The Monmouth inquirer., 1922-09-14

=
years ss. JcAa 5 very fair hair
and slignter figure seemed in the mat
ter OF age to place them almost on
an equality.
Joan was small person. bright, VI
vacious, always self-possessed. But
this evening she came as near to
being carried away by the excitment
of the moment as ever in her life.
Confess 1 have given you a sur
prise said Wray.
'Oh, am far too experienced TO
feel surprised at anything' she cried
Though smile fiuttered about her
lips, he could not help seeing that her
eyes were swimming in tears.
Still. nobody could have been FUR
ther from your thoughts he suggest
ed
She darted a quick glance at his
face as sne answered.
-- am never astonished to meet any
one anywhere. ran against my par
ish clergyman in the Casino at Monte
Carlo last year. and met q lame
friend ON the top of the Right But
| am immensely pleased, Wray.'
He too looked pleased. Joan was,
in fact. an agreeable object to con-
Template And whilst she appeared
scarcely day older for the two years,
he perceived a great difference in
her
He remembered that she had worn
mourning on the last occasion. He had
thought two years ago that she had
lost the cheerful vivacity OF her girl
hood. But with her mourning gar
ments she seemed to have put of her
gravity. Perhaps, also, the knowledge
that her husband was but six months
dead had affected his point of view.
1T is a stroke of luck to meet you
here he exclaimed, an anspicious
omen. A mere chance. too. that de-
cided to sleep In Southampton
I arrived only this afternoon from
the Mediterranean she answered.
You have missed the season. Wray
suggested.
i shall come in att the finish,' she
said. The fact is. a girl In whom
take an interest,"
One of many, Joani'
I fear she is dying. The cruise
has done no good, and she really was
not we'll enough to travel to London
tonight
You are the best woman l know
he cried, leaning forward in His chair.
Yous know SO few !--of the manu-
factured article, at least. Your ex-
perience lately has been of the raw
material
There's less difference than you
may think he said. with laugh.
Aut Ill vary the phrase: you're the
Ht woman can imagine
Your imagination Is not very
strong Joan retorted And your
sympathy is.'
Is it possible to have one without
the other?' he asked.
oh dear! you might have been
away only week, Wrayl You haven't
altered bit. You try to inveigle me
into one of our old arguments before
you have been here half an hour. Now,
tell me about yourself Joan added.
And to begin with, ! hope you can
tellme you have come to stay
Yes. think So
No more excursions and alarms!
No more sensational dlsappearances!
The fact is. he said. I have lately
become widower.
She stared violently; her cheeks
flushed, and she drew a deep breath.
ought to have remembered you
didn't know was married, he ex-
claimed.
Yes. | knew, Wray.'
From Pauilne?' he asked.
From Sir Gilbert Strachan,' she
said
don't wonder that men should
bring you their condolences. he sug-
gested.
You did nothing of the kindl'
Your letters did not lead me to
suspect that you knew, he said.
Why should touch on unpleasant
topicsY she demanded 4 wanted to
brighten your life. Besides, heard
only the bare fact. Was it whilst
you were at Oxford7'
During my Freshman's year.
'The--the experience did not prove
a success, she suggested.
"A particularly ghastly failure he
muttered.
Who was the-the young lady,?
Joan asked
Wray hesitated few minutes.
She was few years older than
myself-aa barmaid. he said.
And you, cried Joan, with your
exalted ideals-your eclecticism-you
as remember you-could marry a
woman of that kind?
The mistake was antecedent,' Wray
answered, My marriage was not a
mistake. That was the only possible
atonement'
Was there child? Joan asked
quietly.
1t died few weeks old
'Wen?' she asked
We did not live together afterwards
~ tried. FL couldn't stand it.
arranged that Norris should pay my