Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-06-18
CHAPTER X

| CHAPTEH n
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Jill walked away from the Hillyards'
house with strange feeling Of exulta.
tion in. her heart.
Tallentyre was free! For the moment
that thought filed her mind to the ex-
clusion of all else for the moment she
felt as II everything she had wished for
In the world had been given back to
her at last.
She had not seen him for some time,
but she had heard OF him casually from
Kathy, and she knew from other
friends how seldom he and Erica Hew-
ing were seen about together.
OF course, It was oil nonsense to say
that he would have to leave London.
Heaps of men whose financial affairs
were in far worse state than his
managed to get along all right. Ralph
had been talking rubbish as II the fact
OF broken engagement could make
such a vital difference to his life.
When she saw him again--but here
her thoughts broke sharply; 1t was SC
unlikely that she ever would see hin,
unless she went out of her way to dc
so. She knew that he was deliberately
avoiding her, and lately she had been
thankful for 1t but now everything was
surely different.
She felt restless and excited; when
nothing She kept wondering how soor
he would come to her-if he would
come that night, or IL he would think
to let few days 20 by.
Every time bell rang she thought
1t must be he-but the day slipped
away, and the next came, but there wa,
no word from Tallentyre.
Jill recalled the manner Of their
parting, and something seemed to tel
her that he would never come to her
unless she sent for him.
She had looked in the papers, but
had seen no mention Of the broken en-
gagement, and she began to torture her
self anew.
Supposing it were not true! Sup
posing Ralph had been mistaken! Sup
posing 1t had oil been made up again
She, could not rest.
She stayed in the house a great deal
wandering about. hardly knowing how
she passed the time.
Twice Rigden rang her up on thu
phone, asking what was the matter, ant
why she was hiding. Jill answered
him evasively; she was not well, sh
said-she was not fit to see any one.
He called, but she refused to see him
On the third evening young Merredev
came. He sent some roses up with hi
card, and begged her to see him If onl,
for q minute.
Jill frowned and smiled together.
"Oh, well, ask him to come up,
she said.
Merredew was different from the rest
| ha aI ha
,, unaffected. 1t pleased her that, whel
he came in, he kissed the hand she he'll
to him his was genuine affection; sh
liked to feel that he cared for her.
, I've been looking for you every
!, where" he said, reproachfully.
1.-The last time l saw you was at tn
Despards', when you went off withou
so much as a good-by to me-
She laughed.
THAT was Mr.. Tallentyre's fault; h
whirled me Oft was not responsible.
He was looking at her with wistfu
: eyes.
"You don't look well," he said, sud
denly. II heard you had not bee,
we'll; that beast, Rigden-",, he brok
off, coloring. I'm sorry" he said
, She shook her head.
"You mustn't say things like that
and he's a friend of mine"
II know he is," said Merredew will
growl. II only wish he wasn't"
He sat down beside her.
You've heard about Gig, Of course?
he said, presently.
She nodded.
"Yes'-there was little pause
You mean about his broken engage.
ment? My brother in law told me, but
/ haven't seen anything about it in the
papers" She realized suddenly tina,
she had not been near Kathy since that
night, although she had promised to &c
the following day.
Merredew was watching her with q
sort of vague apprehension; his voice
was constrained as he answered.
"No, it hasn't been announced Off
chilly yet. l don't know why, though
it's true enough. Gig told me himself
he seemed thankful to be out Of it,
jill laughed shakily.
you mustn't be so outspoken,' she
told him. you'll never be popular
If you say such things"
He laughed.
IL know--my tongue runs away with
me, I'm always being told about It,
May ! smoker"
please"
She watched while he lit n cigarette
she was longing to ask more about Tai =
lentyre, but the very longing sealed her
lips.
Its rotten luck on poor old Gig
isn't it?' he went on again, presently
II shall miss him frightfully ; cant see
why he need 60 myself. but he's such
a pig headed chap--,you can t move
him an inch once his mind is made
up"
Jill did not answer at once, then
"What do you mean? Where is
Is he going?" she asked.
Didn't you know? / thought he'd
be sure to have told you. He's going
abroad It's all fixed up and he's going
quite soon, I've done my best to per
suade him to wait bit and let things
blow over, but he won't listen. You
know''-he added, lowering his voice
little-'I think there's more in II
all than he'll admit, though m blessed
If l know what 1t is, and-Jill! What
Is it?'
He dropped his cigarette, and rushed
over to where she was sitting. She
was quite white-and her hands were
gripping the sides OF the couch as II In
a desperate effort to keep herself from
falling.
She tried to laugh at his frightened
face-she put up one hand in weak pro-
test when he would have touched her
'I'm all right-really all right
please, it's just that the room was So
hot -,
the cushions; he opened the window
wide and brought water and made hei
's'So,;va had too many late nights