Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-07-08
LOVE WILL NEVER DIE
BY JOHN HUNTER


time when the Eros was at its worst,
What brings you here again" askei
Constance sharply. She had never
spoken to Audrey in such manner
before.
Audrey. filed already with fears.
wondering more and more into what
tangle of hidden things SHE had STUN
bled: almost shrank from her mother.
why. mamma? I've been to tho
atre. l thought I'd give you pleasant
SURPRISE
Constance Brent lost control of her
self for the moment. She laughed
shortly and harshly.
Theatre! BY yourself. Are you
mad?'
II went with Sir Richard Preslow,
whom we met ut the Academy, mamma.
l ran into him at the corner Of Mount
street. I thought 1t would be all right.
az az, you and Lord Connington are such
"Old friends? Oh. yes. we are old
friends!' There was deadly snecr
in Constance's tone which startled Au-
drey. Her mother had always been so
kind and gentle toward her. And
what arc you going to do now"
Tears were suspiciousy near the sur
face as Audrey replied: II thought I'd
last trnin or else, perhaps. | could stay
the night here. have wired Auntie
and explained everything. She wont
be worrying about me-
Constance looked at her spcculativcly.
She hardly knew what to do. She could
not send Audrey home alone so late ut
night, and the prospect Of keeping her
ut the Eros appalled, her. Had the
, little private room been empty she
would have left the club to the Scr
wants and gone straight home with Au-
drey: but the room was occupied. and
one Of its occupants, Ut least, was dan
gcrous. She dared not leave the place
while those five men sat behind the
closed door on the other side of the
| big card room.
Her face looked very old as she an
swered Audrey.
II don't know what you can do.
You should never have come. and you
should never have gone to the theatre
without letting me know. You have
No idea how awkward you have made
things for me. l suppose you had bet
ter stOp here"
Audrey stepped closer to her.
II am so sorry, mamma. | really
had no intention Of annoying you"
She paused. then added: what is the
matter! You look i'll and worried.
/. The club is different from what
! thought 1t this afternoon.
Constance Brent's eyes hardened.
You are not asked for your opinion.
Audrey. 1t is enough for you that
you have been disobedicnt and placed
me in an extremely awkward situation
Come! ! will get maid and you
can go to bed. There are rooms up
stairs
She had adopted the wrong attitude.
She forgot that Audrey was the daugh-
ter of Lord Connington, the daughter
of herself; and therefore not to be
easily put off. nor crushed by a harsh
word.
Andrew drew herself erect. ~
don't want to go to bed like that.
mamma. like n child to be got out of
the way. There is something wrong.
Something is being hidden from me.
Is it something l have right to
Constance eyed her closely.
There is nothing hidden. Audrey" "
she said. why do you ask?"
Audrey nodded toward the card
tables.
of the world, butt have heard OF
clubs where people gamble. This after
noon / thought the Eros was a smart
women's club. but now ] find men here
as well. Some of the men don't look
nice men. I cannot forget that you
never troubled to tell me what your
business was in town" She laid hel
hand on her mothers arm. "Mamma,
IL there Is anything wrong. ! think you
should tell me. l should be ever SO
much happier. and so would you. Surely
YOU don't think that would ever
forget the love you have given me, do
YOU? 1t would make no difference
and it would not leave me as | am
now. surmiSing most dreadful things. -
1t was Constance Brent's chance.
During the brief seconds Audrey was
voicing her appeal the tiler Of fate
was thrust into Constanrc's hand. But
she did not grasp it, Had she an
swered frankly-had she tod Audrey
the secret Of the Eros. told her of
Connington. and everything else. she
might have won through. But she fall
tered. Her OverwrOught nerves were
not equal to the occasion. She lied
again.
''There Is nothing the matter.
Audrey. What ever can possess you
There isn't club in London where
people do not gamble. This happen,
to be the cardrOom Of the club that !.
all. You are rather a little Puritan
YOU know"
Am I?' The wistfulne>s in Audrey
eyes made Constance vince. II don t
; really mean TO bc. don't want to b.
anything but broad minded. nor d
anything that makes YOU unhappy,
l.ut-SOmehow--when | threw open thi,
door it was az though something colo
fu tnn nAI my 81,
given me for coming. haven't you?
won't come again unless YOU ask me.
! cot course you are forgiven" Their;
was Il great tenderness in Constunc"'
voice. "And yOu may certainly com,
again. The afternoon Is tho QuictCst
timc. | will bring YOU up myself. AnC
now don't you think you had better &C
to bcd:"
II am rather tired" admitte,
: Audrey.
Constance sighed with relief. De
spite her initial mistakes she ha'
fought through TO successful issue
had got Audrey safely out of the way
and restored the girls confidence II
herself.
And then she stood rigid.
The. door opened behind Audrey
Against the subducd light Of the cor
, ridor stood jim Hardness. Beside him
her hand slipped through his arm. STOOD
Lois Drnbigh
To Constance il was tho last straw
The avalnnch" of her trials h0'
Smohcrcd Ecr indeed.
DisillusiOn
Hardness undoubtedly did not rc'og
uizc Audrey. fer sh" had her back /,
a him and Lois. He addressed tOnSt anc