Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-06-15

| interyened. "He left about an hour
ago."
Once more the terror was upon her.
The fingers which gripped her napkin
trembled. Her eyes, filled with fierce
Inquiry, were fixed upon her husbands s
as he took his place in leisurely fashion
and glanced at the menu.
Obliged to send Tony away?" she
repeated. Il don { understand. He
told me that he had several days work
here with you
Something intervened," he mur-
INJURED.
why didn't you wire?" she faltered,
almost under her breath. "He couldn't
have had any time to get ready"
| Andrew Tallente looked at his wife
across the bowl Of floating flowers.
'Ah! - he exclaimed. II didn't
think Of that. But in any case I did
not make up my mind until I arrived
that 1t was necessary for him to 60"
Ihere was silence for time. an
unsatisfactory and In some respects
an unnatural silence. Tallente trifled
with his hors d'oeuvres and was In
quisitive about the sauce with which
his fish was favored. Stella sent
away her plate untouched, but drank
two glasses of champagne. The light
came back to her eyes, she found cour-
age again: After all, she was inde-
pendent Of this man, independent even
OF MS name. She looked across the
taSIe at him appraisingly. He was still
sunciently good looking, 1.-THE of frame
ana muscular, with features we'll cut
although a little irregular in outline.
lime, however, and anxious work were
oeglnning to leave their marks.
Hls hair was gray at the sides, there
were deep lines in his face, he seemed
20 her fancy. to have shrunken a little
during the last few years. He had
stu the languid, high bred voice which
she had always admired so much, the
same coolness Of manner and quiet
aismty. He was a personable man,
put atter all he was failure. His
career, 80 far as she could judge It,
was at an end. She was a fool to
imagine, even for a moment, that her
whole future lay in his keeping.
"Have you any plans??' she osked
ency?"
He smiled little wearily. For once
ne spoke quite naturally.
THE only plan I have formulated at
present Is to rest for a time," he ad-
mitted.
She drank another glass of cham
payne and felt almost confident. She
told him the small events Of the sparsely
populated neighborhood, spoke of the
lack OF water in the trout stream, the
Improvement in the golf links, tho
pheasants which O. nearby landowner
was turning down. They were com
parative newcomers and had seen as
yet little of their neighbors.
Il was told," she concluded. "that
the great lady Of the neighborhood was
to have called upon me this afternoon.
waited in but she didn't come"
And who is that?" he enquired.
Lady Jane Partington Of Woolhan-
ger-a daughter Of the Duke of Bar
minister, Woolhanger was left to her
by an old aunt. and they say that she
never leaves the place.
An elderly lady?" he asked, merely
with an intent Of prolonging a harm
less subject Of conversation.
ION the contrary, quite young" his
wife replied. "She seems to be a
sort Of bachelor. .spinster, who lives ou,
IN that lonely place without q chaperon
and rules the neighborhood. You ought
to make friends with her. Andrew.
Ihey say that she is half a Socialist.
stSv sS the deng Dy' nov now long are we going to
1--WE will discuss that presently, -
he answered.
The service of dinner came n II,
appointed end. Tallente drank one
glass Of port alone. Then he rose. left
the room BY the French windows. passed
along the terrace and looked In at the
rawing room, where Stella was lin .
gering over her coffee.
"Will you walk with me AZ far as
the lookout" he invited. "Your maid
can bring you cloak II you are likely
|, She responded a little ungraciously.
but appeared a few minutes later. a
hlmy shawl Of lace covering her bare
shoulders: She walked by Sis side to
the and Of the terrace, along the curvine
walk through the plantation, and by
the sea wall to the tagged space where
some seats and q table had been flxed.
-Four hundred feet below, the sea was
beating against jagged rocks, The moon
was late and It was almost dark. She
leaned over and he stood by her side,
STELLA" he said, "you asked me
at dinner when we were leaving here,
You are leaving tomorrow morning By
the twelve thirty train
What do you mean7" she demanded.
with sudden sinking Of the heart.
please do not ask" he replied.
You know and know. It is not my
wish to make public the story Of our
disagreement"
She was silent for several moments.