Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-12-19
CHAPTER xxxIX
The Torture OF Unrequitcd Love

r WENT on:
"Mr. Champion--Lionel. you know
-.sid that on our wedding day he
deeds" | laughed. II dare say he
Nm il was quite safe offer, as he never
eally believed we should marry, and he
was quite right.
at was n most generous Offer said
Mark coolly, and Mnen l glanced up
Al him | saw that his eyes were like
rray steel, and his lips hard set.
ooh, ! don't know about generous
You see, / asked him to do it. | heard
that he was the mortgagee-Mr. AL
berry told me--so I asked him to wipe
h out as wedding present"
"You-asked--himI'
nodded.
'Yes, did. It's the sort of thing !
would never dare to do now
And then l realized that Mrs. Fraser
was yainly trying to catch my eye
from the top of the table, and that the
other ladies we're rising and 1 grabbed
nv handkerchief and vanity bag in
kwift confusion. and without another
klance at Mr.. Anderson followed in the
brain of cxtravagant frocks to the
vlnwing room.
Mrs. Fraser came across the room
10 me at once. / wished she would turn
Isr attention to some one else, but she
brew up a chair and sat down.
$50 the wedding is to be soon-quite
soOn," she said.
YES"
"You are a very fortunate girl,
Sally"
"Yes," I said.
suppose my monosyllabic answers
puzzled her, and evidently thinking !
did not wish to discuss my wedding,
she asked:
'How do you like Mr.. Andersone
Such handsome man, l think. He Is
a client of my brothers., you know"
"Yes-so he told me-"
"I've seen him before, you know" l
said lightly as l could. "Whcn / was
down in Devonshire in the winter"
Z She said in surprise: "Oh, have
E2u?" and | could see a quick shuttle Of
Thought cross her face. Perhaps size
had heard Of my short lived romance,
and was putting two and two together
80 went on:
Il knew his cousin, too. knew her
well! Nina her name Is, and she and
Mr.. Anderson are engaged"
Mrs. Fraser said: "Oh, indeed, ,"
rather disappointedly, and then pres
ently, as If she had lost interest in
the conversation, she moved away, and
almost at once the men came in from
the dining room, and Lionel saw me
Immediately.
."'Well," he said, and tried to smile
kIve hardly caught glimpse of you
Nt the evening"
EfI caught a glimpse of you once.
tAough," / said teasingly. "And you
looked so thoroughly nasty and dis
agreeable / felt glad you and I had not
gone In to dinner together"
II should not have looked disagree
psele If we had" he answered.
S4l said: Pooh! Don't be a Blue
sffard, just because Mr.. Anderson hap
fned to be here; Mrs. Fraser never
Wnsw that we had met. And, even II
2sns had, what does it matter? IT,
I'LL over and done with"
he tried to catch my hand, but /
Grew 1t away.
Are you sure, Sally-sure?" he
~ asked wistfully. "You looked so radiant
dinner, l thought ="
bluebeard!" said again. But ]
could stand no more inquisition. !
.urned abruptly from him and Joined
group of girls who were chattering
Winnie was one of them, and she
per: '"' " WIN"
~. sally, that Mr.. Anderson. is he your
r anderson! Isn't he handsome? NV
sh hsr l don't wonder you were maj
put l suffered cruelty when pres.
sn.ly l saw her disappear into the long
Seehhouse adjoining the drawing.
UviH sud with Mark strOlling beside her,
tSu a sudden stabbing thought went
through my heart.
+ a. eupposing he took fancy 10 her.
Az Ina was as fairly well off, If not wealthy,
Mau u winnie was sufficiently spoiIt TO
manage manage to get her own way by fair
mS saas or foul and II wos
+ha. was blind and deaf to everything
@ as went on around me, NV ewes
tb.ve nAed on the door through which
'"y must return.
i.Eni i.1EtSnei came to me again.
pt h,iSser wants me to make I'D a hand
.nsu .Tnsiuse-do you mind?" - N
n course not; please CO."
H. ~, went reluctantly.
az you want me-" .ba said
b,n want you I'll 20 out in tbe
land ana ring the gong till Won coma :"
In nerrupted fippantly, and I laughed
nons.n,,Ily shy hysterical way at nv own
,ons,nel lionel laughed. too, and be wont IN
Ss-iuIs quite satisfied. 1t Is won.
h thing how easily some men" can
riybttiV ttiVnVineed that everything Ia Mi
n torment A my heart was
! bore it till I could bsor No 49,.
@nata huer hunuer cover of some noisy 40.
n Itoi i'hs thumped out on the niano
Etbst ~, across to the curtained door
TbsSsua Su INTO the long greenhouse.
Hhs.ar was sickly scent Of howoro
/llrht., ana the place was lit with shadeJ
5tronio.I"s "s walked through the almost
3Wbsroa neat to a lounge at tbe anJ
Anderson. N ''' my sister and Mr..
ana ~ woe rose to his feet when be sow ma
% sarM winnie frowned. "" "'e'
they want you j. said - h..
sSruPtly, Mrs. Fraser want, art 10 TO-, her
NY w.. She hesitnted tb"n "",s sb you 10
tinger. ~ rather fancicd herself
Iaud i Ioo,y, th,ey really want me-" she ssid
u He "ea mn1l toward Mr.. Anderson:
IINould breu az II TO follow her, and
frock coa nave done so. only my fiimsy
2tam inss az that moment to a spiky
ttle Ssa sust behind, me. and / gave n
III liz t.,aination t,',na Of annoyance
|.A Lei mn III 80 ".