Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-12-16
CHAPTER XXXvI
An InsDirafi0n

So he, was not engaged to Nina, and
now even Mrs. Alberry appeared to
be less sure that he ever would be.
What would he do, ! wondered?
Where would he 60? 1t seemed strange
to think that ] might have been his
wife, might have had to turn out Of the
farm and chance his luck with him.
Well, i should not have minded! I
would rather have tramped the world
homeless~with him than have ridden In
Lionel Champions luxurious car.
l went on with my dressing mechani-
cally, the expressive words of Mrs. AL
berry's letter haunting, me.
"Alberry says It will be the ruin of
him now the mortgage on the farm has
fallen in, and him not able to pay"
II only Then I let the brush
fall with clatter, wild flush of
excitement leaping to my cheeks.
1 had forgotten Aunt Allison's
money! The money which was surely
more than enough to pay off whatever
sum Mark Anderson owed.
My eyes blazed with excitement; my
brain worked at lightning speed.
lie should have the money. would
find some way of sending it to him
that he would never guess from whom
it had come. I would buy back the
farm and give It to him in memory of
the happy days we had shared to-
gether.
1t would be some poor sort of con.
ISOLATION to know that he owed that
much to inc, and perhaps some day
years afterward-we might meet again,
when he would be prosperous and with
out care. and then could tell him
an 3D. Il
was l who sent you the money be-
cause once I loved you."
I did not allow the grass to grow
under my feet; by making tactful in.
quiries from my father found out that
It might be weeks, even months, be-
fore Aunt Allison's money was paid.
pretended to be amazed.
However do people get on, then,
when they are hard up?''
wei, they can generally get some
thing advanced" he told me unsuspect.
ingly. "The security is gilt-edged In
such case, you see."
Advanced by money -lenderY' I
asked, and he said no, as a rule people
went to a solicitor.
said, "Oh, do they?" and changed
the subject; but that afternoon l went
out by myself and took a taxi to the
fathers. whom knew to be q solicitor
He knew me we'll though I had no;
seen him for some time. and after hav-
Ing sworn i'm to secrecy I told him
what ] wanted.
But it's got to be done quickly!
At once! Within the next day or two,"
l said.
He smiled at my impulsiveness.
My dear young lady, these things
all take time" he began. "You see
l cut him short.
This one can't take time, anyway.
It's got to be done You know It's all
right-the money has been left to me
without any silly conditions as to when
1 am to have it, or what is to be done
with it. And I'm going to give it
away"
''Give it away" he echoed. I think
he thought l was mad.
"Yes, l." / said, "to-to q friend who
is in trouble" colored. and Mr.,
Shelter said. "Ah! I see,h as if he
understood the circumstances thor
oughly.
had not intended to tell him the
whole story, but soon saw that unless
l did he would refuse to help me, so
/ ended up by telling him everything
from start to finish. Only l said
that 1 had broken the engagement with
Mark, not that he had thrown me over.
"And-forgive me! But you still
care for this Mr.. Anderson" he asked
gently.
! hesitated, the tears in my eyes.
II don't--know," faltered at last.
but I would like to help him. I want
very much to help him.
His eyes were kind as they met mine.
., h.
Champion, I think" he said.
"You know that he is a great friend
of mine?"
"No. Oh, no, l didn't! Oh, you
won't tell him, will you? It's quite
all right. He knows all about Mark,
knows that we once liked each
other, mean. But am going to
marry him, l really am
II see. : =" He hesitated. Then
he asked: "And the mortgage of this
farm of Mr.; Anderson's = you know
who it isY'
"YesvMr. Champion" I said brave
"And you arc actually proposing to
man!"
lie lhld ulS manu- On Iulne.
~ think-I think I ought to be Just
little bit sorry for Champion" he
said.
knew what he meant, of course,
and the silly tears overtiowed and ran
down my cheeks.
"Perhaps I'm the one to be sorry
for" / said.
But he promised he would see what
could be done before I left him, and
l went away happier than I had been
for many long day.
I told Lionel that night that l had
decided to keep my money.
"At least" added truthfully. IL
mean that ! shan't hand it over TO
the family after all"
He looked so disappointed that
'I'm not going to keep it myself,
anyway. Only you mustn't ask ques-
tions. No-please don't" for he
was trying to draw me into his arms.
"You never let me kiss you," he
grumbled.
said -,
OF course he must have known 1t
was an excuse, but he said nothing;
he really was wonderfully patient.
L. a..-.. aa. i