Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-10-17

A1't uthrt WIS nCnVy as sne went
downstairs; II was n particularly beau
tiful morning, and her eyes were misty
with tears as she looked at the blue
sea and the sunlight and realized that
tomorrow she would open her eyes on
bricks and mortar and smoky London.
Yet ii had been her own wish to re-
turn. She could have stayed on had .he
chosen.
Good morning." said Feathers be-
side her.
She turned quickly, her eyes bright
ening.
Am I down before you? It's gem
orally the other way about?'
Chris?"
II don't think he's up yet"
There was little silence.
are you going by the morning
train ~ Feathers asked presently.
mo, after lunch, think we shall
be home about g."
She looked up at him wistfully.
Have YOU got headache 2" she asked
In concern. You look as IL you
have"
He laughed.
mo: l don't indulge in such lux
uries,, but I didn't sleep particularly
well last night"
"A guilty conscience?" Marie said,
tcasingly.
Probably" He stepped out into the
sunny garden. Shall we 20 for a
stroll, az it's your last morning?"
She followed at once.
That sounded So horrid," she said,
with a half sigh. MY last morning
1t sounds as if l were going to be exc
cuted or something"
The last of happy days here, l
should have said," Feathers corrected
himself gravely. II hope it will also
be the first of many and much happier
days to come"
Thank you" Suddenly she laughed.
,Why, it's Friday! l always seem to
choose unlucky days to 60 to places or
40 the important things l wns mar
ried on Friday, and l came home from
Paris after father died on Friday"
other" " ""'
She shook her head.
Not for me. she said. nnthinking-
ly, then laughed to cover the admission
Of her words.
I'm supersttious, you ses."
'Absurd!"
II know it is, and never used to
II don't believe you are now," he
declared.
What are you looking at?" Marie
had stood suddenly still, and was look
ing down on the sands.
The tide was out. and a msn and
woman were walking along together
close 10 the waters edge.
ITS Chris and Mrs. Heriot, 4"
Feathers said quietly. Shall We 90
and meet them?'
He turned toward the steps leading
down to the shore, but Marie did not
move. She was very pale. and the look
In her eyes cut him to the heart when
he looked at her.
II don't thirk 7 will-I'd rather 20
back-they haven't seen u.s." she an
swcred.
She would have turned back the way
they had come, but Feathers rcsolutely
barred the way.
Mrs. Lawless, don't you think it
would be much wiser to come along and
meet them" he asked deliberntely.
She raised her troubled eyes to his.
Il don't want to WHY need
L! Oh, do you think I must?'
lie tried TO laugh as II 1t were n sub
Ject OF no Importance.
why not? They have probably seen
u.s." '' 'een
He could see refusal in her face then
all at once she gave in.
Very well.' But her steps dragged
as she followed him down to the sands.
md her face had not rcgained it's color.
Feathers was racking his brains for
means whereby to disperse the suspicion
which he knew was in her mind. He
was cursing Chris with oil his heart 4
even while he was level headed enough
to guess that in all probability his
friend S meeting with Mrs. Heriot was
entirely one of chance. When thew
were near enough he called out to them
cheerily
Nov, then, you two, it's break.
fast time. so hurry! Mrs. Lawless and
| have been right along to the head
land"
1t was not the truth, but Marie
hardly noticed what he said; she was
trying desperately to recover her com.
posure and face Mrs. Heriot with
smile.
They walked back to the hotel, the
two men behind.
II am 30 sorry we are leaving. now
1t has really come to the point" Marie
said. She kept her hands clcnched IN
wore; she wondered II the elder woman
could hear the hardness of her voice.
I'm ever so sorry, too" Mrs. Heriot
said gushingly. ITS the worst of an
hotel, isn't it? As soon as one gets
to like people they leave"
'One can always meet them aRain."
Marie said deliberately. She was won.
dcring desperately If Chris had already
tnodo qOme klch Urranppmrpt ,r;,L md
woman
Mrs. IIeriot smiled enigmatically.
1T so seldom happens, though y she
said. Life Is so like that book, 'Shipa
that Pass In the Night don't you
think?'
II haven't read It," Marie said
bluntly.
She hated Mrs. Hcriot, hated every
thing about her-her voice. her smile, !
even her clothes--she hated them all
she went straight in to breakfast with.
out waiting for Chris, and when he |
Joined her she was quite well awarc
that his eyes were turned to her again
and again anxiously.
Directly breakfast was over she
turned to go upstairs, but he fol-
lowed.
Where arc you going, Marie Ce-
leste?" He tried hard to speak nat
urally, but he had never felt more un-
comfortable in his life; he knew what
Marie must be thinking. and he real
lied that the only explanation he could
offer OF his early walk with Mrs. Heriot
was very thin one indeed.
She answered without stopping or
looking around.
II am going to finish packing.'