Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-03-10
CHAPTER XXNNII

hlcnarQ was Stanulny III INc nhli--
nch fine figure of q man in his rough,
bose tweeds--with Elsa beside him.
She was shorter than he. she looked
ilmost child in comparison, and my
Mart cried out in bitter rebellion that
ach thing as marriage between these
wo should be possible. And vet no
boy would have guessed Huch gulf
d years divided them. Richard was
pne Of those men who will never really
Eow old: he Is hardly gray now. and
BIZ figure is rs upright as ever.
lie was saying something to Elsa in
low voice as ] came down the stairs.
ind she was smiling and blushing. !
seut forward quietly. and held out my
band
How do you dog ! said; and |
vas afraid that they would detect the
lrtltion in my voice.
How do you do!" Richard an.
Mefed gravcly, and we shook hands rs
hswefe no more to me than any other
nan, as II he had never kissed me, never
nid he loved me.
Elsa went off to change her dress,
ind We were left together. asked
y he would have any refreshment. ]
lpo|oslzed for my husbands absence.
nid that ! expected him back to din
Per, and then, because it seemed 10 un /.
sarably hot In the house I suggested
that we should 20 and walk round the
Iarden.
lou have never seen my garden.
M'e your ] asked him; and he an
'VsIed Rravely that he never had.
mere was n strained unreality be-
wen US. stole n glance at him as
~ walked across the lawn, and won
%"d II 1t had only been a dream that
~ nad ever held me in his arms.
!My blood had been fire then; it felt
aael ice now as ] walked by his side and
MINDED y myself that was the mother
the girl whom he had come to see,
.aI ne was only showing ne attention
y llease her, that our brief midsumme,
ssuness had died out in the glory and
s0nder of that golden night. that i,
.g Just been the finish of the love
"s always borne him.
showed him my roses. We alway,
I ,e a wonderful show of roses al
"u'eot House, and told him how year,
so my father had torn IN the tree.
s.use he could not bear to see then
|, 'uef m my mothers death.
4 ,n.s he must have loved her yer!
\ y. %sea, think" l added. with q mem
y an ~ that day ! saw her lying deat
!. y - S.ae long table in the dining room
Y ~ was very beautiful"
!. M. man can have no greater los
R,I mat Of the woman he loves" SAT-
"rnard quietly.
i. -. glanced at Richard timldly. but h
q H. cooking straight ahead Of him dow
n ten Inc, ""' see''eu 10 "a'e 'oreo'
!. ndnve' as we passed through the ros
\ ssns.' a thorny branch Of n climbe
! mvs.1f msns my hair. ! struggled to fire
.mbs", out could NOT. and. flushed an
vnit. ! had to call hlm--nc ha
help me, - 'fo"' OF he-'o come q"
dI,sn. came back at once, and gontl
4, I,a'ahglrd the branch.
Y ior '"t,hed v'n, TO take long time. an
u .,. wi,d, wicked moment I closed IN
N ahi thought of that evening /
Y NINA N,aasmire when he had put his arm
h,d would never do that again.
the ,a. "aa my glimpse Of Paradise. an
Z iee 1aIes were shut and barred In m
y "a n nnt. thank God. no one can ro
y hr.r,. % memory. We can hug it to on
N o. nv whcn they arc starving. and fec
"a" "a Tahd drink our I'll from the fOun
bygone sweetness.
!. ,eun"n as IT had ncvcr really bee
Z &sS as ! walked in the scented gar
= "nh Richard, and wondered II i
aeclhs very impatient Lccaus
VAS not with us.
sncis came home just after ii