The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1921-09-01

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You look tired she said.
Tired" lie reused himself in.
ssantiy. Mol am no, In shc least
tired. thank you 4" lie glanced
down ~ the book on her knee. her
lcf, hand was resting on the open
page. . splendid hAif-hoop Of diA
monds guarded tho wedding rins on
her slim third finger. railentyrc
hastily aversed his eyes.
lie wondered where Henry stur.
gess was ana why he had not &C
companied his wife tonight: he sup
posed that Il was quite = marriage
OF convenisncs.
He had never asked = question Of
anyone about IL: he always avoided
the mention OF Jili when he wA~ with
either OF the Ifiiiyards. he had care.
fully refraincd from locking at any
Of the papers at the time Of her
marriage: he had curtiy taken all his
business affairs out OF Henry stur.
gess' hands. ard severed their con
nection finally before he left Lon.
don.
lie had written 10 nobody during
HE abscncs. except an occasional
note 20 Erica Hswins: he had tried
his bssf 10 forget that he had ever
met Jiil--sver allowed himself 10 care
for her.
Like most msu. he hassd suffer,
ing; he hated Il because be could not
forget the one woman who had DE-
fled hims hated Il because her face.
scornfui ana bitter ~ he hsd last
ssen Il. would como before him whss>
ever he Wa. and whatever he was
doing.
That trngie night N the little rom
m Acacia Terrace had not bean their
last meeting by many. ~ JIM had
foreseen: the fact that she had en-.
gaGed herself 70 Henry surgcss had
not turned raINrtyre from his pur.
pose. he had Managed 20 see her
again. many times: he bad tried
every argument in his power to
break her viii.
AL his life he had been spoiis and
idtiixed: when at last II was forced
home 60 him that Jni considered his
love an insult. II had been tho hard.
est blow Of his selfish life.
That had been az their final meet.
ting. she had iashed him with her
scorn. spurncd him rushIessiy.
''You don't Know what iove H." she
said hoarreiy. TITS only the poorest.
meanest prctcnss that you are offer.
ing me. Why can't you understand
that tho once I thought I cared for
you'll despise you now more than
anyone In the world !. II makes me
ashamed TO remember that ever let
you kiss me. that ever wanted 10
see you only hope We shall
never meet again +"
She had said many other things,
too: things which made his soul
writhe when he thought Of them:
true things. deserved things. NJ he
realized with shamed bittspess.
He looked at her now.
"You have changed a great deal
since last we met" no said.
He had not meant 20 speak Of
the past. but somehow the words
slipped out.
jill laughed.
''you mean that I have grown
older7" she said lightly.
Mono. did not mean that" he
answered.
Her eyes Knocked him.
Wiser. perhaps. then7- she sub
mitted with a touch Of irony.
He made no reply.
''Kathy has n fine house. she said
irreievsntiy. Timer even than mine
You must come and see my
house. Mr.. Talicntyrc-its really
rather beautiful in It's way after
Acacia Terrace" she added whim-
sically.
You are very kind"
II am thinking Of giving II up
ana taking a flat instead" she went
on presently. TITS rather inconven.
iently large In some ways: and nj.
ways had a longing TO live in fiat"
yes" he said. II remember you
telling me that"
Did ibid I. reaiiy7 How funnyf-
She leaned back In her chair.
II am afraid must have bored you
rather dreadfully with my hcroics In
those days"
mo. you ala not bore mo At an
ITS kind Of you 20 say that 4"
Tailentyre moved rcst1essly; a pas.
sionate longing seized him 10 rouse
her from this scifposscssIon; TO
mako her feel-if only for a moment;
20 sec for himself II his old power
over her was indeed deaf and gone.
do you remember that Sunday
and the ranting 6aivationist?" he
asked suddenly.
''Of course ! DO and his special
Invitation to you---or was Il 10 mel
TO como and have a dip In Jordan"
she laughed with frank amusement
At the memory. "Oh, dear. what
long time ago that seems {"
1T is not so long-only
year -"
"a year II long time--some-
times" she said. with little shadow
in her voice.
He turned and looked At her
1T has seemed long to your" he
asked quickly.
She seemed TO be considering the