. 1T does that with
most men, you know"
II think I can promise you il will
not do that with mo-" he said rather
warmly. ~ have always loathed the
idea If ordinary married life, staying
at homo night after night. tied to a
woman's apron strings, dropping nll
ones pals ~ He broke on, color.
ing warmly. He had said great deal
more than he had intended, and he
Enew that she had purposely led him on
to do so. Don't you think We had
better be getting back?" he asked
rather curtly.
What, alrcadyf" she laughed, and,
bending forward, looked ut a small Jew :
eled watch on her wrist. "Why, it's
not NJ She turned and looked on,
over the smooth sea. Lets row out to
that boat" she said suddenly. She in
dicated n small anchored fishing smacl,
with furled sails that looked like a fairy
ship in the path Of the moonlight.
I've can get on board IL there is no :
body there. Do! 1t will be such fun !''
Chris had the uncomfortable feeling
that sho expected him to refuse, and be
cause he made it rule never to do what
he knew was expected of him he agreed
Hc pulled the little skiff about and
made for the anchored boat.
There was light on her mast and n
'antcrn tied to her bow, but apparently
she was deserted.
Mrs. Heriot made a cup of her hands
and called long Goo &C."
There's nobody on board" she said
Go closer to her, Chris"
When they were near enough she
stretched out her hand and caught at
n rope hanging loosely at the side Of the
ship; -,
"Oh, we must go on board. It's so 70
mantle ~
IT'S fishing smack-it will be hor-
ribly dirty probably" Chris objected.
She was standing up, holding to It's
side.
"Of course it won't be-" She looked
around at him. II believe you don t
want to come, she said laughing.
Chris drew in the sculls without an
other word and stood up.
'If you're so bent on trespassing," /"
he said, and held out his hand.
They scrambled on board together and
looked round. The ship was quite de-
serted and rocking gently on the smooth
water. Mrs. Heriot clapped her hands
like a delighted child. She was quite
good actress when she was in the
mood and given the right environment.
Isn't this lovely? 1t reminds me Of
the days when we used to hide in
ruined castles when we were children"
She spoke as if ruined castles were
to be met with in every street of every
suburban town.
'There's not much Of n ruined castle
about this said Chris. He was not Mt
all amused. He thought the whole ad-
venture silly, which merely showed that
hn h., ,-lA
not interested in the woman he was
with.
The moon was high in the sky, and
the twinkling lights of the town looked
a long way off, though very family in
the distance they could hear the sound
of the band playing on the pier.
Chris listened alphabetically, then sud
denly he spoke.
1T must be late, They're playing
God Save the King.
past 10.
Its time we went back" he said.
lie wondered uncOmfOrtably what
Feathers would say il he could see him
now.
He went back to the side of the fishing
smack where he had left the skiff, then
he stihed an oath, for the painter he
had fastened loosely to the rope ladder
had come united and the skiff had drifted
away.
Mrs. Herlot uttered a shrill scream
when she saw what had happened. She
was really not In the least frightened !;
she loved sensation and what she was
pleased to call "thrills"; and it was
rather exciting to find herself in such
predicamcnt with man rs good
looking and difficult as Christopher
Lawless.
Whatever shall we do?" she de-
mandcd in horror, and then. with q
quick glance at his face: "Oh. you