Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-12-20


terness Of that knowledge.
Why, did love him? He was not
worth loving! I wished he would die,
NO that never again could run the risk
oil meeting him: the memory Of mis-
eyes haunted me and the little break
IN his voice when h. snid before Lionel
came, You look at me as if--as If
you loved me-"
He had sounded as II he was glad,
and yet--oh, IT. was all lies-all lies,
| told myself fcrcely; no doubt he had
card of the money Aunt Allison had
ieft me. and considered it worth while
to try to win me back again.
He would have sold me for money. I
was as little as that to him--when at
last ] fell asleep It vas only 10 wake
!obbing with the unbelievable hurt Of
it all.
Winnie questioned me curiously in
the morning. Why had left so early
the night before?
Because my head ached," an
swered snappily. "And enough to make
any ones head ache--an that silly
Music"
She smiled slyly.
II thought perhaps there had been
a row. she said; II know that Lionel
was scowling all through dinner be-
cause you had been taken In BY Mr..
Anderson. / quite thought there had
been q row when found you d all three
gone"
you thought wrong, then" I said.
and l wish you'd mind your own
business"
! went to the window and looked out
into the street. / wished Lionel would
come. He had promised to be round
early and take me out. I wished our
wedding day could be hurried OH
sooner. Never until was safely mar
ried could hope 10 forget my humilia.
tion.
II do love you'll have always loved
you ." I had said that to
Mark. My cheeks burned at the bitter
memory.
Lionel did not come until nearly lunch
time.
II am sorry, dear; was unavoidably
detained" he said, when / questioned
him fretfully. He avoided looking at
me, and l said swiftly:
WHAT'S the matter? What has hap.
pened?"
Nothing Shelter wanted
TO see me, that's all"
You mean--about me?"
could not go on.
YES. =" He spoke shortly,
and would have said no more, but that
1 Insisted breathlessly.
Tell me, please--you may
speak of him just this once
Anderson has returned the money
bit Of scene Of Course" Lionel tried
to draw me to him, but I resisted.
"Yes--please tell me. please 20 on -
He threw the money in my face"
said Lionel savageiy. HE told me that
he would rather have his life ruined
by me than made by your charity"
could not speak, and he went on:
But it's ended and done with. Sally.
He's gone out Of our lives. We will
forget him."
l laughed. "Yes-wc will forget
him." said, but l knew In my heart
hat should never be able to do that.
The days dragged on, until 1t wanted
but four to my wedding day.
"You look like a ghost mother said
one morning when we had been to the
dressmaker's, "and IL you 20 on getting
any thinner, Sally, nothing will flt you
at all"
had got thin. Lonei's ring was al
ways slipping off my finger. and had
wound some thread round It's band be-
cause ! was afraid of losing It.
II wish the wedding was over and
done with" I said. II wish I was
safely married and out Of the way"
fresh life and put the past behind
me forever.
Lionel had arranged everything with
Mr.. Shelter. and had had nothing 10
do with the disposal Of my luckless
money.
never heard anything about Mark
Anderson, and never asked.
And then one afternoon there came
a letter from Mrs Alberry.
Dear Miss Sally.-This Is just hop
'ng you are well, aB we are: least
ways, Alberry has rheumatism, and ole
Of the dogs Is lame with thorn in his
foot. The weather Is beautiful, and we
are hoping to see you before long, as you
promised. There Is no news except
that Mr.. Anderson farm was sold last
week, and he is leaving England very
soon, there being nothing to keep him
here now, he says. dare say you
saw in the paper that Miss Nina died
1t was pneumonia. after cold. We
all went to her funeral, poor young
lady! Her mother is broken hearted
Nina dead IL could not believe II.
She was so young hardly any older
than was.
I felt incredibly shocked, and yet
oh, why was I 80 pitiably weak?---for
deep down in my sore heart was
fierce feeling of thankfulness because
now Mark Anderson could never be-
long to her.
II was the morning after that letter
came that / was standing In front OF
the long mirrors In Madame Roseta's
dress for the last time, when, quito
suddeIly-for I had not consciously
been thinking Of him-the face of Mark
Anderson floated before my mind.
Madame Rosetta was walking round
me, with little EXPLANATIONS of pride
and delight, and mother was sitting
watching with the sort Of self satisfied
air all mothers wear, I suppose, when
they are about To get rid Of an un-
wanted daughter by means Of a wealthy
marriage, when II seemed as II some
)ne drew back a shutter before my
eyes and showed me the picture OF
Marks fnce as It had looked at our
last dreadful meeting.
I am not a bit Superstitious. don't
believe in spiritualism or anything like
TINT, but Just for an instant my heart
seemed to stand still before II went
racing on again. Had something hap
pened to him?
/ know that my color faded, and
Madame Rosetta must have noticed it,
for she asked me suddenly II felt
faint with standing for 10 long, and,
glad of the excuse, / said; Yes, just
a little" -, |