Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-07-24
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kw mother. Presio,o. toho Is brilliant bni
csesiotino. schemes 10 mdrrp her.
fois DENRfGH--a noht.hcartcd but sircer.
EdrAaec'. bnt who Is friendly to Audrey.
"Do You Still Love Me, Jim?"
STIM--there is n question I want to
I d ask you, and hope you will answer
h truthfu'ly. 1t has cost me q lot to
ssme and ask It, and I have only
done s0-Decuuse AAeI VVice luiIeu
'Horkness looked at her again. His
a.. wns white. "What is this cues.
HMn," he asked in a low voice.
''Do you--still love me. Jim-after
iudrey leaned forward. Her head
vaa very near Earkness'. as he rested
Sis arms on his knees. She spoke very
.uJ Iolthoro fa1v nd OF ,,o >, yo1 q,
snough, now that the supreme crisis had
materializcd, very calmly.
"When you gave me up-so long ago
n me- thought you really didn't care,
tbat you had been playing. But since
sSsn Ss. a suspicion has gradually grown
n nv mind that there may have been
sme other reason for your action.
still love you''-Audrcy' tone did not
Alter as she made the onfession--''and
serhaps that fact has had something to
30 with the strengthening of my idea
i)d YOU give me up because you thought
you were unworthy of me, and because
you loved mo 70 much that you were
Wiling to forfeit your own happines
10 snare me what appeared to you to
be marriage doomed to failure?"
Hardness got up as Audrey finished
peaking, and walked across the room
% that she should not see his face.
The wonder of her coming and asking
Iim this question cclipsed, for the mo-
nent all other feelings. He told him
IN that it was like her to do this
ding. She was still child. And she
bved him.
What IL she were Lady Audrey
Tteor? He loved her and she loved
Aim. 1t was enough. There could be
no other conditions to be fulfilled. And
yet-- he was Jim Hardness, the
gambler.
He stole half-glance at Audrey.
Ehc was sitting very still and her head
vas bowed. He wondered If she was
beginnlng to wish she had not spoken.
"Why do you ask me this?" Hark.
se1 could not recognize his own voice.
was still calm, and in her manner was
% hint of supplcation. IF you really
love me want to come back TO you,
whatever you ere or whatever you may
have been. l knew you would never
come to me again, so long as you
thought OF yourself rs you must have
thought, and so I came to you. Tell
ne, truly, do you love me? Or is this
al another ghastly mistake? Have
been deceiving hyselfT'
Il was Hnrkness' chance, and he
mew it. He had but to say three
words and this girl was his. All the
parentage in the world could never
stand between them il only he said {:
II love you !" With her by his side
Be might regain hope, he might become
worthy.
And yet-he had always claimed to
bs q man. Why should he let this girl
take him on trust? Why should he
70 to her and say II have done so and
", but lam going to try to do bet
ter now" She was entitled to more than
that, II only for her honesty of thought,
her innocence, and the childlike logic
Of her actions.
"Jim!"
Audrey was very close. Her lips
were trembling, and it was obvious
that the strain was telling on her. She
bad staked so much on this interview,
bad built an edlfce of happiness on the
ioundations Of its hopes.
Cant you say you love me?'
Harknes, tried to speak, failed at
hrst, and then stammered: "You should
not ask.' There was an outcry in the
esntence, q protest against something
Audrey could not quite understand.
ITS not fair!"
He was like schoolboy, this tall,
dark man with the hard face-a school,
~ caught In some serious fault, wit
-, shaken, white faced and desperate,
nlnsing this way and that for an ex-
cuse for something to say.
Audrey drew away from him.
jim! It's not true! You don't
bve me?"
Harkness lowered his head.
A little sob escaped Audrey. "You
make me ashamed!' She was whisper
ing the words, but they came clearly
TO, Harkness' ears. you make mv
lshamed"
Harkness put out his hands, and
took her shoulders. Audrey remembered
now he had done the same thing when
we had asked him about Lois.
Why should you be ashamed?" His
Nords were fierce, and in his eyes was
Dmething from which she recoilcd. 1t
frightened her, and yet drew her pos
ssSiyely to him. Even in the stress
the moment It came to her that
Neh q light might have shone in the
ves OF the men who carried their wO-
Meh away across their saddle-bows, In
ne days when the sword ruled the worlu
ny women were mems chattels.
is / who ought to be ashamed.
0an never forget this-never! Never
~Vet You! For me you will always